LD Andrew Nielsen (2015, 65th, TOR)

[snipes]

Damnit. Hopefully he's ok and he can walk it off. Doesn't look good right now.

 

[DopeyFish]

nielsen back on bench

 

[ViewsFromThe6ix]

nielsen back on bench

really? Great news, thank god

 

[TheLeastOfTheBunch]

Back on the bench?

Edit: Yup. Great news

 

[snipes]

Really hope he's ok. I've been hyping this kid for a while. It would be a shame, he's played so well by all accounts which doesn't surprise anyone who watched him in the WHL last year.

Glad to hear he's back on the bench, he's young. Hopefully he can walk it off.

 

[ViewsFromThe6ix]

Really hope he's ok. I've been hyping this kid for a while. It would be a shame, he's played so well by all accounts which doesn't surprise anyone who watched him in the WHL last year.

Glad to hear he's back on the bench, he's young. Hopefully he can walk it off.

looks like one of those things that looks worse on TV than it actually is

 

[snipes]

looks like one of those things that looks worse on TV than it actually is

Sometimes those weird twists happen and you just need a few minutes to walk it off. Hopefully that's the case here. Side bar, Marner looking good.

 

[snipes]

Back on the ice.

 

[whlscowt]

Good to hear that looked rough. But give it until after the game for a full report-- a lot of times, players will tough out even the most painful of injuries. I still remember Campbell killing off a penalty with a broken leg.

 

[DonskoiDonscored]

Nielsen has incredible puck poise. I'm surprised that that hasn't been as big of a selling point in a lot of scouting reports.

 

[snipes]

Nielsen has incredible puck poise. I'm surprised that that hasn't been as big of a selling point in a lot of scouting reports.

Good eye, agree. He's excellent on the PP.

 

[Canada4Gold]

Nielsen played quite well. He's got a great shot so I'm not surprised he scored. He made some nice plays with the puck as well. Defensively I think he threw a hit or 2, he was partially responsible for the 5th goal, tried to stand up and prevent a zone entry, after a battle for the puck he didn't get it, or get it out of the zone, and nobody covered for him, 2 on 1 down low and a tap in.

The injury scare was scary, a knee injury from something like that can be a full season wasted, thankfuly it wasn't serious and he came back. Pumped for his year in the AHL this year to see how he develops. If he develops properly he could be a stud.

 

[scan15*]

Nielsen played quite well. He's got a great shot so I'm not surprised he scored. He made some nice plays with the puck as well. Defensively I think he threw a hit or 2, he was partially responsible for the 5th goal, tried to stand up and prevent a zone entry, after a battle for the puck he didn't get it, or get it out of the zone, and nobody covered for him, 2 on 1 down low and a tap in.

The injury scare was scary, a knee injury from something like that can be a full season wasted, thankfuly it wasn't serious and he came back. Pumped for his year in the AHL this year to see how he develops. If he develops properly he could be a stud.

Isn't it a trip if someone dives at your feet?

I hope Rich Clune knocks a little sense into Phil Varone the next time they play.

 

[HockeyNightInBelfast]

3rd round prospect w/ great tools, showing terrific improvement in a great environment

This kid has a real chance of being an impactful 3/4 D man.

A year of pro will be a great development - Duncan Keith played TWO FULL years in the AHL, Weber over half a season & Gostisbehere took til he was 23 to make in into the bigs

No pressure plenty of ice tim for Neilson to develop even more & I have a feeling we'll be speaking about him as a TOP prospect in a years time.

 

[Captain Timo]

3rd round prospect w/ great tools, showing terrific improvement in a great environment

This kid has a real chance of being an impactful 3/4 D man.

A year of pro will be a great development - Duncan Keith played TWO FULL years in the AHL, Weber over half a season & Gostisbehere took til he was 23 to make in into the bigs

No pressure plenty of ice tim for Neilson to develop even more & I have a feeling we'll be speaking about him as a TOP prospect in a years time.

This. Leafs will take their time with Andrew, and I hope he relishes that and becomes what he could be.

