Toronto Maple Leafs Hire Goaltending Coach Francois Allaire

by Chemmy on Jun 11, 2009 9:27 AM EDT in News Comment 77 comments

Two of Allaire's students.

Yesterday the Maple Leafs announced the hiring of goaltender coach Francois Allaire. First, a bit of backstory on Allaire. Francois Allaire, for all intents and purposes, invented the butterfly. He found a worthy disciple in a young Quebecois and became Montreal's first full time goaltending coach in 1986. His story in Montreal is easy to summarize, the Habs won two Cups on Roy's back, and Roy himself won both Conn Smythes, three Vezinas, three William M Jennings' and six all star game appearances between 1986 and 1996. Allaire left Montreal with St. Patrick in 1996 and moved to Anaheim where he turned Guy Hebert from a nobody into an All Star. He helped JS Giguere (a Burke pick in Hartford) become an elite goaltender from 2003-2006 before developing an unknown from Switzerland, Jonas Hiller.

For the Leafs this is an important signing. Though the team in front of them hasn't been spectacular the Leafs goaltending has been its biggest weak point since the lockout. Having missed the playoffs by a single point twice in four seasons it's not hard to say that with better goaltending those two years the Leafs would have been able to bow out in game five of the first round.

Allaire comes to Toronto to replace Corey Hirsch. My mother always told me if you don't have anything nice to say that you should say nothing at all. She doesn't read the blog, so Corey Hirsch sucks. I don't know about anyone else, but I think I'd rather have the guy who invented the butterfly and changed goaltending as we know it over some plugger who spent a lot of time in the IHL.

The Leafs dumping Hirsch and Gilbert is indicative of a true culture change behind the scenes at MLSE. Last season Ron Wilson, Cliff Fletcher and Brian Burke attempted to clean out the locker room and it would appear that this season Brian Burke is cleaning out the front office. This is also a commitment to future goaltending beyond signing Gustavsson who as a butterfly goalie has to be interested now. Like Patrick Roy, Justin Pogge is a pretty large butterfly goaltender. When Allaire got to Anaheim in 1996 he turned Guy Hebert around in a hurry, hopefully he can work similar magic on Pogge.

The real positive here is that the Leafs are starting to hire executives that are the best available in their area. There's no question that Ron Wilson, Brian Burke, and now Francois Allaire were the best possible options for their three jobs and hopefully the Leafs continue this run. Building a contender starts with the front office, a point Detroit has made for the past decade and a half, and the Leafs seem to be on the right track.

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All these good moves, I AM SO CONFUSED!

Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option

by JaredFromLondon on Jun 11, 2009 9:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree

This level of competence is frightening and unfamiliar

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Jun 11, 2009 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Leaf fans will get used to it, but Leaf haters will be wondering if they woke up in bizarro world, with the team’s management actually making (gasp!) smart decisions.

Being a Leaf fan here requires one to be sufficiently lubricated!

by stucky on Jun 12, 2009 7:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

But

is Allaire on a postage stamp? Huh? Is he? That’s what I thought.

by lordosis on Jun 11, 2009 9:35 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Now we just...

need a goalie.

Sports And The City

A Toronto sports blog, where unabashed homerism is alive and well...

PLAYOFFS!!!!1

by eyebleaf on Jun 11, 2009 9:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

but he can fix Pogge!

also the Vesa

Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option

by JaredFromLondon on Jun 11, 2009 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I assumed

Allaire himself was going to be a one year stop-gap between the pipes.

by lordosis on Jun 11, 2009 9:41 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I’m on board with that plan.

Pogge is dead to me.

And The Vesa has a lot of redeeming to do.

Sports And The City

A Toronto sports blog, where unabashed homerism is alive and well...

PLAYOFFS!!!!1

by eyebleaf on Jun 11, 2009 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pogge will prove you all wrong, be it in blue and white, or some place else

Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option

by JaredFromLondon on Jun 11, 2009 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think resigning Pogge is a definite must now. How do you not give him another chance with the best goaltending teacher in the game?

by lordosis on Jun 11, 2009 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He plays in the AHL. Qualify him because we have the money, sheesh.

Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.

by Chemmy on Jun 11, 2009 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

exactly, there is so much money available from the organization, its not like there are a ton of other prospects he is taking developmental time away from

Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option

by JaredFromLondon on Jun 11, 2009 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Interesting to note...

Hirsch has not been fired. He’s now in a “Scouting/Player Development roll.”

I like this, as the relationship between Hirsch and Gustavssson already exists. Keeps the Monster comfortable, and Hirsch still involved with him in some capacity.

If you don't like your job, you don't strike! You just go in every day, and do it really half assed. That's the American way. - Homer
The Left Coast Lock

by blurr1974 on Jun 11, 2009 10:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

well played brian burke….well played

Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option

by JaredFromLondon on Jun 11, 2009 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Brian Burke is my hero.

"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero

by Karina on Jun 11, 2009 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m waiting for Burke to rip Cox’s head off and drink his blood before I commit.

"We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into Iraq"
- Major Mike Shearer

by article1 on Jun 11, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

oh he’ll get there.
Tricking Niewendyk into hiring Crawford has me already there.
If he gets a top 3 pick at the draft, he’ll enter rock god level.
If he brings the cup, he is immortalized forever.

"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero

by Karina on Jun 11, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i dont want top 3 anymore (it will cost too much) I want 2 top 10s more now anyways

Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option

by JaredFromLondon on Jun 11, 2009 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The team doctors are staying for now.

I think JFJ replaced the entire medical staff twice during his tenure and it still seemed to stink.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Jun 11, 2009 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hirsch has the Swedish connection, isn’t he on a stamp there getting pwned by forsberg in 94 or something?

by LeafFanInVan on Jun 11, 2009 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My mother always told me if you don’t have anything nice to say that you should say nothing at all. She doesn’t read the blog, so Corey Hirsch sucks.

Bwahahahaha!

And also true.

jrwendelman
The Artist Formerly Known as "Junior", who blogs at heroesinrehab.ca/blog

"But if someone so eager to engage into fist talk, we can always meet after season end in Minsk." (Mikhail Grabovski and a well-meaning but not particularly skillful translator)

by jrwendelman on Jun 11, 2009 10:49 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

reminded me of Eminem…

Will Smith don’t gotta cuss in his raps to sell his records; well I do, so f*#! him and f*#! you too!

If you don't like your job, you don't strike! You just go in every day, and do it really half assed. That's the American way. - Homer
The Left Coast Lock

by blurr1974 on Jun 11, 2009 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If this man can fix Pogge and help bring back his form from the World Juniors (you know, the form that had LeafsNation pretty much ready to rest the franchise on his shoulders), then quite frankly, I’d be prepared to set up a new religion for him.

by Blue and White Expat on Jun 11, 2009 10:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I was more impressed with Rask in that tourney though.

A Nation of Masochists a blog dedicated to Toronto sports fans, who are continually punished but keep coming back for more.

by furcifer on Jun 11, 2009 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yes

There’s a reason that Rask was named goalie of the tournament.
He is, however, a little psycho, it seems.

"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero

by Karina on Jun 11, 2009 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

which is a good thing in my bookx

Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option

by JaredFromLondon on Jun 11, 2009 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hell yeah it is.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure!

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jun 11, 2009 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hold On

Chemmy, I’m pretty sure this article will be quoted by someone in the MSM soon to prove that Leaf fans think Pogge is the next Patrick Roy…

"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero

by Karina on Jun 11, 2009 12:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Whaddya mean 'soon'?

I’d bet it already has been. Check the papers tomorrow…

"If this is another one of your lectures about how we should all blah blah blah and whatever, well you can save it because we all know it by heart."

by Mabel on Jun 11, 2009 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

you’re probably right. Dammit.

"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero

by Karina on Jun 11, 2009 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm past Pogge

I think Reimer has a better shot at being something special than Pogge. Similar size, similar game, but Reimer seems more focused.

