Ex-Maple Leafs Goalie Dennis Hildeby Off to a Good Start

If you’re a Toronto Maple Leafs fan who likes to keep an eye on former Leafs players, here’s one worth watching. Dennis Hildeby has a new home in Tampa Bay, and his first start with the Lightning went pretty well. In fact, he was named the second star of the game. Not a bad way to introduce yourself to a new team.

Hildeby stopped 34 shots Thursday night as Tampa Bay beat the Minnesota Wild 3-2. That’s a busy evening for any goaltender, especially one making his first start of the season with a new club. And if you’re wondering how the former Maple Leafs netminder is doing, this is an encouraging place to start.

Hildeby didn’t appear in Tampa Bay’s first three regular-season games, but he was the first goaltender off the ice at Thursday’s morning skate. That was a pretty good clue that his opportunity had arrived. He made the most of it.

The big Swedish goaltender appeared in 20 regular-season games with Toronto last season, posting a 5-7-4 record. His goals-against average was 2.85, and he finished with a .912 save percentage. Those aren't bad numbers for a young goalie trying to establish himself in the NHL.

Hildeby has the size and athleticism teams look for in a goaltender. At 6-foot-7, he certainly doesn't lack the physical tools. But as every goalie eventually learns, being big enough to fill the net and knowing how to handle the NHL are two different things. The only way to learn the second part is to play. And that’s what makes Thursday's performance worth watching.

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Reports suggest Hildeby could get somewhere in the neighbourhood of 20 to 25 starts this season as Tampa Bay's backup. That's a meaningful opportunity. He won't have to carry the entire workload, but he'll have chances to show the Lightning they can trust him when they need him.

Of course, one good start doesn't tell the whole story. Goaltending can be a funny business. One night you're the second star, and a few nights later you're trying to figure out what went wrong. Still, stopping 34 shots in a 3-2 win is a strong way to start.

For Maple Leafs fans, there's something interesting about following a young goalie after he leaves Toronto. We watched Hildeby try to find his footing here. Now we get to see whether a new organization and a different opportunity help him take the next step. I'm always interested in those stories. Not every player figures everything out in the same place, and sometimes a change of scenery gives a young player a chance to show what he can do.

Hildeby has taken the first step in Tampa Bay. Let's see where it leads.

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