 

[ViewsFromThe6ix]

nobody really projected Parayko becoming a #1/2D, I fail to see judging by Nielsen's development curve, if he has more to his ceiling than a 3/4.

 

[Tripod]

3rd round prospect w/ great tools, showing terrific improvement in a great environment

This kid has a real chance of being an impactful 3/4 D man.

A year of pro will be a great development - Duncan Keith played TWO FULL years in the AHL, Weber over half a season & Gostisbehere took til he was 23 to make in into the bigs

No pressure plenty of ice tim for Neilson to develop even more & I have a feeling we'll be speaking about him as a TOP prospect in a years time.

Not to be nitpicks, but Ghost played all year at 22 years old. And missed most of the previous season with an injury. Just saying.

But nothing wrong with letting prospect develop at their own pace. That's what patience and having depth can do. You don't get tempted to bring them in before ready.

To use the Flyers as an example, Hextall has said that the goal of the young D is not to "just" be good enough to make the NHL. He wants them to be GOOD in the NHL, not hang on to survive.
And really, the Leafs did it with Nylander too. He could have played all year in the NHL last year, but they let him develop more in the AHL.

 

[keon]

Not to be nitpicks, but Ghost played all year at 2 years old. And missed most of the previous season with an injury. Just saying.

But nothing wrong with letting prospect develop at their own pace. That's what patience and having depth can do. You don't get tempted to bring them in before ready.

To use the Flyers as an example, Hextall has said that the goal of the young D is not to "just" be good enough to make the NHL. He wants them to be GOOD in the NHL, not hang on to survive.
And really, the Leafs did it with Nylander too. He could have played all year in the NHL last year, but they let him develop more in the AHL.

Not to nitpik, Ghost is a fantastic talent, but I do not think he played a full year as a "two year old" and I doubt that he missed playing the previous year (one year old) due to injury. Your time frame is a little suspect.

 

[LeafFever]

Must be hard to wear a diaper and jock at the same time.

 

[93LEAFS]

Pronman weighs in.

 

[Tripod]

Not to nitpik, Ghost is a fantastic talent, but I do not think he played a full year as a "two year old" and I doubt that he missed playing the previous year (one year old) due to injury. Your time frame is a little suspect.

Lol...good catch...and fixed.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

3rd round prospect w/ great tools, showing terrific improvement in a great environment

This kid has a real chance of being an impactful 3/4 D man.

A year of pro will be a great development - Duncan Keith played TWO FULL years in the AHL, Weber over half a season & Gostisbehere took til he was 23 to make in into the bigs

No pressure plenty of ice tim for Neilson to develop even more & I have a feeling we'll be speaking about him as a TOP prospect in a years time.

I agree HNIB. I tipped my liking to this player one year ago after watching Nielsen in preseason. I think he projects higher than Dermott on the depth chart and I wouldn't be surprised if he becomes the best pick the Leafs took in the 2015 draft.

Now saying that, the Weber comparisons may be a little too ambitious. But as a #2 pairing D man on a good team, with hockey IQ and a big shot. I would say for a 3rd rd pick. Most teams will take this 7 days a week and twice on Sundays.

 

[Jyrki Lumme]

3 points in the first AHL game of the year. Kind of funny that we have such a good prospect flying under the radar.

 

[Pi]

I agree HNIB. I tipped my liking to this player one year ago after watching Nielsen in preseason. I think he projects higher than Dermott on the depth chart and I wouldn't be surprised if he becomes the best pick the Leafs took in the 2015 draft.

Now saying that, the Weber comparisons may be a little too ambitious. But as a #2 pairing D man on a good team, with hockey IQ and a big shot. I would say for a 3rd rd pick. Most teams will take this 7 days a week and twice on Sundays.

Leafs picked Marner in 2015. For Nielsen to become better than Marner, he would have to become a #1D.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Leafs picked Marner in 2015. For Nielsen to become better than Marner, he would have to become a #1D.

I assume he meant best pick as in best player for their draft position. A great #3 defenseman from the 3rd round can be seen as a better value pick than an elite player from the top 5