Dubas is savvy (not stupid) for having beer leaguers as backups

Bush league. An embarrassment. A stain on the league.

Those are just some of the ways that opposing fans — and media — have described the Toronto Maple Leafs and their decision to treat the goaltending position as though it were a Make-A-Wish charitable campaign. It all stems from a decision to have Jett Alexander, a University of Toronto student, get his David Ayres moment by coming in for the final minutes of a 7-1 blowout win against the Montreal Canadiens.

Good for Alexander. I’m sure it was an experience he’ll never forget for the rest of his life.

But when did the NHL become a Ted Lasso episode?

Now, if the story ended there, it would be one thing. But two nights after Alexander became the answer to a trivia question, the cap-challenged Leafs were at it again.

This time, it was Nick Chenard of the Owen Sound Attack acting as an emergency backup to Ilya Samsonov for a meaningful game against the Florida Panthers because the team didn’t have the salary cap space to call up a legit backup. The following night, Toronto’s Make-A-Wish Tour continued, with Matt Onuska of the Windsor Spitfires backing up Joseph Woll in a nothing game the Leafs sat out Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and Morgan Rielly — and shifted Connor Timmins from defence to forward.

When the Leafs suggest they have depth at the goaltending position, I don’t think this is what they meant.

Because let’s be clear: none of these three EBUGs are future NHLers. If anything, they are future beer leaguers.

So, yeah, it’s a bit embarrassing that the best hockey league in the world is calling up guys who have no business being here. After all, can you imagine the Toronto Blue Jays scouring the men’s slow-pitch leagues looking for a closing pitcher? It wouldn’t happen.

It’s bush-league.

Do you know what else it is?

Savvy.

Because I don’t know about you, but I’ll take a general manager who would rather spend his hard-earned cap dollars on signing college standout Matthew Knies for the playoffs than having a legit backup goalie for a meaningless game. I’ll take a GM who is unafraid to bend — if not break — the rules than someone whose in Gary Bettman’s good books.

Embarrassing? Who cares?

The rest of the season is meaningless anyway. Oh sure, there’s other teams with plenty to play for. And I’m sure if we were writing this from Pittsburgh or Long Island, we’d be pretty mad. Or maybe we’d point out that the final week of the season is a helluva time to start caring.

Basically, if you waited this long to get into the playoffs, you only have yourself to blame.

So start Goldberg the Goalie in net. Or some Make-A-Wish kid. I don’t care. And neither should you.

All that matters is who is in net for Game 1 of the playoffs. And it better not be a beer leaguer.

XXX

TRAIK IT OR LEAVE IT

A month ago, I would have said there's no way in hell Wayne Simmonds gets in the lineup for the playoffs. But I've changed my mind now. Simmonds gives the Leafs a dimension that they always seem to be searching for, especially against a team as big and nasty as Tampa Bay … If Matthew Knies gets in the playoffs — and I think he will and could play an important role — it won’t be for Game 1 … I don’t know who will be the odd-man out on defence, but Luke Schenn isn’t among the candidates to sit. After last week’s game against the Lightning, the Leafs need him more than ever … My pick for Leafs’ MVP is Mitch Marner, with Ilya Samsonov as a close runner-up. T.J. Brodie has been the team’s best defenceman, Mark Giordano has been the “most pleasant suprise” and Morgan Rielly has been (by his own standards) the biggest disappointment.

HERE’S ONE FOR YOU

The Oilers are my pick to win the Stanley Cup. As for who they’ll play, I’m leaning towards the Rangers … Patrick Kane is my pick for playoff MVP … Still can’t believe that both Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin will be out of the playoffs for the first time since they were both rookies. That’s an incredible run. Even more incredible is that Crosby has 92 points this season, while Ovechkin scored 42 goals … Ron Hextall might be on his way out as the GM of the Penguins, but I don’t foresee any of the three core players leaving town with him. I also don’t see a rebuild coming. Yes, the Penguins are old. But they are a few tweaks away from being a championship contender again. After all, just look at how supposedly “old” the Bruins or the Kings are.

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