Toivonen making a big start tonight

Per the Boston Globe, the results of Hannu Toivonen's start tonight against the Islanders could have big ramifications on the goaltending situation this season.

For Toivonen, tonight will be one of the most significant starts of his brief NHL career. General manager Peter Chiarelli must decide whether to keep Toivonen as Tim Thomas's backup or to acquire another goaltender.

If Toivonen (2-5-0, 4.31 goals-against average, .870 save percentage) struggles again tonight, Chiarelli's only option may be the latter.

If this is indeed true, you have to wonder if any acquisition of another goaltender would involve Toivonen being dealt in return. I, for one, hope not. As Neb and others have pointed out, developing a goaltender often takes time. Toivonen's got potential...he was drafted 29th overall in the 2002 draft and was the third goalie taken (behind Kari Lehtonen #2 and Cam Ward #25). Potential talent like that you hate to see go undeveloped. Tuukka Rask, or not, I'd like to see Toivonen given more time, even if it's in the AHL.

Plus you have to wonder if any goalie they do get would push Thomas for time with the possibility of taking the job outright. As I mentioned before in the comment of another post, of the situations that exist where solid goaltenders could be moved due to excess, they're mostly on contenders (San Jose, Anaheim, etc.). Those teams may not be willing to part with one of them for fear of losing the other to injury and potentially derail their playoff hopes.

One possible option is to try to get a veteran from a non-contender for the hopes of having them help the Bruins for just this year and possibly next. I just hope the team wouldn't spend too much (in $$ or draft picks) to say, pull Eddie Belfour out of Florida or to acquire a mediocre question mark like a Jose Theodore.

So I guess we'll see. I'll raise a Sammy to Hannu in hopes that he posts a goose egg against the Isles tonight.