So perhaps a No. 1 centre may not be the top priority for the Toronto Maple Leafs at the trade deadline after all.
On a night when Tyler Bozak, who skates between Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul on Toronto's top line, scored two goals, the focus moved off him and directly into the goal crease.
Leafs goalie James Reimer entered the night riding a three-game winning streak -- two of which were shutouts -- but he struggled in a 4-3 loss to the Flyers in Philadelphia. In a game where the Leafs really needed big saves, he didn't have enough in his arsenal. And as well as his partner, Jonas Gustavsson, has played when given the chance to start, the Leafs goaltending continues to be an area of concern on a nightly basis. http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2012/02/10/brophy_leafs_flyers/
Shacks' Take: I think Brophy's taking the short view on this one. Leaf fans and their pundits confuse me to no end, do they just want to make the playoffs or is winning a cup the ultimate goal? There are three things every Stanley Cup Champion has with very few exceptions: a stud defenseman capable of controlling 30 minutes a game, at least two premier centres and a high end goalie that can steal a game for you (with the exception of Osgood in Detroit and he was still consistent).
Toronto believes it has the d-man in Dion Phaneuf, between Reimer and Gustavsson they may be able to catch lightning in a bottle and win some playoff games, but I'll guarantee there has been no Stanley Cup winner in my memory who's number one centre was as ordinary as Tyler Bozek. If the goal is to win a Stanley Cup a team requires at least one and possibly two high-end centres. Bozek may work as the number two but Toronto has to acquire that number one guy before Young Street ever hosts a parade.
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