TimmyTabasco
3-29-06, 12:08 AM
CP - It's been a year of NHL goalies emerging from the shadows - and the most recent example of that is Vesa Toskala in San Jose.
The timing couldn't have been stranger. In the wake of star starter Evgeni Nabokov signing a $21.5-million US, four-year extension Feb. 7, Toskala has since started 13 of San Jose's 16 games heading into Tuesday's encounter with Columbus, going an amazing 11-1-1 during that stretch - some of which saw Nabokov nursing a groin injury.
"I've been playing lots of games in a row and I just feel comfortable," the 28-year-old Toskala said from Columbus. "My self-confidence is growing game by game and it feels easy to play right now. And I'm really enjoying it."
The timing of his emergence is also bizarre because once Nabokov signed his huge deal most observers assumed Toskala was going to be dealt before the March 9 deadline, because he was slated for unrestricted free agency. But GM Doug Wilson threw everyone a curve ball by also re-signing Toskala on Feb. 27 to an extension that will pay him $1.375 million a season both in 2006-07 and 2007-08.
So Toskala was taken off the market, for the time being, but that doesn't mean the native of Tampere, Finland, has stopped worrying about his hockey future.
"I still do wonder," he said frankly. "Who knows what's going to happen next season or during the summer. I think it's still wide open."
Wilson may very well deal one of his goalies this summer, in part because of what he can fetch for them, and also because he's got a bevy of goalie depth in his organization, including Nolan Schaefer, who went 5-1-0 with a 1.88 goals-against average and .920 save percentage in a brief callup earlier this season.
So Toskala knows he may still change addresses. Nabokov has a conditional no-trade clause which stipulates the Sharks can only deal him if they miss the playoffs. They're on the bubble right now.
"My goal is still to be a No. 1 goalie and I think it's going to happen next season (either in San Jose or elsewhere)," said Toskala, who on Monday was named the NHL's defensive player of the week. "I'm really counting on that. And I think I made the smart decision to sign with the Sharks. So we'll see what happens."
As it stands, Wilson freely admits there's no longer a so-called No. 1 goalie in San Jose but really two terrific netminders.
"We feel we have the best goalie tandem in the NHL and we're fortunate to have the luxury of using both goalies in a season where the schedule is compressed because of the Olympics," said Wilson. "We may even use both in the playoffs.
"As far as I'm concerned, (coach) Ron Wilson has the green light to use who he wants, to go with the hot hand."
Entering Tuesday, Toskala had a 16-6-3 record with a 2.69 GAA and .898 SP, while Nabokov was 15-17-7 with a 3.06 GAA and .887 SP.
But don't go looking for a controversy here. The 30-year-old Nabokov, in his sixth season with the Sharks, has been nothing but a friend to his protege.
"We have a great relationship," said Toskala, in his third NHL season. "He's always been very respectful of me. He's a really good guy, always helping me and giving me tips. I've learned a lot from him because I think he's one of the best goalies in the league. So it's working fine between us, there are no problems at all."
Source (http://www.nhl.com/news/2006/03/266150.html)
Also, he was named the defensive player of the week
Anaheim Mighty Ducks winger Teemu Selanne won the NHL's offensive player of the week award on Monday while San Jose Sharks goalie Vesa Toskala took the defensive honour.
Toskala led the Sharks to three victories with a 1.66 goals-against average and .946 save percentage. He also had a shutout in a victory over St. Louis.
Source (http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=160272&hubname=)
The timing couldn't have been stranger. In the wake of star starter Evgeni Nabokov signing a $21.5-million US, four-year extension Feb. 7, Toskala has since started 13 of San Jose's 16 games heading into Tuesday's encounter with Columbus, going an amazing 11-1-1 during that stretch - some of which saw Nabokov nursing a groin injury.
"I've been playing lots of games in a row and I just feel comfortable," the 28-year-old Toskala said from Columbus. "My self-confidence is growing game by game and it feels easy to play right now. And I'm really enjoying it."
The timing of his emergence is also bizarre because once Nabokov signed his huge deal most observers assumed Toskala was going to be dealt before the March 9 deadline, because he was slated for unrestricted free agency. But GM Doug Wilson threw everyone a curve ball by also re-signing Toskala on Feb. 27 to an extension that will pay him $1.375 million a season both in 2006-07 and 2007-08.
So Toskala was taken off the market, for the time being, but that doesn't mean the native of Tampere, Finland, has stopped worrying about his hockey future.
"I still do wonder," he said frankly. "Who knows what's going to happen next season or during the summer. I think it's still wide open."
Wilson may very well deal one of his goalies this summer, in part because of what he can fetch for them, and also because he's got a bevy of goalie depth in his organization, including Nolan Schaefer, who went 5-1-0 with a 1.88 goals-against average and .920 save percentage in a brief callup earlier this season.
So Toskala knows he may still change addresses. Nabokov has a conditional no-trade clause which stipulates the Sharks can only deal him if they miss the playoffs. They're on the bubble right now.
"My goal is still to be a No. 1 goalie and I think it's going to happen next season (either in San Jose or elsewhere)," said Toskala, who on Monday was named the NHL's defensive player of the week. "I'm really counting on that. And I think I made the smart decision to sign with the Sharks. So we'll see what happens."
As it stands, Wilson freely admits there's no longer a so-called No. 1 goalie in San Jose but really two terrific netminders.
"We feel we have the best goalie tandem in the NHL and we're fortunate to have the luxury of using both goalies in a season where the schedule is compressed because of the Olympics," said Wilson. "We may even use both in the playoffs.
"As far as I'm concerned, (coach) Ron Wilson has the green light to use who he wants, to go with the hot hand."
Entering Tuesday, Toskala had a 16-6-3 record with a 2.69 GAA and .898 SP, while Nabokov was 15-17-7 with a 3.06 GAA and .887 SP.
But don't go looking for a controversy here. The 30-year-old Nabokov, in his sixth season with the Sharks, has been nothing but a friend to his protege.
"We have a great relationship," said Toskala, in his third NHL season. "He's always been very respectful of me. He's a really good guy, always helping me and giving me tips. I've learned a lot from him because I think he's one of the best goalies in the league. So it's working fine between us, there are no problems at all."
Source (http://www.nhl.com/news/2006/03/266150.html)
Also, he was named the defensive player of the week
Anaheim Mighty Ducks winger Teemu Selanne won the NHL's offensive player of the week award on Monday while San Jose Sharks goalie Vesa Toskala took the defensive honour.
Toskala led the Sharks to three victories with a 1.66 goals-against average and .946 save percentage. He also had a shutout in a victory over St. Louis.
Source (http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=160272&hubname=)