Burke re-signs Pogge; Plans to Trade Him

[DatsyukownzU13 1]

Toronto re-signed Justin Pogge to a 605k, 1 year deal. Burke then proceeded to make it clear that he was going to attempt to trade Pogge. I could see a lot of teams being interested in this. He had some promise, but things just didn't work out in TO for him. At 605k - 1 year it's a pretty affordable experiment to take him on board as a back up/AHL-starter.

While Burke had the same style of team in the 2006-07 Stanley Cup-champion Anaheim Ducks, he knows the Leafs need help up front and will continue his search for a top-six forward to join the squad while also looking for a new home for goaltender Justin Pogge.

"Pogge's a good kid, but it just didn't work out for him in Toronto," he said. "I assured him I would find him somewhere to play this year."

http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/ArticleDi....aspx?e=1668772

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Hopefully he gets a new start somewhere. He looked good at times, and then he looked absolutely brutal with no confidence like that Boston game where he got yelled at by Ron Wilson at the bench.

Edited July 24, 2009 by Hockeytown0001

[Hankanator 0]

At that cap hit, I wouldn't mind a third goalie pushing Howard for the backup role.

Give them Meech or Lebda.

[DatsyukownzU13 1]

At that cap hit, I wouldn't mind a third goalie pushing Howard for the backup role.

Give them Meech or Lebda.

I was originally thinking the same thing, but then I decided that McCollum and Larsson could probably fill that same role easily. Pogge has been pretty brutal the last season or two, despite his upside. I'm interested to see how McCollum does in the AHL. I know he tore up the OHL, but I'm a skeptic until proven otherwise after watching him in the WJC.

[Hankanator 0]

I was originally thinking the same thing, but then I decided that McCollum and Larsson could probably fill that same role easily. Pogge has been pretty brutal the last season or two, despite his upside. I'm interested to see how McCollum does in the AHL. I know he tore up the OHL, but I'm a skeptic until proven otherwise after watching him in the WJC.

Pearce will be playing for the Fish in Toledo and McCollum and Larsson will be splitting starts in the AHL. I really doubt either of them will see NHL time unless Osgood gets hurt.

[egroen 384]

Dick move by Burke?

Sure seems like it.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Dick move by Burke?

Sure seems like it.

How? If the goal is getting him more playing time, either keep him with the Marlies or trade him to another team looking for additional goalie depth. There was no way he was going to get legitimate playing time behind Toskala and Gustavsson.

Edited July 25, 2009 by Hockeytown0001

[Hankanator 0]

How is this a "Dick move"? Like him or not, Burke is a man of his word. He let a starting goalie(Bryzgalov) go to a division rival and at the time LA passed on Bryzgalov in the waiver order.

Burke risked giving up a starting goalie, to his teams biggest albeit less talented rival, just for the sake of keeping his word.

Pogge will be traded and if that doesn't happen, he'll let him go.

[MacK_Attack 108]

At that cap hit, I wouldn't mind a third goalie pushing Howard for the backup role.

Give them Meech or Lebda.

The Leafs need another defenceman like I need a kick in the pants.

Pogge will be traded (he can't be waived) for nothing....mid-to-late draft pick.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

The Leafs need another defenceman like I need a kick in the pants.

Pogge will be traded (he can't be waived) for nothing....mid-to-late draft pick.

I don't expect the Leafs to ask for anything more. Every time I saw Pogge play for the Leafs, it was nothing special.

[GROwl 5]

I haven't seen Pogge play at the NHL level, though he was pretty effective against the Griffins while playing for the Marlies.

I still wouldn't want to see him - or anyone else for that matter - in a third goalie spot. It rarely works out well for either the second or the third goalie. For a goaltender to stay sharp, he needs regular playing time in both practice and games.