All those years playing for a crappy team in Red Deer must have been good for something, plus he’s already had to over come a few serious injuries so he’s got a strong will and tenacity that Pogge seems to lack.

I think Reimer might prove to be the better pick in the long run the way things are going right now.

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."

- Sir Winston Churchill

I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.

by Steve@Leafs.HockeyAnalysis.com on Jun 11, 2009 12:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i want a balls to the wall goalie battle in the AHL next year

Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option

by JaredFromLondon on Jun 11, 2009 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’ve been impressed with what I’ve read on your site.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Jun 11, 2009 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

“…and would like to subscribe to your newsletter?”

jrwendelman
The Artist Formerly Known as "Junior", who blogs at heroesinrehab.ca/blog

"But if someone so eager to engage into fist talk, we can always meet after season end in Minsk." (Mikhail Grabovski and a well-meaning but not particularly skillful translator)

by jrwendelman on Jun 11, 2009 5:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would like to see more of Reimer this year. Hopefully we can see him in some preseason games.

Haven’t totally given up on Pogge, he may just take longer to develop.

"Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weak minds."
Albert Einstein

by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Jun 11, 2009 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also about Guy Hebert

You’re implying that he sucked before Allaire got there when you say he “turned him around in a hurry”.

This is amazingly misleading. The season before Allaire arrived in Anaheim (1996-97 was when he went to the Ducks – he actually spent one year in Colorado alongside Patrick Roy and Jocelyn Thibault after he left Montreal) Hebert had a 28-23-5 record and a 2.83 GAA to go along with a .914 SV%. He finished 4th in the NHL in Save Percentage amongst goalies with over 30 starts. The goalies ahead of him were Hasek, Darren Puppa, and Jeff Hackett (can anyone say weird list?). He wasn’t exactly horrible BEFORE Allaire arrived.

He also didn’t make Giguere into a goaltending god all of a sudden. Giguere was pretty solid in his last year in Calgary. Admittedly he only played 7 games, but he had a 2.73 GAA and a .911 SV% in those games.

Expecting him to work miracles with Pogge just doesn’t make sense.

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."

- Sir Winston Churchill

I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.

by Steve@Leafs.HockeyAnalysis.com on Jun 11, 2009 1:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

quiet you!

Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option

by JaredFromLondon on Jun 11, 2009 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Expecting him to work miracles with Pogge just doesn’t make sense.

Miracles, maybe not. But improvement? Yes. Allaire obviously will be better than anyone the Leafs have had recently, so there has to be room for optimism.

And let’s all just remember that Pogge has really had only one underwhelming season. The year before he played pretty decently.

by lordosis on Jun 11, 2009 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

he was actually playing well in the playoffs too, then he had a bad game and Gilbert yanked him

Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option

by JaredFromLondon on Jun 11, 2009 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also, it isn’t like he’s 30 or something. I know we’re not used to giving young guys time to struggle and develop, but maybe we don’t have to throw him out just because he hasn’t starred so far.

"If this is another one of your lectures about how we should all blah blah blah and whatever, well you can save it because we all know it by heart."

by Mabel on Jun 11, 2009 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Something funny

I was listening to the Team 990 (English sports radio station out of Montreal) while driving home and I heard them talking about Allaire

Everyone was expecting him to be hired in Montreal, and when they found out that the Leafs(of all teams) hired him it was like(and i quote) ‘A kick in the Jimmies’.

Combined with the fact I left work early, easily the best drive home ever.

"Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weak minds."
Albert Einstein

by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Jun 11, 2009 2:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

that is awesome

Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option

by JaredFromLondon on Jun 11, 2009 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Are there any Leaf friendly bars in Montreal that you know of?

Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.

by Chemmy on Jun 11, 2009 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No

But the Peel Pub is a Boston friendly bar and if that exists, who knows?

"Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weak minds."
Albert Einstein

by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Jun 11, 2009 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Peel Pub eh? Maybe we’ll go there.

Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.

by Chemmy on Jun 11, 2009 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It’s only a police car roll away from the Bell(or is it Molson again) Centre.

"Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weak minds."
Albert Einstein

by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Jun 11, 2009 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Forget Leaf friendly. I say we go to the one in the old Forum.

