Confirmed with Link: Leafs sign Braeden Kressler to ELC

[SeaOfBlue]

Click to read more...

 

[SeaOfBlue]

It came a bit later than expected, and I thought when he was not brought into the preseason it meant we were not going to bring him on, but he did stand out a fair bit in training camp.

Good for him, and a solid addition to our prospect pool.

Also, one of the few non-Russian Milstein clients, along with Gabriel.

 

[capfit9]

looked noticeable in the rookie tourney

 

[Minty Cowboy]

His stats are underwhelming especially for a 5’9 forward but I heard he was decent at prospect camp so hope it pays off!

 

[SprDaVE]

Interesting. Only turning 19 in January. Seems like he'll get a lot of minutes this upcoming season. He should be able to break out offensively, I assume the Leafs think he will.

He's not AHL eligible until 2023, so lot's of time for him to develop.

 

[SprDaVE]

His stats are underwhelming especially for a 5’9 forward but I heard he was decent at prospect camp so hope it pays off!

He was only 16/17 last he played and also a rookie.

 

[Minty Cowboy]

He was only 16/17 last he played and also a rookie.

I understand that still underwhelming for a 16 year old or whatever. But I also haven’t watched the kid so excited to see what he does this year

 

[SeaOfBlue]

His stats are underwhelming especially for a 5’9 forward but I heard he was decent at prospect camp so hope it pays off!

They are actually quite good.

Most guys can't put up those kinds of numbers as an OHL rookie.

 

[cupcrazyman]

Must have had a great camp because he doesn't have very good stats.

 

[Pink Mist]

I understand that still underwhelming for a 16 year old or whatever. But I also haven’t watched the kid so excited to see what he does this year

idk they seem like pretty average stats for a 16 year old in the OHL who isn't a future first rounder

 

[Menzinger]

Must have made a fan of Ryan Hardy, the Leafs newer minor leagues guy

 

[cupcrazyman]

They are actually quite good.

Most guys can't put up those kinds of numbers as an OHL rookie.

Ontario Hockey League – Official Site of the Ontario Hockey League

28 Rookies had more points than him.

 

[hotpaws]

great signing , can't have enough 5'9'' 160 pound forwards in your system

 

[Menzinger]

great signing , can't have enough 5'9'' 160 pound forwards in your system

Have you seen him play a game?

 

[Maplebeasts]

Have you seen him play a game?

Let me answer that for him: No.

 

[hotpaws]

Have you seen him play a game?

i'm sure the scouts of the teams that passed on him in the draft did

and i'm guessing the plan here is if you throw enough smurfs at the wall eventually one will stick

 

[sIDEsHOW93]

great signing , can't have enough 5'9'' 160 pound forwards in your system

If I remember correctly thats about the same size Nylander was at that age. Kids grow ya'know.

 

[hotpaws]

Let me answer that for him: No.

do i have to watch him play to comment on his size ?

 

[SprDaVE]

I understand that still underwhelming for a 16 year old or whatever. But I also haven’t watched the kid so excited to see what he does this year

Not sure what you expect from a non blue chip prospect at that age. I think if he played last season during his draft year, he likely would have put up some respectable numbers.

 

[Menzinger]

do i have to watch him play to comment on his size ?

I can't imagine a more useless way of evaluating an 18 year old prospect than his size. Maybe his place of origin as the other, but that's it.

 

[sIDEsHOW93]

do i have to watch him play to comment on his size ?

Size Queen.

 

[Menzinger]

Not sure what you expect from a non blue chipper prospect at that age. I think if he played last season during his "draft" year, he likely would have put up some respectable numbers.

Unfortunately covid disruptions really weren't great for trying to track prospect development.

Lots of guys still big mystery boxes who haven't been able to play as much

 

[TheDoldrums]

First of all, this is something we should be doing more often. We only made three draft picks. We always bring in a bunch of undrafted guys to development camps. Remember we drafted Durzi and Hollowell after they were already passed over. Now we don't have to use a pick on Kressler next year, he's already ours. If we like a kid it's definitely worth a gamble to take a shot like this before he potentially explodes next year.

Kressler didn't play last year so there's a lot of unknowns here. Obviously he heavily impressed in camp. But there's also an analytical case from his draft minus 1 year.

2019/2020 OHL EV GF% Leaders (minimum 20 games)

1. Marco Rossi - Draft year - 74.64%
2. Austen Keating - Draft+3 - 71.21%
3. Liam Foudy - Draft+2 - 70.97%
4. Braeden Kressler - Draft -1 - 70.73%
5. Cole Perfetti - Draft year - 69.72%

Remember, Kressler is on Flint. That's not a dominant team by any stretch. I don't care how sheltered he was, Flint getting over 70% of the goals scored while he was on the ice is super impressive. There are three first rounders in that top 5 and they were all older. He might be a guy that does a lot of good things to consistently tilt the ice in his teams direction.

 

[hotpaws]

If I remember correctly thats about the same size Nylander was at that age. Kids grow ya'know.

so was Johnny Gaudreau and a bunch of other players and most kids are done growing by 18 , except of course Leaf prospects , lol

 

[hotpaws]

I can't imagine a more useless way of evaluating an 18 year old prospect than his size. Maybe his place of origin as the other, but that's it.

of course you can't since Dubie has an infatuation with small players but i doubt teams don't take size into account when evaluating prospects except of course Toronto