Speculation: Leafs hidden gems

[Pierre Gotye]

Just curious...which of these players do you think has the best chance of making the club and being a hidden gem?

 

[613Leafer]

Percy!

But he's not on the list... despite getting drafted after Biggs (who is on the list).

 

[Pierre Gotye]

Percy!

But he's not on the list... despite getting drafted after Biggs (who is on the list).

Yeah I should have added him, and Sparks as well.

I think there's a lot of potential NHL talent in our prospectus cupboard. Maybe not a lot of can't miss prospects, but a lot of good potential depth players there.

Nilsson intrigues me the most. Haven't seem him play, but he seems to be a very smart defenseman. MacWilliam is another one, I think who could become something. Fearless hitter, great leader, could become a rock-solid shut-down stay at home type defenseman the Leafs need.

 

[Diamond Joe Quimby]

Matthew "Wale" Finn. Kids gonna be Duncan Keith-esque.

 

[Raging Bull]

Jerry D'Amigo will end up in a McClement role before too long IMO.

 

[HarrisonFord]

I think Josh Leivo is going to be an incredibly huge surprise. I see him being a 2nd line scoring winger. I've thought this for a while too.

Also, Connor Brown is my darkhorse. Granted he's played with McDavid, but if I recall correctly, McDavid's production dropped off pretty significantly when Brown was injured.

Sparks I have high hopes for as well, but I don't know what to expect from him.

 

[Pi]

Matt Finn is going to be a great pro. He's a smart two way player that can put up points. IMO his ceiling is a better Gunnarsson.

I chose Leivo for this poll because he was drafted in the 3rd round and he's got the size and skill to be a top 9 player for the Leafs.

 

[Hurt]

Finner. Kid's going to be a beauty.

 

[Christ]

Are hidden gems not usually considered less commonly known players who are picked in the later rounds? If so this is between Leivo and Nillson in my books. Biggs and Finn don't really fit into this list...

 

[GordieHoweHatTrick]

Josh Leivo

 

[bobermay]

I voted other, although I think we have a few hidden gems.

I think Sparks, Toninato, Cameranesi, Granberg and even Knodel could all be hidden gems that were not included in the poll.

I also have high hopes for Nilsson, MacWilliam and Leivo.


I'm a big fan of Biggs, Percy, Rielly and Finn, but they are expected to do well...

 

[Warden of the North]

Voted Leivo but Nilsson might just be the biggest diamond in the rough

 

[Joey Hoser]

Jerry D'Amigo will end up in a McClement role before too long IMO.

Yup. His offensive game hasn't progressed like I hoped/expected, but he's got a well-equipped tool-box, and motor than never stops, a good mind for the game, and he steps it up at important times(WJC, last years AHL playoffs).

He might not be a top-six forward, but I can easily imagine him being a valuable depth guy, in a similar way that Fraser has been this season.

 

[bobermay]

Great to see so much depth in Prospects... I think our scouting staff has made some pretty solid picks in recent years!

 

[SprDaVE]

Leivo, Nilsson and Ross.

 

[member 147413]

Leivo and/or Toninato, Nilsson

 

[IBLEAF]

Andy MacWilliam for me,he kind of reminds me of scott stevens

 

[Pierre Gotye]

Jerry D'Amigo will end up in a McClement role before too long IMO.

I'm not there with D'Amigo. Think he kind of missed the boat with the Leafs.

 

[Pierre Gotye]

Matt Finn is going to be a great pro. He's a smart two way player that can put up points. IMO his ceiling is a better Gunnarsson.

I chose Leivo for this poll because he was drafted in the 3rd round and he's got the size and skill to be a top 9 player for the Leafs.

Assuming the Leafs keep Grabo, Bozak and Kadri though, where is he going to fit in?

Right now, I don't see room for him.

 

[Pierre Gotye]

Andy MacWilliam for me,he kind of reminds me of scott stevens

I think he too will develop well in the next 2 years. Could become a 6th/7th dman very easily.

 

[613Leafer]

Assuming the Leafs keep Grabo, Bozak and Kadri though, where is he going to fit in?

Right now, I don't see room for him.

Leivo is a LWer, not a Centre. Also, he's probably a good 2-3 years away from the NHL, I don't think both Grabo and Bozak will be with us at that point.

 

[Pi]

Leivo is a LWer, not a Centre. Also, he's probably a good 2-3 years away from the NHL, I don't think both Grabo and Bozak will be with us at that point.

I think Bozak will be with the Leafs.

Honestly, I think he's the best UFA center available if you take age, injury history, points, faceoffs etc into account. He can win faceoffs, put up ~50 points, play on the PK/PP/ES.

It would be in our best interest to keep the guy and dump Grabovski if he doesn't rebound. I don't think he'll cost more than ~4-4.5M.

 

[RhinoD]

Grabo isnt going to be in the plans long term.... I think the team will resign Bozak and play him with Kadri as a number two and look for a cheap number three in free agency.

 

[CreeksideStrangler]

Greg McKegg scored 4 goals and a few assists a few years back playing on the last place Erie Otters to singlehandedly win the game against the London Knights. I think his offensive game is underrated and he will be a surprise

 

[Jimmy Carter]

Are hidden gems not usually considered less commonly known players who are picked in the later rounds? If so this is between Leivo and Nillson in my books. Biggs and Finn don't really fit into this list...

That's what I was expecting to see... I thought "hidden gems" meant players picked in later rounds that end up making the NHL. I think anyone taken in the first 2 rounds should be excluded from being called a "hidden gem" as their draft position indicates they're not all that hidden. If nothing else at least exclude the first rounders