LEAFS CAN'T WIN WITH REIMER.
Don't get me wrong. I like James Reimer. I think he's a fine fellow and a darn good puck stopper. But he's not the complete package in net because he doesn't know how to play the puck. With his stick, that is. One of the main reasons the Leafs get into trouble in their own zone is their goalie's inability or unwillingness to make what seems like a simple play. Reimer seems scared out there. That's why when he DOES venture out of the cage, he plays the puck as if it were a live grenade. Then he overhandles it, which usually results in a yawning cage and a terrific opportunity for the player who just stripped him of the puck to score.
Think of all the times you've seen an opponent beat the Leaf defenseman to the puck after a dump-in. A confident puck-handling goalie would come out, play the puck on his forehand, and either advance it to a teammate, or shoot it out of harms way. Not Reimer. He stays deep in his crease, hoping his defenseman gets to the puck in such time that he doesn't get crushed by the hotly pursuing opponent. If it seems that Leaf defenseman are always losing the puck or getting knocked off the puck or getting dispossessed of the puck. The other night, Ryan O'Bryne thought he had plenty of time behind the net, but Jaromir Jagr was right on his tail. Reimer didn't even yell "Look out" to O'Byrne to warn him. 2 seconds later the puck was in behind him. Terrible communication out there. Look, I'm not saying Reimer has to be the second coming of Marty Brodeur, but come on! He's too timid with the puck.
And, lest you think I'm picking only on one facet of his play, consider what he does when he makes a save but the whistle doesn't blow. There's no opponent near him, yet his defenseman is three feet away. But instead of dropping the puck to his teammate, or advancing it, he freezes it. Duh! Now you've got a faceoff in your own zone against a team that's KILLING yours on faceoffs. If Ben Scrivens makes that save, he gets rid of the puck and puts the Leafs on the offensive. Not Reimer. He holds for a faceoff, which is the correct thing to do ONLY if your team is badly in need of a change.
Now, to suggest that Reimer is the only NHL goalie who suffers from these deficiencies would be incorrect. There are many others who let their puck-stopping speak for them. But the goalies who can act like an extra defenseman are invaluable to a team. For one, they prevent the opponent from dumping and chasing. For another, they keep the opponent wary of a stretch pass during a line change, or even a simple 10 footer from the goal line to a skater who's breaking out of the zone. But Reimer doesn't have the offensive skills to perform either move effectively, so he stays in his net and hopes to stop everything that comes his way. That style of goaltending may have worked 20 years ago for a stay-at-home goalie like Felix Potvin, but today's netminders need to be more versatile. Reimer's puck moving limitations could prove to be the Maple Leafs ultimate undoing. Either teach him to handle the puck or suffer the consequences.
The Bluejays cannot be trusted when it comes to Ricky Romero anymore. They lied to us and they lied to Romero. Everybody thought the club was crazy to bring back Romero last week, considering he had only pitched 7 inning of "A" ball. Now we know for sure. They tried to pull a fast one. No way was this guy ready for the majors. He should've had at least 4 minor league starts. Two in "A" ball, and then if things were progressing, another in "AA" and then "AAA". Rehab is rehab. Doesn't matter if you're coming back from Tommy John surgery, or trying to get your head screwed on right. You can't rush it. Ricky was injured. He need time. The Jays said he was ready. He wasn't. Now what?
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