A Nation of Masochists a blog dedicated to Toronto sports fans, who are continually punished but keep coming back for more.

by furcifer on Jun 11, 2009 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Who says we stop at one?

After the first round, we should pub crawl all around down town. The idea of pissing off as many Habs fans as possible appeals to me.

"Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weak minds."
Albert Einstein

by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Jun 11, 2009 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

PPP and I are planning on buying all of our users who show up a round of drinks somewhere, and we’ll see what happens afterwards. ;)

Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.

by Chemmy on Jun 11, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Buy an extra for the ‘Undesirable’ Chemmy people?

"Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weak minds."
Albert Einstein

by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Jun 11, 2009 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We’ll see.

Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.

by Chemmy on Jun 11, 2009 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jared has already agreed to drink a Cement Mixer, so I’m buying him that one.

If DGB shows up, I promised him a round…

So I’m already down by 2(ish)

"Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weak minds."
Albert Einstein

by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Jun 11, 2009 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i expect a round…i’ll be there.

you won’t see me, but I’ll be there…watching…

If you don't like your job, you don't strike! You just go in every day, and do it really half assed. That's the American way. - Homer
The Left Coast Lock

by blurr1974 on Jun 11, 2009 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m gonna guess that it ends with everyone passed out on our hotel room floor.

Wings fan by birth. Leafs fan by empathetic association.

by SkinnyFish on Jun 11, 2009 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I once had an argument that I could claim I went camping if I woke up in a ditch.

What is camping? Spending time in a wooded area, sleeping under the stars…

Whatever your definition is, waking up in a ditch is definitely in the ‘camping’ family.

"Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weak minds."
Albert Einstein

by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Jun 11, 2009 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i’ve been camping…

If you don't like your job, you don't strike! You just go in every day, and do it really half assed. That's the American way. - Homer
The Left Coast Lock

by blurr1974 on Jun 11, 2009 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

it was a sport for a while there

Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option

by JaredFromLondon on Jun 11, 2009 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

campingesque if you will

Wings fan by birth. Leafs fan by empathetic association.

by SkinnyFish on Jun 11, 2009 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Waking up in a ditch= camping

I’m new but I’m going to have to agree that waking up in a ditch is pretty much the same as camping. Well, at least if you’re doing the camping right. Hike to somewhere you don’t know, then drink a bunch of booze, get too drunk to pitch a tent and then wake up in the morning on the ground. Voila! Camping done.

by LawlessWalrus on Jun 11, 2009 4:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

HI!

Welcome, and thanks for signing up!

If you don't like your job, you don't strike! You just go in every day, and do it really half assed. That's the American way. - Homer
The Left Coast Lock

by blurr1974 on Jun 11, 2009 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for joining.

More importantly, if you woke up alone in the woods with no clothes on next to a jar of vaseline, would you tell anyone? If not, do you want to go camping some time?

Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.

by Chemmy on Jun 11, 2009 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just kidding by the way, you wouldn’t wake up alone I’m a cuddler.

Pension Plan Puppets*
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by Chemmy on Jun 11, 2009 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

poor Skinnyfish

"Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weak minds."
Albert Einstein

by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Jun 11, 2009 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Welcome

Thanks for joining.

The real trick is when you do it in the winter. Who knew that your pants could freeze solid!

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Jun 11, 2009 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sleet + walking in jeans+ cold snap.

That actually happened when I was living in Ottawa. It’s like being trapped on a bus with your ex girlfriend’s new boyfriend… uncomfortable.

"Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weak minds."
Albert Einstein

by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Jun 11, 2009 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Welcome to the barely controlled insanity that is PPP.

But we like it that way.

"Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weak minds."
Albert Einstein

by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Jun 11, 2009 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Peel Pub

Is kind of a hole… they briefly operated it as a “chain” down on King St. in Toronto and in Kingston to lure in the Queen’s kids.

It’s best remembered for recycling it’s beer… and selling it dirt cheap.

