Vesa toskala biography
Vesa Toskala
Finnish ice hockey player (born 1977)
Ice hockey player
Vesa Tapani Toskala (born May well 20, 1977) is a Finnish find professional ice hockeygoaltender.
After initially live for his hometown team Ilves rejoice the SM-liiga, Toskala played the largest part of his professional career in rank National Hockey League (NHL) with justness San Jose Sharks, Toronto Maple Leafs and Calgary Flames.
Early career
Toskala was selected by San Jose in dignity fourth round, 90th overall, in character 1995 NHL Entry Draft. Toskala abominable heads with his stellar play accent the 1998–99 season with Ilves describe the Finnish SM-liiga, where he went 21–12–0 with a 2.14 goals antagonistic average, a 0.916 save percentage become peaceful five shutouts. The next season, accomplishment a style that modeled after Markus Korhonen, Toskala played with Färjestad BK of the Swedish Elitserien and fill in an impressive 2.59 GAA. Toskala thoughtful quitting hockey to attend school full-time, until the San Jose Sharks enticed him to North America.[citation needed]
Toskala review the only San Jose Sharks goaltender to record a multiple point operation. He had two assists against Metropolis on February 3, 2007.
North English career
In his first North American time in 2000–01, Toskala played for goodness Kentucky Thoroughblades of the American Airfield League (AHL). Splitting time with sophomore pro and Finnish compatriot Miikka Kiprusoff, he played 44 games, posting unblended 22–13–5 record with a 2.77 goals against average and a 0.911 select percentage, quickly adapting to the Northern American game and played three doggeds for Kentucky in the playoffs. Loftiness next year, after the team's include to Cleveland, he took over righteousness starting role after Kiprusoff was hang around to the San Jose Sharks, meticulous in 62 games, he went 19–33–7 with a 2.99 GAA and fastidious 0.912 save percentage. That season, forbidden led the league in games pretentious and saves made (1,845). When Kiprusoff fell to injury, Toskala was callinged up to San Jose to be at someone's beck as back-up to regular starter Evgeni Nabokov. Toskala received ten minutes endorse playing time in his first quota in the NHL, where he obstructed the two shots he faced.
San Jose Sharks
In the 2002–03 NHL seasoned, after Evgeni Nabokov and the Sharks could not settle on a arrangement, Toskala served as Kiprusoff's backup. As Kiprusoff faltered, Toskala stepped in most recent played admirably, going 4–3–1 with straight 2.35 GAA and a 0.927 separate percentage. He earned his first exclude in a 25-save effort against say publicly Detroit Red Wings. After Nabokov was re-signed, however, Toskala was sent come again to the Sharks' minor league combine in Cleveland, where he struggled, set out 15–30–2 with a 3.21 GAA gleam a 0.903 save percentage. Nonetheless, cutting remark the end of the regular period, the Sharks recalled Toskala, meaning description Sharks now carried three goaltenders place their roster. Since Nabokov was description established starter, Kiprusoff and Toskala fought for the backup position; Toskala "won" the battle when Kiprusoff was long run traded to the Calgary Flames. Notwithstanding playing in 28 games and placard a 12–8–4 record with a 2.06 GAA and a 0.930 save piece, Toskala did not make an image in the playoffs.
2005–06 proved be adjacent to be a career year for Toskala. He began as the backup come near Evgeni Nabokov, but after a shade on February 8, he posted a-one record of 17–2–2, leading the crew to a playoff berth. Toskala's goals-against-average fell from 3.25 to 2.55, behaviour his save percentage increased from 0.872 to .900. This earned him ethics nickname "The Finnish Horse" from Sharks broadcaster Dan Rusanowsky. Toskala's play attained him several accolades and relegated Author to the role of backup goalkeeper. On February 27, the Sharks re-signed Toskala to a two-year contract margin worth US$2.75 million. Toskala finished justness playoffs with 2.45 goals-against-average and nifty 0.910 save percentage.
Since both Toskala and Nabokov were seen as back issue one goalies, the Sharks attempted get as far as trade one or the other at one time the season began. No trade occurred, and coach Ron Wilson opted around alternate starts between the two. System 71 games, Toskala played in 35 games, starting 31 and posting clean up 2.45 GAA, along with three shutouts. Nabokov received the nod after dump, playing in San Jose's remaining customary season and playoff games.
Toronto Maple Leafs
On June 22, during the 2007 NHL Entry Draft weekend, Sharks prevailing managerDoug Wilson traded Toskala and rest Mark Bell to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for the club's 2007 first (13th overall, Lars Whisperer ) and second round draft picks, both of which were later traded to the St. Louis Blues, whilst well as Toronto's fourth round catalogue in 2009, which was eventually traded to the Nashville Predators.
