Leafs of Change

It was bound to happen. Hiller’s spent the majority of his time in net (despite Carlyle’s “win-you’re-in” approach) and signed his $18 million deal, while Giguere has been next to invisible. Can anyone blame him for doing what he had to do? His job is to stop the puck, and he wasn’t doing much of that from the bench.

Back in November, I declared that our goalie problems began when the club let goaltending consultant Francois Allaire go. To the Maple Leafs. Where Jiggy is now headed. Because Allaire made him into the goalie he is, stuck with him through the tough times, and will always be his Mentor…with a cap M.

So now my guy joins ex-Duck Frankie Beauchemin, and ex-Duck GM Brian Burke. Despite their current last-place status in the Eastern Conference, make no mistake: with Giguere in net and newly-acquired former Flame Fredrik Sjostrom and AHL defenseman Keith Aulie, Toronto will turn things around. I know, all of Anaheim is laughing at me right now, but just you wait and see. That team is going places, thanks to Burke’s uncanny foresight and ability to patch a contending group together…and dramatic penchant for striking bombshell deals mid-season.

I’m not looking forward to seeing Giguere in the good ol’ blue and whites, but I’ll be watching, with my pharmacy of stomach medicine and a brown bag waiting for the inevitable reaction when I see him suited up.

—Rose