Confirmed with Link: Leafs acquire Clifford from the Blues in exchange for future considerations

[Acesup]

Spezza bunting Engvall could be one hell of a 4th line.

 

[VanW27]

Seems like now would be as good a time as ever to try to turn Engvall into some picks. Especially with Mikheyev expected to be back soon and Semyonov looking like he fits in as a 12th-14th forward himself.

3rd line has been great, Engvall has been a big part of that, I doubt you get much of anything for Engvall, why not just keep him?

Other guys will get hurt and it would also be good to give Simmonds and Spezza some nights off.

 

[LeafChief]

3rd line has been great, Engvall has been a big part of that, I doubt you get much of anything for Engvall, why not just keep him?

Other guys will get hurt and it would also be good to give Simmonds and Spezza some nights off.

I feel like we have a lot of Engvall level players on the Marlies. That third line has looked great as of late but I would say that mostly comes from Kampf and Kase (Kase especially).

Semyonov, Ho-Sang (if they choose to sign him), Robertson (once he's back from injury), Clifford and others are cheaper options than Engvall and it wouldn't hurt to add a mid-round pick or two for the next draft.

 

[justashadowof]

Not sure how much Clifford has declined in a year and a half. He may help later in the season. There's a roster spot available for someone IMO because Semyonov isn't staying long term.

 

[ToDavid]

I feel like we have a lot of Engvall level players on the Marlies. That third line has looked great as of late but I would say that mostly comes from Kampf and Kase (Kase especially).

Semyonov, Ho-Sang (if they choose to sign him), Robertson (once he's back from injury), Clifford and others are cheaper options than Engvall and it wouldn't hurt to add a mid-round pick or two for the next draft.

There are offensive replacements, yes, but what we don't have tons of are 6'5 guys who play with a 15 foot stick and can skate like the wind. He needs a kick in the ass every now and then but when Engvall is engaged he's a possession machine. For the role Keefe has this line playing, he's been great. There are other more individually gifted offensive players (would love to see Ho-Sang get a shot) but if Engvall can get the puck into the offensive zone and keep it there, it's going to give a guy like Kase more opportunities to score.

 

[LeafChief]

There are offensive replacements, yes, but what we don't have tons of are 6'5 guys who play with a 15 foot stick and can skate like the wind. He needs a kick in the ass every now and then but when Engvall is engaged he's a possession machine. For the role Keefe has this line playing, he's been great. There are other more individually gifted offensive players (would love to see Ho-Sang get a shot) but if Engvall can get the puck into the offensive zone and keep it there, it's going to give a guy like Kase more opportunities to score.

I agree with that assessment. I believe Mikheyev does all of those things too, just a bit better and a lot faster.

I'd rather Mikheyev in the lineup over Engvall but I also understand that that's just my personal opinion and I could very well be wrong.

 

[saffronleaf]

Basically take Ritchie and make him slower and less involved. You now have Kyle Clifford.

slower?? does he move at all?

 

[saffronleaf]

Engvall should worry. So should his fans.

lol the Pierre Engvall Fan Club

 

[ottomaddox]

lol the Pierre Engvall Fan Club

It's a real thing. Look at the above post by user ToDavid. You can't make this stuff up.

 

[TMLAM34]

I agree with that assessment. I believe Mikheyev does all of those things too, just a bit better and a lot faster.

I'd rather Mikheyev in the lineup over Engvall but I also understand that that's just my personal opinion and I could very well be wrong.

I think when Mikheyev returns, that’s exactly where he’ll slot in… Third line with Kampf and Kase. Has the makings to be a real solid line.

 

[ToneDog]

It's a real thing. Look at the above post by user ToDavid. You can't make this stuff up.

Don't mind Engvall. He is what he is and isn't killing us cap wise. Aaron Ward says he likes him and would find him difficult to play against. I'd rather move Mikheyev since chances are he'll walk this summer.

 

[Kurtz]

I think when Mikheyev returns, that’s exactly where he’ll slot in… Third line with Kampf and Kase. Has the makings to be a real solid line.

That might be the best shutdown line in the league. Mickey might not be happy about 90% defensive zone starts in his contract year, though.

 

[Quares27]

It's a real thing. Look at the above post by user ToDavid. You can't make this stuff up.

His post is factual though? The line has been fantastic and Engvall is part of the line. He sucks at scoring goals but is very good defensively and that's the purpose of the line. They're consistently outplaying their matchups in tough minutes with 90% D zone starts. There are 0 Engvall replacements on the Marlies and trading him for a 4th rounder when you're trying to win in the playoffs makes absolutely no sense.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

That might be the best shutdown line in the league. Mickey might not be happy about 90% defensive zone starts in his contract year, though.

If he is taking Engvall's spot, he is getting 2PP time as well.

I doubt the Leafs are going to keep him from earning a spot in the top 6 either, but being part of a shutdown line is a good way to earn money, and it is not like he won't be playing a ton. Between his PP and PK minutes, he may very well get 16+ minutes a night... Which is top 6 minutes.

He is also a guy who is much better on the rush than on the cycle, so he should actually prefer to start in his own end. He is more likely to get better scoring chances.

 

[MagicalRazor]

Clifford in Engvall out?

 

[Le Cobra]

It's a real thing. Look at the above post by user ToDavid. You can't make this stuff up.

agreed. Engvall found his mojo in preseason and he seems confident and believes he can score. whereas before we used to mock him here

 

[meefer]

Clifford will start with the Marlies, and if his game warrants a look he'll get his chance with the Leafs. From what I've read, he didn't set the house on fire with St. L., I wouldn't expect him to do so here. However, if he finds a bit of the fountain of youth over the next few months, who's to say he might not make a difference. The pickup wasn't for today, at least for the Leafs, if was for tomorrow.

 

[Bluelines]

Thought they might have picked him up off of waivers yesterday.

If he passes through waivers, Leafs can send him up and down, if they claim him and send him down, he has to be offered back to St Lou.

 

[kb]

If he passes through waivers, Leafs can send him up and down, if they claim him and send him down, he has to be offered back to St Lou.

He's passed through waivers already. That's why they traded for him instead of claiming him - he's free to go up and down.

 

[Bluelines]

He's passed through waivers already. That's why they traded for him instead of claiming him - he's free to go up and down.

Right that is what I said.

 

[LeafSteel]

Funny that the day we signed Clifford Ritchie had a big hit and dropped the gloves....

Coincidence???

 

[crump]

slower?? does he move at all?

“He skates really well and works really hard,” Moore said of Clifford. “His competitiveness is off the charts, and it’s something that we value within our organization, and definitely with how we play. So he’s going to bring a lot of pace. He’s going to get the game going in the right direction.

I'm not sure who Moore was watching in practice, but "pace" doesn't come to mind when I watch Clifford. Not a knock, I love him as a 13th forward or a 4th line guy who can come up and replace Simmonds if he gets injured. He wears his guns outside his pants for all the honest world to feel, so-to-speak.

 

[zeke]

Clifford is a very good skater.

 

[therealkoho]

Engvall has fans?

As a 4th line guy yes, as anything else, sadly it's a no.

 

[therealkoho]

Clifford in Engvall out?

Jeebuzz I hope not