Leafs at the Olympics

[SeaOfBlue]

This tournament is designed for grinders IMO .. kind of how some skilled guys in the AHL have a harder time excellent because of the lack of structure in the game

It doesn't help that Ho-Sang is allergic to the middle of the ice.

If anyone wants to claim that the Leafs are full of perimeter players, you just need to show them some tape of Ho-Sang.

I am pretty sure the only time I have really seen him between the hashmarks is when he is on a breakaway.

 

[BertCorbeau]

While I love the opportunity to see the Leaf prospects play, no NHL players in the Olympics just takes the wind out of my sails about getting excited for this.

 

[Fogelhund]

While I love the opportunity to see the Leaf prospects play, no NHL players in the Olympics just takes the wind out of my sails about getting excited for this.

Yes.. it was good to see Knies and Abruzzese excel in play, even if they didn't end up on the score sheet. Some boys playing against men, showing well. I enjoyed that.

 

[TheBigFour]

Ho-sang looked good on the power play but other than that, meh.
Canada should really load up the first power play with younger players. The older guys just keep taking point shots ….

 

[BertCorbeau]

Eric Staal is clearly cooked.

 

[Antiillafire]

Marincin leads Slovaks in ice time after 2 games and should get lots of ice time again vs Latvia. His game is pretty much the same, terrible mobility and prone to just inexcusably bad decision making. Yet once in a while he makes a play that you say “oh yeah he was once an NHL player.” Like he weaved through 3 Swedish forwards than slipped past the dman and almost set up a Slovak goal. Than next shift he whiffs on a pass that he has all day to make and nearly gives Sweden an easy goal. The duality of man

 

[diehardleafsfan9878]

Marincin leads Slovaks in ice time after 2 games and should get lots of ice time again vs Latvia. His game is pretty much the same, terrible mobility and prone to just inexcusably bad decision making. Yet once in a while he makes a play that you say “oh yeah he was once an NHL player.” Like he weaved through 3 Swedish forwards than slipped past the dman and almost set up a Slovak goal. Than next shift he whiffs on a pass that he has all day to make and nearly gives Sweden an easy goal. The duality of man

Marincins problem has always been space. Go watch tape of him. Whenever he is hard under pressure, he usually makes good plays, but the second you give him time and space he becomes like a deer in headlights. Just has absolutely no idea what to do. The ultimate enigma.

 

[DraftSchmaft]

Ho Sang looks pretty bad but his entire line has zero chemistry.

Knies and Abruzzese looked like their xGF would be close to 100 last night.

 

[Stigma]

I'm really liking Abruzzese. As people mentioned, he's quite skilled but also plays a "heavy" game, which is a great sign because once he grows into his adult body, that part of his game is going to get even better. He makes me feel more comfortable giving up one of our higher end prospects for the likes of a Chychrun type.

On a negative note, I really disliked the camera angles and lighting of the game yesterday. Almost felt like I was watching AAA on community access cable.

 

[aingefan]

Hey, how did Ben Meyers look?

 

[tokyoite]

NHL-less USA beats NHL-less Canada

 

[Zybalto]

While I love the opportunity to see the Leaf prospects play, no NHL players in the Olympics just takes the wind out of my sails about getting excited for this.

It was sort of just bad timing with the whole Omicron thing. It gave the owners a way out of something that made no money for them....but it was completely short-sighted of course.

In hindsight (to put it mildly), NHL players absolutely should have gone and once again we lose a chance to see a best on best tourney. Maybe it would have saved the shockingly bad Olympics being staged right now and it would have been great for the growth of the game.

The biggest priority for the growth of hockey right now should be to organize a BoB tournament IMO. If we don't get one in the next year, I'm fully on board to support the ouster of the current leadership on the NHL. Greed and lack of leadership at the top has deprived the players and fans long enough....

 

[BertCorbeau]

It was sort of just bad timing with the whole Omicron thing. It gave the owners a way out of something that made no money for them....but it was completely short-sighted of course.

In hindsight (to put it mildly), NHL players absolutely should have gone and once again we lose a chance to see a best on best tourney. Maybe it would have saved the shockingly bad Olympics being staged right now and it would have been great for the growth of the game.

The biggest priority for the growth of hockey right now should be to organize a BoB tournament IMO. If we don't get one in the next year, I'm fully on board to support the ouster of the current leadership on the NHL. Greed and lack of leadership at the top has deprived the players and fans long enough....

It sucks because we have been unable to see two of this generation’s greats in McDavid and Crosby play together.

 

[Zybalto]

It sucks because we have been unable to see two of this generation’s greats in McDavid and Crosby play together.

Exactly....and how many other players are being deprived of a best on best in their prime years?

The leadership in hockey needs to make it happen now.