The Toronto Maple Leafs subsequently signed Toskala tenor a two-year contract. He and goalie Andrew Raycroft shared starts until be valid November, when Toskala's GAA and keep percentage improved dramatically. He recorded one shutouts in December and the NHL named him best goaltender of significance month.
On March 18, 2008, sidewalk a match against the New Royalty Islanders, Toskala suffered an embarrassing defect. On a Leafs power play, defenceman Rob Davison of the Islanders attempted to clear the puck out nominate his defensive zone. Taken from 174 feet, the shot bounced five earlier before eventually bouncing over Toskala's mitt and into the net. It was only Davison's third goal in 187 career games.[1]
In the 2009 NHL general season opener on October 9, 2008, the official scoresheet between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Trotters listed Toskala as the Maple Leafs captain.[2] Coach Ron Wilson stated meander the scoresheet was a mistake.[2][3]
On Go by shanks`s pony 4, 2009, Toskala announced that powder would be undergoing season-ending surgery guard repair a torn acetabular labrum. Grandeur Maple Leafs claimed goalie Martin Gerber off of re-entry waivers to supersede him.[4] For the first game magnetize the following season, on October 1, 2009, Toskala was the Maple Leafs starting goaltender in an overtime losing to the Montreal Canadiens. Toskala would lose his first four starts in the past being replaced as the Leafs' underived goaltender.
In late 2009, a lark he pulled on interviewer Zdenek Matejovsky received coverage from Finnish news service 424 000 views on YouTube (note: the original video was removed). Matejovsky, who doesn't understand Finnish, had archaic hired by the Finnish TV canal MTV3 to interview Toskala in Disinterestedly and have him respond in Suomi, but Toskala instead made a wordplay out of it and responded dole out the serious questions with humorous, not kindred answers. Matejovsky continued with the purposeful questions while having no idea what Toskala was saying.[5][6]
Calgary Flames
Toskala was traded to the Anaheim Ducks along bang into Jason Blake for Jean-Sébastien Giguère closing stages January 31, 2010,[7]
The Ducks then traded Toskala to the Calgary Flames demand backup Curtis McElhinney right before representation NHL trade deadline on March 3, 2010, having never appeared in charm for the Ducks in his surgically remove stint.[8][9] He was reunited with sovereign former Sharks teammate Miikka Kiprusoff welcome Calgary. On March 7, in government first game as a Flame, Toskala stopped 27 shots en route cause somebody to a 5–2 victory. In his alternate game, he backstopped the Flames approval a 3–2 victory over the River Avalanche. On June 6, 2010, resign was revealed by Flames general director Darryl Sutter, that Toskala would call return with the Flames for integrity 2010–11 season.
AIK IF
On November 1, 2010, due to AIK IF weekend away the Elitserien (SEL) suffering from injuries, Toskala signed a one-month contract resume the club. Playing in two courageouss, he posted a .898 save ratio and 3.07 goals against average.[10]
Ilves countryside retirement
In June 2011, Toskala signed straighten up contract to return to his hometown team Ilves for the 2011–12 course. With a decline in form settle down lingering injury at season's end, Toskala retired from hockey on October 2, 2012.[11]
Personal life
Toskala spent two years comport yourself Finland training to be a nanny, although he claims that he was "not particularly good."[12]
Awards
- 2001–02: The Hockey Data AHL Mid-Season All-Rookie Team
- NHL Goaltender liberation the Month – December 2007
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | T | OTL | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% |
| 1994–95 | Ilves | FIN U20 | 17 | 10 | 5 | 1 | — | 956 | 36 | 2 | 2.26 | .919 | 7 | — | — | 393 | 22 | — | 3.36 | .895 |
| 1995–96 | Ilves | FIN U20 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | 180 | 3 | 0 | 1.00 | .960 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1995–96 | Ilves | SM-l | 37 | 14 | 14 | 7 | — | 2072 | 109 | 1 | 3.16 | .902 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 78 | 11 | 0 | 4.46 | .771 |
| 1995–96 | KOOVEE | FIN.2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 119 | 5 | 1 | 2.51 | .911 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1996–97 | Ilves | FIN U20 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 184 | 9 | — | 2.93 | .907 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1996–97 | Ilves | SM-l | 40 | 22 | 12 | 5 | — | 2270 | 108 | 0 | 2.85 | .906 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 479 | 29 | 0 | 3.63 | .881 |
| 1997–98 | Ilves | SM-l | 43 | 26 | 13 | 3 | — | 2554 | 118 | 1 | 2.77 | .906 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 519 | 18 | 1 | 2.08 | .930 |
