Vesa Toskala

Vesa Tapani Toskala (born May 20, 1977) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey goaltender.

After initially playing for his hometown team Ilves of the SM-liiga, Toskala played the majority of his professional career in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the San Jose Sharks, Toronto Maple Leafs and Calgary Flames.

Toskala was selected by San Jose in the fourth round, 90th overall, in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft.

Toskala turned heads with his stellar play in the 1998–99 season with Ilves of the Finnish SM-liiga, where he went 21–12–0 with a 2.14 goals against average, a 0.916 save percentage and five shutouts.

The next season, playing a style that modeled after Markus Korhonen, Toskala played with Färjestad BK of the Swedish Elitserien and posted an impressive 2.59 GAA.

Toskala considered quitting hockey to attend school full-time, until the San Jose Sharks enticed him to North America.

Toskala is the only San Jose Sharks goalie to record a multiple point game.

In his first North American season in 2000–01, Toskala played for the Kentucky Thoroughblades of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Splitting time with second-year pro and Finnish compatriot Miikka Kiprusoff, he played 44 games, posting a 22–13–5 record with a 2.77 goals against average and a 0.911 save percentage, quickly adapting to the North American game and played three games for Kentucky in the playoffs.

The next year, after the team's move to Cleveland, he took over the starting role after Kiprusoff was recalled to the San Jose Sharks, and in 62 games, he went 19–33–7 with a 2.99 GAA and a 0.912 save percentage.

That season, he led the league in games played and saves made (1,845).

When Kiprusoff fell to injury, Toskala was called up to San Jose to serve as back-up to regular starter Evgeni Nabokov.

Toskala received ten minutes of playing time in his first stint in the NHL, where he stopped the two shots he faced.

In the 2002–03 NHL season, after Evgeni Nabokov and the Sharks could not settle on a contract, Toskala served as Kiprusoff's backup.

When Kiprusoff faltered, Toskala stepped in and played admirably, going 4–3–1 with a 2.35 GAA and a 0.927 save percentage.

He earned his first shutout in a 25-save effort against the Detroit Red Wings.

After Nabokov was re-signed, however, Toskala was sent back to the Sharks' minor league affiliate in Cleveland, where he struggled, going 15–30–2 with a 3.21 GAA and a 0.903 save percentage.

Nonetheless, at the end of the regular season, the Sharks recalled Toskala, meaning the Sharks now carried three goaltenders on their roster.

Since Nabokov was the established starter, Kiprusoff and Toskala fought for the backup position; Toskala "won" the battle when Kiprusoff was eventually traded to the Calgary Flames.

Although playing in 28 games and posting a 12–8–4 record with a 2.06 GAA and a 0.930 save percentage, Toskala did not make an appearance in the playoffs.

2005–06 proved to be a career year for Toskala.

He began as the backup to Evgeni Nabokov, but after a start on February 8, he posted a record of 17–2–2, leading the team to a playoff berth.

Toskala's goals-against-average fell from 3.25 to 2.55, while his save percentage increased from 0.872 to .900.

This earned him the nickname "The Finnish Horse" from Sharks broadcaster Dan Rusanowsky.

Toskala's play earned him several accolades and relegated Nabokov to the role of backup goaltender.

On February 27, the Sharks re-signed Toskala to a two-year contract extension worth US$2.75 million.

Toskala finished the playoffs with 2.45 goals-against-average and a 0.910 save percentage.

Since both Toskala and Nabokov were seen as number one goalies, the Sharks attempted to trade one or the other before the season began.

No trade occurred, and coach Ron Wilson opted to alternate starts between the two.

Through 71 games, Toskala played in 35 games, starting 31 and posting a 2.45 GAA, along with three shutouts.

Nabokov received the nod after that, playing in San Jose's remaining regular season and playoff games.

He had two assists against Chicago on February 3, 2007.

On June 22, during the 2007 NHL Entry Draft weekend, Sharks general manager Doug Wilson traded Toskala and forward Mark Bell to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for the club's 2007 first (13th overall, Lars Eller ) and second round draft picks, both of which were later traded to the St. Louis Blues, as well as Toronto's fourth round pick in 2009, which was eventually traded to the Nashville Predators.

The Toronto Maple Leafs subsequently signed Toskala to a two-year contract.

He and goaltender Andrew Raycroft shared starts until late November, when Toskala's GAA and save percentage improved dramatically.

He recorded two shutouts in December and the NHL named him best goaltender of the month.

On March 18, 2008, in a match against the New York Islanders, Toskala suffered an embarrassing blunder.

On a Leafs power play, defenceman Rob Davison of the Islanders attempted to clear the puck out of his defensive zone.

Taken from 174 feet, the shot bounced five times before eventually bouncing over Toskala's glove and into the net.

It was only Davison's third goal in 187 career games.