Oh but some of my fondest memories of the Peel Pub (and no I don’t mean Peelers) is the Wednesday Night wet t-shirt contest I have managed to witness twice… both instances while in attendance with a girlfriend (who happens to now be an ex-gf… I wonder why).

Anyway… I’d suggest Hurley’s on Rue Crescent… it’s Irish so it serves good beer, and I’ve run into Don Meehan, Bob Goodenow, and Al Strachan there before… although I’ve also run into Al Strachan in Toronto and he was far more interesting on that occasion.

Anyhoo… that’s my 2 cents.

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."

- Sir Winston Churchill

I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.

by Steve@Leafs.HockeyAnalysis.com on Jun 11, 2009 7:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I’ve never been, but McKibbin’s is supposed to be very nice, also down town.

How is Al Strachan in person? On TV he kind of comes off as being quite arrogant.

Haven’t been to Peel in like 15 years. I only mentioned Peel because it is a well known Bruins-friendly spot.

"Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weak minds."
Albert Einstein

by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Jun 11, 2009 8:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

McKibbins is nice, but it’s very expensive, even compared to the other downtown bars in the area. Thinking just north of seven bucks for a pint of Harp. If you find yourself there – aside from going somewhere else – best course is to head for the basement, which is generally uncrowded.

Hurley’s is a nice Irish bar on Crescent, and has great beer. It’s also quite large – although in many small rooms – so you should be able to get everyone in. Also nice that almost directly on top of it is Brutopia, which is one of Montreal’s nicer microbreweries (and the only one in the area).

Peel Pub has moved in the last few years – it’s now on Peel, half a block south of St Catherines. It’s still shitty/expensive/recycled, but it’s no longer in a basement. Having said that, I liked it much better when it was in a basement – now it’s just a shitty bar, as opposed to a shitty bar in a dingy basement with character. A better alternative, and located like three doors north on Peel, is McLean’s. It’s got a bunch of nice TVs (they just replaced the projections with LCDs), has decent beer, and you can order beer in Giraffes – a three-foot high cylinder of beer (3L or so) with a tap at the bottom.

by FutureMrStronach on Jun 11, 2009 8:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’ll post some bars, their locations, and some prices of beer in the Invasion thread.

by lordosis on Jun 11, 2009 8:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cool beans

"Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weak minds."
Albert Einstein

by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Jun 11, 2009 8:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thank You

For the info. As far as downtown bars/restaurants, what would be the highlights? Do you have a list of maybe 3-4?

I would rather have some options, as I assume some of the better places will probably be busy on Friday night.

Also, I’m not a fan of Molson. Any good places with Keith’s on tap?

"Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weak minds."
Albert Einstein

by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Jun 11, 2009 8:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lordosis and I have a scarily-complete guide to Montreal bars in the Invasion thread – and don’t worry about Keiths, you should be able to find it (or Boreale Doree) at almost any place in town.

by FutureMrStronach on Jun 12, 2009 1:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Isn’t Allaire the goalie coach Gerber visited in the summer? I could have sworn that was mentioned during the Ducks series and who Allaire has schooled. There were other names mentioned but I am blanking on details as I am prone to do.

(843): the red head has a bf
(1-843): just because there's a goalie doesn't mean u can't score

by wrap around curl on Jun 11, 2009 9:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Gerber played at Anaheim 02-03, and 03-04 as Giguere’s backup with Allaire as the goalie coach. This guy’s got contacts with everyone. You don’t think Burke would hold onto Gerber do you?

Wings fan by birth. Leafs fan by empathetic association.

by SkinnyFish on Jun 11, 2009 9:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

more importantly, do you think Burke up Gerber off waivers because of his knowledge of Allaire working with him?

Mee-Mee-Meep Meep Go Leafs Go Meep Meep! MEEP!!!

by blindfolded tank driver on Jun 11, 2009 9:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Interesting connection. Don’t see it really happening unless Gerber is willing to take backup dollars. Leafs might be a plan ‘B’ if he doesn’t get interest as an FA. Plan ‘C’ is probably the Swiss League.

"Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weak minds."
Albert Einstein

by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Jun 11, 2009 10:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs