C William Nylander (2014, 8th, TOR) V [Mod warning in OP]

[KGL]

Likely would have made the team under a different management regime.

The current group is taking an incredibly conservative stance on prospect development - which I'm perfectly okay with.

Absolutely. Nylander was one of the best players during camp. If this management team was concerned with winning this season, Nylander would certainly be on the team. As you said though, their priority this season is prospect development.

He'll be on the team next year, no doubt. As for now, the Marlies will be a VERY exciting team.

 

[sabresfan129103]

Good move by the Leafs. Let Nylander simmer in the minors for a year. I think this is the best decision for his development. They want to be terrible this year anyways, so this is a good move from a tank perspective.

 

[Atomos2]

How difficult was this process today, and how much temptation was there to maybe keep those young kids around for a couple of games?

Lamoriello: First of all, it’s been an ongoing process to make sure that whatever decisions are made are within the framework of what we’ve put together here as a group, with the plan. But they did extremely well, the younger players in camp. So, there’s an extremely bright future for them, but this is the right decision right now to make sure that we see exactly who we have here — that is of the veterans and what they bring.

Read more at: https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2015...ts/?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

Seems to me like Lou's saying the veterans didn't show enough at camp and they want to see what they have in them. Probably had nothing to do with merit and it was always the plan to send Nylander down.

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

Detroit has scored 27 goals this preseason, Toronto has scored 14 in the same number of games. It's easier to put up points when you're playing on a high scoring team.

I'm not saying the poster you quoted is right, but your reasoning is faulty...

Hint: One team might be high scoring because...

 

[TheLeastOfTheBunch]

Keep him away from a dumpster fire of a team, unless he ends up being too good at the AHL level. Anyways, Nylander has made big strides since the 2nd half of his draft year, here's hoping he keeps it up

Also wouldn't be surprised if the Leafs send Marner down to the OHL again next season. Just a hunch but it does seem like they're going to take it slow with their prospects.

 

[LeafsNation75]

I have no problems with Nylander being sent to the Marlies.

 

[Mad Dog Tannen]

Did not playing in juniors stunt Nylanders development?

Watching Nylander in preseason, it's clear he's not NHL ready, specifically on the defensive side, as well as in his physicality. Guy is lights out and beyond ready from an offensive point of view (Although could benefit from taking less risks).

While I'm glad the leafs, are not rushing his development, I am a little disappointed he wasn't NHL ready, especially after last year, his play in the SEL and AHL with MEN, it was thought he'd be far more NHL ready than someone like Ehlers, who played in the soft Q with boys. But watching Ehlers in the preseason it was clear how strong he is offensively, defensively and in his checking, and it's landed him a top six spot on a much tougher roster to crack than the leafs.

A lot of fellow leaf fans have bought in to the notion that the leafs are bad, and Nylander is NHL ready, but is being kept in the minors because the teams bad. Ridiculous notion that no we'll run hockey club would ever actually do. If you're ready, you're ready.

Guess the base of the question is would Nylander have benefitted from more minutes on a junior team during his development the last few years? It seemed to work for Ehlers, who I would consider a strong comparable. I'm quite surprised we're not seeing William in the league this year, and how he looked so out of place on the team.

 

[Pyromaniac]

Sweden has an adequate system for developing young players. Nylander's shortcomings are not the result of having played in Sweden.

He has flaws like nearly every player his age. Just because guys from his draft class have made the NHL does not mean Nylander is a worse prospect. This is a marathon not a sprint.

 

[The Podium]

This is ridiculous the answer is no.

 

[Mad Dog Tannen]

Sweden has an adequate system for developing young players. Nylander's shortcomings are not the result of having played in Sweden.

He has flaws like nearly every player his age. Just because guys from his draft class have made the NHL does not mean Nylander is a worse prospect. This is a marathon not a sprint.

This is ridiculous the answer is no.

Watching him play, I wonder if some of his flaws, or weaknesses in his game would have been addressed a bit more had he played in the CHL, the best developmental league on the planet for players his age.

Podium, I'd like to believe the answer isnt no, and if he was in a position to receive more development coaching in a league designed for it he'd have been wearing a leafs jersey last night.

Is it your opinion that regardless of what he did the last few years, will simply wouldn't have been NHL ready regardless and will need an additional year or two in the minors?

 

[bottomofthefoodchain]

Watching him play, I wonder if some of his flaws, or weaknesses in his game would have been addressed a bit more had he played in the CHL, the best developmental league on the planet for players his age.

Is it the best developmental league though? Yes it develops more NHL players than any other league, but it also contains by far the most players.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

I don't know what the CHL could've taught him that he didn't learn elsewhere. Would racking up points against kids his age or younger really have made much of a difference or have had as big an impact on his development as playing against men? I don't believe so.

Playing against men allowed Nylander to get stronger physically and play against competition closer to the NHL style (especially when he came over to the Marlies). I don't know how the CHL could've done anything for him that wasn't done in the SHL or AHL, so no, I don't believe he would be with the Leafs now if he had taken the CHL route.

You also have to take into account the state of the franchise as to why Nylander didn't make it. Ehlers and Larkin did but they're both joining stable, playoff teams who could use them right now. Not to mention u don't think Ehlers had the AHL as an option so it was Junior or NHL (someone correct me if I'm wrong). The Leafs are in a transitional year of their rebuild and have no need for Nylander on the big squad. The AHL was an option available to him so the Leafs went with it.

Him not making the team this year isn't a death sentence or means that he's worse than some of the guys that did make it this year. Anyone who watched the Leafs preseason could easily tell that Nylander was one of the better players for the team. Given that he still has things to learn defensively and the fact that the Leafs want to develop him as a centre, it makes sense that he was returned to the AHL.

 

[Leafidelity]

lol what?

 

[gifted88]

A lot of his weaknesses you point out are based on strength. I'm not sure choosing a different development league would address that. I mean playing against players in his age group vs playing against men. Maybe it would've even slowed his development down?

I'm of the opinion that the Leafs brass had always intended him to play another year in the AHL though.

 

[Mad Dog Tannen]

A lot of his weaknesses you point out are based on strength. I'm not sure choosing a different development league would address that. I mean playing against players in his age group vs playing against men. Maybe it would've even slowed his development down?

I'm of the opinion that the Leafs brass had always intended him to play another year in the AHL though.

If he was NHL ready, than he would be playing in the NHL.

Playing defence, and learning a structured game as a teenager, as well as taking on a leadership role on a junior team are all things that would have addressed weaknesses in his game.

He can lift weights where ever he's playing, and strength building is typically done in the off season.

This whole working on his strength while playing in the AHL is as much of a myth as the brass deciding to keep him in the minors no matter what.

 

[gifted88]

If he was NHL ready, than he would be playing in the NHL.

Playing defence, and learning a structured game as a teenager, as well as taking on a leadership role on a junior team are all things that would have addressed weaknesses in his game.

He can lift weights where ever he's playing, and strength building is typically done in the off season.

This whole working on his strength while playing in the AHL is as much of a myth as the brass deciding to keep him in the minors no matter what.

What are you basing this on? Babcock just came from a system that left NHL ready players in the AHL for an extra year.

 

[Mad Dog Tannen]

What are you basing this on? Babcock just came from a system that left NHL ready players in the AHL for an extra year.

What are you basing that on? I'm sure it's been quoted as detroits system By brass somewhere.

Ready for the NHL......awesome, now one more year in the AHL.

Ridiculous. You either earn a spot on the roster or you don't.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Watching him play, I wonder if some of his flaws, or weaknesses in his game would have been addressed a bit more had he played in the CHL, the best developmental league on the planet for players his age.

Podium, I'd like to believe the answer isnt no, and if he was in a position to receive more development coaching in a league designed for it he'd have been wearing a leafs jersey last night.

Is it your opinion that regardless of what he did the last few years, will simply wouldn't have been NHL ready regardless and will need an additional year or two in the minors?

