Leafs turn to Pogge

by James Mirtle on Dec 21, 2008 11:56 PM CST Comment 12 comments

Justin Pogge

#29 / Goalie / Toronto Maple Leafs

Height: 6-3

Weight: 204

Born: Apr 22, 1986

Pogge, 22, was called up by the Toronto Maple Leafs Sunday to replace injured Vesa Toskala, who once again is battling a sore groin. Pogge, of Penticton, B.C., will make his NHL debut against the Atlanta Thrashers on Monday.

— Tim Wharnsby, The Globe and Mail

Believe it or not, Toronto's actually not all that far out of a playoff spot at this point, just five points back of eighth-place Carolina with two games in hand. I imagine, however, that in Brian Burke's mind that's not such a good thing.

This minor injury to Toskala is, though, at least in terms of giving the Leafs brass a chance to throw an untested (and frankly unworthy) prospect into the fire for a few games. Pogge's had a tough go so far in the AHL, posting an .890 save percentage in a league that generally averages in the .910 range, and could be in for a rude awakening in his first NHL start (even if it is against the Thrashers).

He's 38th in the league in save percentage among AHL goalies with 600 minutes played this year, ahead of only seven other goaltenders and well behind youngsters like Cory Schneider, Ondrej Pavelec and Tuukka Rask. Pogge's numbers are even significantly behind teammate Adam Munro's, as the 26-year-old former Blackhawks prospect has posted a .904 in nine games this season.

You have to wonder: If this season was all about winning for the Leafs, would we be seeing Munro called up to spell Toskala? Or would there have been a trade by now to bring in a capable backup instead of allowing Curtis Joseph to continuing adding to a last, sad chapter in a brilliant career?

In reference to Pogge, Burke says that he wants to see what's there, but even if things go horribly awry, there's little lost. Winning four of the past five games has cost the Leafs ground in the Tank for Tavares sweepstakes, but they're not out of the race for a top five pick entirely, and my guess is that Burke starts his handiwork after the Christmas roster freeze to ensure that whatever competitiveness the team has now is all but eliminated.

Win or lose, we likely see quite a bit of Pogge over the rest of the season, as he gets his chance to audition to stay in the role of 'goalie of the future.' Otherwise, given the way the incumbents have played, Burke has some serious work to do at the position.

Break a leg, kid.

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I admit, I’m kind of surprised Pogge hasn’t caught on yet. He was terrific here in Calgary and with the World Juniors, and seemed to have improved last season (2.34/0.908); in fact, his numbers were quite comparable to those of veteran Scott Clemmensen, who got the nod in the playoffs (an odd move when you have the franchise’s “goalie of the future” on hand) and is now New Jersey’s interim starter.

Wonder if the kid’s suffering some confidence issues?

by Doogie2K on Dec 22, 2008 12:12 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

It could well be confidence issues, or perhaps it’s an issue of focus for Pogge. Pogge seems to perform best when the team in front of him is quality. His WHL teams and WJC teams were some of the most talented rosters in junior hockey, so I wonder if Pogge’s bored with the AHL and the lacklustre Marlies team. However, if boredom is indeed the reason, it doesn’t help dispel the notion that Pogge is more a product of the system than an elite prospect of his own inkling.

I surely hope that’s not the case, if only to see how long Pogge can buck the trend of hockey portraits everywhere by showing off his guns in every picture throughout his career.

by bkblades on Dec 22, 2008 3:19 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Meh

Every goalie to some extent is a product of the team in front of him. I subscribe to the theory that he is just bored in the AHL and tonight marks the beginning of an amazing career.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Dec 22, 2008 8:51 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Calgary

Pogge was unbelievable for the Hitmen, but towards the end of his junior career, opponents began to figure him out: Aim high, glove side. I’m guessing that the pros figured the same. We’ll see how he does tonight, though I am torn. I always love to see a Hitmen alum do well, but at the same time, he’s a Leaf. Hmmm….

by Resolute on Dec 22, 2008 11:52 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

True.

He did have a rather lacklustre second round when the Hitmen were eliminated his final year.

by Doogie2K on Dec 22, 2008 1:54 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Wow, James, where did you find that picture, his high school yearbook?

There’s no harm in seeing what Pogge can do, and while he’s not lighting it up in the AHL the Marlies team in front of him are a pale shade of the Conference champs they were last season. His save percentage and goals against were much more favourable last year, especially in the playoffs.

I don’t really believe there’s a conspiracy here, Burke is in for the long haul and Pogge is our only supposed goalie prospect. Better to find out now than to find out he’s Dan Cloutier later.

Old Guys in Blue and White

by koopa kid on Dec 22, 2008 7:55 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

oh goodness

couldn’t you have used another comparison????
If he IS Dan Cloutier… we could be stuck with him for a long time..

by Karina on Dec 22, 2008 10:01 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think what I’m describing amounts to a conspiracy. It does stand to reason that many other teams would have replaced Cujo by now.

by James Mirtle on Dec 22, 2008 10:17 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Ah, and the photos at SBN are the same ones TSN uses. No clue where they’re from.

by James Mirtle on Dec 22, 2008 10:53 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The sports data company. Some of them are hilarious like Pogge’s.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Dec 22, 2008 11:59 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Joseph deserves

his share of flak and should have been released two weeks ago, but he is not the one making 4 million a year to be the worst starter in the league. That distinction belongs to Vesa Toskala, who is a far better comparison to Dan Cloutier.

by penaltyshots on Dec 22, 2008 12:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs