Hannu Toivonen

Toivonen came to the Blackhawks in a late season trade with the Blues. With the expected exodus of Cristobel Huet, Toivonen could battle for the backup spot behind Marty Turco. He does not have NHL minutes since the 2007-08 season where he was in net for 23 games and registered a 3.44 goals against average.

While in Boston, Toivonen was heralded as the second coming of Gerry Cheevers for awhile, until they ran him out of town after a couple of injury-plagued seasons. In truth, they probably never really gave him much of a chance to prove himself. Now with the Blues, he will challenge Jason Bacashihua for ice time as the backup to Manny Legace. He'll be a #1 starter in the NHL someday, it just won't be this season.

Mark our words -- Toivonen will be a better goalie than Atlanta's Kari Lehtonen (gasp -- did we say that out loud?). Both are supremely talented with quick gloves and elastic legs, but Lehtonen's groin issues are looking as though they'll become chronic. Toivonen's ankle injury last season is fully healed and won't be an issue moving forward. He'll emerge as a star this season and will vie with Evgeni Malkin for the Calder Trophy. Get him before someone else does -- with the new and improved defense corps in front of him, he'll post some very good numbers.

Toivonen is the second-best goaltending prospect in the NHL after Atlanta's Kari Lehtonen. He's a franchise-type goalie with excellent fundamentals, quick reflexes and maturity beyond his 21 years. He will assume the back-up role for the Bruins in 2005-06 but watch for this kid to push incumbent Andrew Raycroft right from the start. Get him on your roster immediately.