I don't think so. The Swedish league and the AHL are both great development leagues. Not every prospect makes the NHL in their draft plus two year. In fact, a lot still have parts of their game they need to work on. We'll get a better read on his development this year in the AHL and then next year when he should be ready to make the next step.

 

[gifted88]

What are you basing that on?

What? I just explained why I thought they left him in the AHL. The Leafs management seems to want to eco Detroit's development strategy.

"Mike Babcock’s message to Maple Leafs prospects is clear: Work hard now, separate yourself from the pack, and, in a few years, you might make the NHL."
http://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs...ects-to-learn-what-makes-superstars-tick.html

"While it is unlikely that the Leafs' high end prospects will see time at the NHL level during the 2015-16 season, a fair portion of the campaign will be devoted to development of center Nazem Kadri and defensemen Morgan Reilly and Jake Gardiner."
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/10/05/sports/hockey/ap-hkn-maple-leafs-preview.html?_r=0

Tip of the iceberg here as far as finding evidence for this claim.


Now again I ask, why are you of the mind that the Leafs management team would have any prospect showing signs of being NHL ready play in the NHL only?

 

[Subbanned]

What are you basing that on? I'm sure it's been quoted as detroits system b brass somewhere.

Ready for the NHL......awesome, now one more year in the AHL.

Ridiculous. You either earn a spot on the roster or you don't.

Not a Leaf fan but easy to see you're way off base here.

You're being ridiculous.

All teams with their different management and coaching staff will make different decision on when to bring a prospect up.

Watching Nylander in the preseason he was clearly ready for the bigs.

The Leafs made the smart choice of keeping him out of what will be a losing environment.

If he was on the Jets for example, he would be up, just like Ehlers.

 

[Mad Dog Tannen]

What? I just explained why I thought they left him in the AHL. The Leafs management seems to want to eco Detroit's development strategy.

Now again I ask, why are you of the mind that the Leafs management team would have any prospect showing signs of being NHL ready play in the NHL only?

Because that's no Detroit system, nor is it any teams. A player is NHL ready if they earn a roster spot. Nylander did not, I personally believe he would have had a better chance and be further a long in development had he played in the CHL., for reasons already indicated.

Gaining 15 lbs won't improve your defence.

 

[Mad Dog Tannen]

Not a Leaf fan but easy to see you're way off base here.

You're being ridiculous.

All teams with their different management and coaching staff will make different decision on when to bring a prospect up.

Watching Nylander in the preseason he was clearly ready for the bigs.

The Leafs made the smart choice of keeping him out of what will be a losing environment.

If he was on the Jets for example, he would be up, just like Ehlers.

And if Calgary had followed this "losing environment" myth, they wouldn't have called up any prospects last year, and most likely wouldn't have made the playoffs.

To suggest any player comes to camp and shows they are NHL ready, but is sent back down because of "reasons" is removed from reality.

 

[Byron Bitz]

Watching him play, I wonder if some of his flaws, or weaknesses in his game would have been addressed a bit more had he played in the CHL, the best developmental league on the planet for players his age.

Thats certainly debatable. Players as skilled as Nylander often don't develop well in the CHL because the coaches offensive strategy ends up revolving around that player and he plays a very different role than he will in the NHL. I would argue the AHL is the best development league for players like Nylander because the NHL team will run the same systems as their AHL affiliate.

 

[VictorLustig]

He was drafted by the Mississauga Steelheads. Do they really have a better track record when it comes to producing players than Modo? Don't think so, not even close.

 

[Mad Dog Tannen]

Thats certainly debatable. Players as skilled as Nylander often don't develop well in the CHL because the coaches offensive strategy ends up revolving around that player and he plays a very different role than he will in the NHL. I would argue the AHL is the best development league for players like Nylander because the NHL team will run the same systems as their AHL affiliate.

That's Fair, but no player on the leafs knows babcocks system. Part of being NHL ready is the ability o learn and implement new systems and strategies when requested. I'd argue a players role in the system changes during the course of their CHL career more than it would during two years in the NHL playing the same system as the parent team.

If anything, it just reinforces the point that Nylander isn't NHL ready.