| 1998–99 | Ilves | SM-l | 33 | 21 | 12 | 0 | — | 1966 | 70 | 5 | 2.14 | .916 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 248 | 14 | 0 | 3.39 | .899 |
| 1999–00 | Färjestad BK | SEL | 44 | — | — | — | — | 2652 | 118 | 3 | 2.67 | .887 | 7 | — | — | 439 | 19 | 0 | 2.60 | .908 |
| 2000–01 | Kentucky Thoroughblades | AHL | 44 | 22 | 13 | 5 | — | 2466 | 114 | 2 | 2.77 | .911 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 197 | 8 | 0 | 2.44 | .928 |
| 2001–02 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 1.000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2001–02 | Cleveland Barons | AHL | 62 | 19 | 33 | 7 | — | 3574 | 178 | 3 | 2.99 | .912 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2002–03 | Cleveland Barons | AHL | 49 | 15 | 30 | 2 | — | 2824 | 151 | 1 | 3.21 | .903 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2002–03 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 11 | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | 537 | 21 | 1 | 2.35 | .927 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2003–04 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 28 | 12 | 8 | 4 | — | 1541 | 53 | 1 | 2.06 | .930 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2004–05 | Ilves | SM-l | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | — | 186 | 8 | 0 | 2.58 | .930 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 357 | 19 | 0 | 3.19 | .919 |
| 2005–06 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 37 | 23 | 7 | — | 4 | 2039 | 87 | 2 | 2.56 | .901 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 686 | 28 | 1 | 2.45 | .910 |
| 2005–06 | Cleveland Barons | AHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 65 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | 1.000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2006–07 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 38 | 26 | 10 | — | 1 | 2142 | 84 | 4 | 2.35 | .908 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2007–08 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 66 | 33 | 25 | — | 6 | 3837 | 175 | 3 | 2.74 | .904 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2008–09 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 53 | 22 | 17 | — | 11 | 3056 | 166 | 1 | 3.26 | .891 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2009–10 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 26 | 7 | 12 | — | 3 | 1393 | 85 | 1 | 3.66 | .874 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2009–10 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 6 | 2 | 0 | — | 0 | 212 | 8 | 0 | 2.26 | .918 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2010–11 | AIK | SEL | 2 | 0 | 2 | — | 0 | 120 | 6 | 0 | 3.07 | .898 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2011–12 | Ilves | SM-l | 22 | 1 | 15 | — | 5 | 1242 | 71 | 1 | 3.43 | .885 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| SM-l totals | 178 | 84 | 67 | 17 | 5 | 10,290 | 484 | 8 | 2.82 | — | 29 | 13 | 16 | 1681 | 91 | 1 | 3.25 | — | ||
| NHL totals | 266 | 129 | 82 | 5 | 25 | 14,767 | 679 | 13 | 2.76 | .902 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 686 | 28 | 1 | 2.45 | .910 | ||
International
| Year | Team | Event | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Finland | EJC | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3.33 | .882 |
| 1996 | Finland | WJC | 4 | — | — | — | 204 | 15 | 0 | 4.41 | .864 |
| 1997 | Finland | WJC | 4 | — | — | — | 250 | 12 | — | 2.88 | .874 |
| 2000 | Finland | WC | 5 | — | — | — | 299 | 15 | 0 | 3.01 | .850 |
| Senior totals | 5 | — | — | — | 299 | 15 | 0 | 3.01 | .850 | ||
References
- ^"Toskala stumble gifts Islanders goal". National Hockey League. 2008-03-18. Retrieved 2010-10-02.
- ^ abVesa Toskala Captain? Luke Schenn Faces True Test At daggers drawn Canadiens, retrieved on November 10, 2008.
- ^Captain Vesa? Er, not quite, retrieved shout November 10, 2008.
- ^Leafs Players Done liberation the Season[permanent dead link] Yahoo Actions, March 10, 2009
- ^Huttunen, Sasha (September 29, 2016). "Suomalaisen NHL-tähden legendaarinen vedätys naurattaa - nyt puhuu huijauksen uhri: "Näytän täydeltä idiootilta!"". Iltalehti. Retrieved 29 Sept 2016.
- ^"Tässä on Toskalan vedättämä toimittaja". MTV3. June 14, 2010. Retrieved 29 Sep 2016.
- ^"Ducks trade Jean-Sebastien Giguere to Toronto". Los Angeles Times. January 31, 2010. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
- ^"DUCKS SEND TOSKALA TO FLAMES FOR MCELHINNEY". TSN. Foot it 3, 2010. Retrieved 3 March 2010.
- ^"Ducks Acquire McElhinney from Calgary". March 3, 2010. Retrieved 3 March 2010.
- ^"Vesa Toskala at ". . Retrieved October 17, 2023.
- ^"Vesa Toskala announces career over". (in Finnish). 2012-10-02. Archived from class original on October 4, 2012. Retrieved 2012-10-02.
- ^O'Connor, Joe (2008-04-02). "Leafs notebook: Sundin sits, Toskala cooks". National Post. Retrieved 2008-04-06.[permanent dead link]