Leafs' Prospect/Marlies Discussion Thread!
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hockeylover
Well-known member
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!
Barb may be able to help a bit there. Given the offense and size combination seems like a worthy pick though.
Barb may be able to help a bit there. Given the offense and size combination seems like a worthy pick though.
LeafGm
Well-known member
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!
Seems like all of our mutant-sized defensive prospects are off to a good start in the OHL (with the exception of 6'6" Keaton Middleton, who's still out from a concussion he suffered in the Leaf rookie tournament).
Nicolas Mattinen (6'5", 215lbs), who was traded from London to Flint prior to the season, has a goal and four points in three games. Fedor Gordeev (6'6", 211 lbs) has two goals in his first three games. And then there's Rasanen (6'7", 226lbs) with two goals and seven points in five games.
Seems like all of our mutant-sized defensive prospects are off to a good start in the OHL (with the exception of 6'6" Keaton Middleton, who's still out from a concussion he suffered in the Leaf rookie tournament).
Nicolas Mattinen (6'5", 215lbs), who was traded from London to Flint prior to the season, has a goal and four points in three games. Fedor Gordeev (6'6", 211 lbs) has two goals in his first three games. And then there's Rasanen (6'7", 226lbs) with two goals and seven points in five games.
LeafGm
Well-known member
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!
With the Leafs having made most of their cuts, and with the Marlies having demoted a bunch of players to the Solar Bears (including draftees JJ Piccinich & Vladimir Bobylev), it's starting to become more clear what shape the Marlies are going to take this year.
If we assume that Timothy Liljegren and Calle Rosen are both being sent to the Marlies, this is the group they'll be picking this year's Marlies from:
Looks like the Marlies are essentially the same story as the Leafs.
Not necessarily an easy roster to crack, and there will be a serious battle for ice-time.
With the Leafs having made most of their cuts, and with the Marlies having demoted a bunch of players to the Solar Bears (including draftees JJ Piccinich & Vladimir Bobylev), it's starting to become more clear what shape the Marlies are going to take this year.
If we assume that Timothy Liljegren and Calle Rosen are both being sent to the Marlies, this is the group they'll be picking this year's Marlies from:
Looks like the Marlies are essentially the same story as the Leafs.
Not necessarily an easy roster to crack, and there will be a serious battle for ice-time.
zeke
Well-known member
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!
yeah i was trying to put a lineup together.
Soshnikov - Aaltonen - Kapanen
Moore - Smith - Johnsson
Rychel - Gauthier - Lindberg
Greening - Mueller - Clune
Timashov - Brooks - Bracco
Rosen/Borgman - Dermott
Valiev - Liljegren
Nielsen - Loverde
Holl
yeah i was trying to put a lineup together.
Soshnikov - Aaltonen - Kapanen
Moore - Smith - Johnsson
Rychel - Gauthier - Lindberg
Greening - Mueller - Clune
Timashov - Brooks - Bracco
Rosen/Borgman - Dermott
Valiev - Liljegren
Nielsen - Loverde
Holl
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!
They really should get rid of guys like Lindberg and Rychel. No sense ruining the development of some kids who still have a shot of an nhl career for them. I understand guys like greening and smith since they want some vets down there, but it's time to trim some of the fat.
I'm not overly high on bracco but it would be a shame to see guys like him and brooks on the outside looking in.
They really should get rid of guys like Lindberg and Rychel. No sense ruining the development of some kids who still have a shot of an nhl career for them. I understand guys like greening and smith since they want some vets down there, but it's time to trim some of the fat.
I'm not overly high on bracco but it would be a shame to see guys like him and brooks on the outside looking in.
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!
Awesome. I was hoping for that.
Awesome. I was hoping for that.
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!
Button says it's a mistake to put Liljegren with the Marlies bc:
-he's an 18 year defenceman and it's hard to play in the AHL
-he had a roller coaster season last year so he needs to get his footing, play, handle the puck, skate and find his confidence in his game back in Sweden; his best development is clearly over in Sweden
-AHL schedule is demanding and you're playing against men; he's not ready for that level of play
-AHL is a development league but not one for 18 year olds
Button says it's a mistake to put Liljegren with the Marlies bc:
-he's an 18 year defenceman and it's hard to play in the AHL
-he had a roller coaster season last year so he needs to get his footing, play, handle the puck, skate and find his confidence in his game back in Sweden; his best development is clearly over in Sweden
-AHL schedule is demanding and you're playing against men; he's not ready for that level of play
-AHL is a development league but not one for 18 year olds
LeafGm
Well-known member
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!
For whatever reason, Button's views on the AHL seem to be weirdly ignorant & lacking contextual analysis.
I remember hearing him on the radio last year basically playing down Kasperi Kapanen's point-a-game performance in the AHL as nothing special, since plenty of players who aren't NHL caliber score at that pace in the AHL.
Of course, the context lacking in that argument was that point-per-game 20 year-old AHLers are actually pretty rare. Fewer than 20 players have done it since the lockout, and the vast majority of them have gone on to be at least good top-6 scorers at the NHL level.
As far as his opinion on Liljegren goes, the context lacking here is that the Swedish team we'd be sending him to is a complete disaster. They finished second-last in the SHL last year (with a 16-36 record). This year, they're off to an 0-4 start and have been out-scored by a 24-11 margin in those games.
So, how the hell is that going to be a good spot for an 18 year-old defenseman to "find his confidence"? And how could the Leafs trust them to put the development of an 18 year-old defenseman on the front-burner when that team's going to be life and death to avoid being relegated out of the SHL?
His complaint about the AHL schedule being demanding is also lacking context. Because, yes, the AHL schedule does include a lot more games than the SHL, as well as a ton of back-to-back games, and even a bunch of three games in three night stretches. But under Dubas's management the last couple of years, the Leafs have mitigated this (particularly for their younger players) by carrying expanded rosters, and moving players in and out of the lineup during stretches of games in consecutive nights.
For whatever reason, Button's views on the AHL seem to be weirdly ignorant & lacking contextual analysis.
I remember hearing him on the radio last year basically playing down Kasperi Kapanen's point-a-game performance in the AHL as nothing special, since plenty of players who aren't NHL caliber score at that pace in the AHL.
Of course, the context lacking in that argument was that point-per-game 20 year-old AHLers are actually pretty rare. Fewer than 20 players have done it since the lockout, and the vast majority of them have gone on to be at least good top-6 scorers at the NHL level.
As far as his opinion on Liljegren goes, the context lacking here is that the Swedish team we'd be sending him to is a complete disaster. They finished second-last in the SHL last year (with a 16-36 record). This year, they're off to an 0-4 start and have been out-scored by a 24-11 margin in those games.
So, how the hell is that going to be a good spot for an 18 year-old defenseman to "find his confidence"? And how could the Leafs trust them to put the development of an 18 year-old defenseman on the front-burner when that team's going to be life and death to avoid being relegated out of the SHL?
His complaint about the AHL schedule being demanding is also lacking context. Because, yes, the AHL schedule does include a lot more games than the SHL, as well as a ton of back-to-back games, and even a bunch of three games in three night stretches. But under Dubas's management the last couple of years, the Leafs have mitigated this (particularly for their younger players) by carrying expanded rosters, and moving players in and out of the lineup during stretches of games in consecutive nights.
leafman101
Well-known member
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!
Liljegren played like 12 minutes a game last year, and bounced around all over the place with 2 different organizations at 3 different levels. Why would they want to send him back for that when they can completely control his development here?
Liljegren played like 12 minutes a game last year, and bounced around all over the place with 2 different organizations at 3 different levels. Why would they want to send him back for that when they can completely control his development here?
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!
I don't get the playing against men thing. Wouldnt he be playing against men vs the league he plays in sweden ?
I don't get the playing against men thing. Wouldnt he be playing against men vs the league he plays in sweden ?
LeafOfFaith
Well-known member
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!
There's no better place for him that the AHL.
He'll learn the NA game at an early age, he'll have far superior coaching, facilities, and teammates, and on a personal level will be familiarizing himself with the city and the team.
There's no better place for him that the AHL.
He'll learn the NA game at an early age, he'll have far superior coaching, facilities, and teammates, and on a personal level will be familiarizing himself with the city and the team.
LeafGm
Well-known member
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!
But the specific instance I was referring to was about Kapanen, towards the end of last season, when Kapanen was dominating the AHL and humming along at a 35-goal, point-a-game pace---as a 20 year-old.
And actually, having looked it up, his comments were even dumber than I remembered:
Button no doubt has made idiotic comments about Nylander at some point.
But the specific instance I was referring to was about Kapanen, towards the end of last season, when Kapanen was dominating the AHL and humming along at a 35-goal, point-a-game pace---as a 20 year-old.
And actually, having looked it up, his comments were even dumber than I remembered:
WellPlayed
Well-known member
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!
That man ran a hockey team. He made decisions...for a team...worth millions of dollars....in the best league on earth...
That man ran a hockey team. He made decisions...for a team...worth millions of dollars....in the best league on earth...