 

[Mess]

I'm really liking Abruzzese. As people mentioned, he's quite skilled but also plays a "heavy" game, which is a great sign because once he grows into his adult body, that part of his game is going to get even better. He makes me feel more comfortable giving up one of our higher end prospects for the likes of a Chychrun type.

On a negative note, I really disliked the camera angles and lighting of the game yesterday. Almost felt like I was watching AAA on community access cable.

Leaf Nation fans overall are not giving this kid Abruzzese enough credit when it comes to prospect rankings. He has some real skills and if it weren't for his size 5-9/165 lbs his star would be shining even brighter.

As Harvard captain he show leadership and surprisingly he plays with a chip and bite to his game, and not afraid to play in traffic nor go to the dirty areas to score goals.

He had a few really good looks yesterday against Canada in close that got stopped, but he was very noticeable in the game despite not appearing on the scoreboard. You have to like and appreciate his game when one gets to see him against better competition.

 

[Nylander88]

Abruzzese has really popped into the scene here. He is a little bit older than some of our other prospects, at the age of 22, but he could definitely turn into a viable NHL option for us, by the looks of it.
When you look at the fact we have guys like Robertson, Anderson, Knies, Abruzzese, Amirov all in the system....4LW guys (Abruzzese I think can play LW/C/RW) and one RW...you'd have to think the Leafs use one as a real chip at the deadline to make a splash. Factor in you have 1 too many between Sandin, Liljegren, Dermott already on the NHL backend...and I think we have some good pieces to make a deal. We need more top 9 toughness up front, we need to unload Ritchie and his contract, and we need to add preferably a #4 Dman, or at least a hard-nosed #6. But the pieces are there, as fortunately for us we appear to have a future logjam on our hands

 

[therealkoho]

Eric Staal is clearly cooked.

Could he be served with a chilled chianti and freshly picked Fava beans?

 

[therealkoho]

I'm really liking Abruzzese. As people mentioned, he's quite skilled but also plays a "heavy" game, which is a great sign because once he grows into his adult body, that part of his game is going to get even better. He makes me feel more comfortable giving up one of our higher end prospects for the likes of a Chychrun type.

On a negative note, I really disliked the camera angles and lighting of the game yesterday. Almost felt like I was watching AAA on community access cable.

FYI Abruzzese will be 23 in June, he's not really a "kid" anymore, consider there's only 2 Leafs younger than him

 

[therealkoho]

Leaf Nation fans overall are not giving this kid Abruzzese enough credit when it comes to prospect rankings. He has some real skills and if it weren't for his size 5-9/165 lbs his star would be shining even brighter.

As Harvard captain he show leadership and surprisingly he plays with a chip and bite to his game, and not afraid to play in traffic nor go to the dirty areas to score goals.

He had a few really good looks yesterday against Canada in close that got stopped, but he was very noticeable in the game despite not appearing on the scoreboard. You have to like and appreciate his game when one gets to see him against better competition.

his numbers are eerily similar to Johnny Hockey's

 

[tmlms13]

Martin Marincin just scored for Slovakia

 

[keonsbitterness]

Martin Marincin just scored for Slovakia

legend!

 

[BertCorbeau]

Abruzzese has really popped into the scene here. He is a little bit older than some of our other prospects, at the age of 22, but he could definitely turn into a viable NHL option for us, by the looks of it.
When you look at the fact we have guys like Robertson, Anderson, Knies, Abruzzese, Amirov all in the system....4LW guys (Abruzzese I think can play LW/C/RW) and one RW...you'd have to think the Leafs use one as a real chip at the deadline to make a splash. Factor in you have 1 too many between Sandin, Liljegren, Dermott already on the NHL backend...and I think we have some good pieces to make a deal. We need more top 9 toughness up front, we need to unload Ritchie and his contract, and we need to add preferably a #4 Dman, or at least a hard-nosed #6. But the pieces are there, as fortunately for us we appear to have a future logjam on our hands

For a college level player he's showing some polish for pro level hockey. Is he slated to join the Marlies next year?

 

[aingefan]

For a college level player he's showing some polish for pro level hockey. Is he slated to join the Marlies next year?

I think the GM hopes so.
He name dropped him a few times over the years.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

How is Marc McLaughlin doing? All of the other (mostly USA) prospects were getting a lot of hype but he is going to be a top notch NCAA UFA in his own right.

18 goals in 25 NCAA games this year as BC's captain, and BC is not a great team overall this year.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

For a college level player he's showing some polish for pro level hockey. Is he slated to join the Marlies next year?

He will probably compete for an NHL job right away, just like Holmberg. He may get a year in the AHL to start but there are openings that are going to open up for young guys who are hungry and can play a reliable two-way game.