Reimer decision signifies start of heavy lifting for Shanahan, Lamoriello

The sledgehammer is infallible. It doesn't require skill, precision, refinement, rigor, or exactness.

Apply strength; damage done.

Still, it's been the weapon of choice for Brendan Shanahan, Lou Lamoriello, Kyle Dubas, and a Toronto Maple Leafs management team that's wielded the handheld destroyer to some effect in demolishing the third-rate organization it inherited.

There are swings still to be taken. But now, standing in debris, Shanahan and co. are at a point where they must start building beyond what's been rather brilliantly constructed at the minor-league level.

And it starts with deciding whether or not James Reimer represents a pillar in the foundation.

Who's this Reimer?

Before sinking major dollars or substantial term into the netminder, the Leafs must make this determination: Can James Reimer be consistently great?

He's been nothing short of elite this season. Reimer finished a fraction off the league lead in total save percentage at the All-Star break, but he's been head and shoulders better than his peers in advanced stats that attach importance to the quality and difficulty of certain saves.

For instance, his .923 high-danger save clip is greater than the overall rates of both Henrik Lundqvist and Jonathan Quick.

One year isn't enough to make a franchise goalie, though, much like 24 starts doesn't make a season. Not only must the Leafs scrutinize what's left of 2015-16, but they must also consider his rocky year-to-year performance, which predates the arrival of Mike Babcock.

That data shows his substandard seasons outweigh his elite contributions:

Still, it's what the Leafs, and perhaps more specifically, what Steve Briere - the goalie coach Babcock handpicked to teach and evaluate the position - see right now that will carry the most weight. If Briere's convinced Reimer can perform in a top 10 capacity over the next half-decade, and he can cement the club's conviction, then the Leafs should try to use leverage from previous years to lock Reimer down at a team-friendly rate.

But if the book is still out inside the organization - if there's reason to believe he can't hold up as a No. 1, or that he doesn't have the durability or makeup required to be one of the game's greats - he should be considered no different from the other assets Babcock has worked tirelessly to squeeze value from ahead of the trade deadline.

Indecision

Of course, the Maple Leafs won't impose an ultimatum upon themselves.

Should they have both interest and reservations, they'll have months to pursue a short-term, prove-it-again contract similar to the one Jonathan Bernier inked last summer. Then, the Leafs might find out if Reimer can make 50 starts in a season, and if he and Briere can continue on their trajectory.

But if doing business with Reimer similarly to how they dealt with Bernier isn't a harbinger in itself, this strategy isn't without risk. Reimer could fall off a cliff akin to his partner, seeing his value burn at the bottom. He could prove his mettle and drive up the price, or - perhaps worse - muddle his standing further, introducing indecision in a time where glossing over losses will no longer cut it.

Then again, why would Reimer settle?

TSN's Darren Dreger reported this week that league executives believe Reimer will net a long-term extension in the range of $5 million a year.

Choosing not to test the market would be silly, but leaving millions on the table and catering to the hesitation of an organization that previously fumbled your development? Well, that would be dim-witted.

The jury may still be out, but Reimer's earned a lengthy investment over 24 starts. And while we'll likely have to wait until summer to see if it'll come from the Leafs, we should have an idea of where they stand soon enough.

The window to cash in on his emergence closes in one month.