Prospect Info: Marlies & Prospect Discussion

[aingefan]

First game in a week? Can't be great for cohesion.

And they’ve got lotsa bodies to mix in and out.

 

[aingefan]

Stat watching is a touch disappointing.

Yup.
He’s had very little time above the fourth line though with offensive players, doesn’t get much PP time. Opposite to Minten who got airdropped good linemates and PP time.
Still, generates a couple good chances a game. Good speed, responsible, bit of physicality, hounds pucks pretty well. I think the production will pick up.

 

[conFABulator]

Yup.
He’s had very little time above the fourth line though with offensive players, doesn’t get much PP time. Opposite to Minten who got airdropped good linemates and PP time.
Still, generates a couple good chances a game. Good speed, responsible, bit of physicality, hounds pucks pretty well. I think the production will pick up.

Is it possible they are developing a fourth liner by playing him on the fourth line?

It's a serious question. Does he get PK time? Defensive zone starts? Shut down assignment.

It might make sense to develop a guy in the role he has a shot at playing in the NHL. I have no idea if this is what they are doing.

 

[weems]

We should really be giving Steeves some playing time.

He has regularly shown offensive ability and his skillset looks like one that should translate well to the NHL.

Wouldn't at all shock me if some team picks him up and he goes on to be a solid 3rd-4th liner.

 

[1specter]

We should really be giving Steeves some playing time.

He has regularly shown offensive ability and his skillset looks like one that should translate well to the NHL.

Wouldn't at all shock me if some team picks him up and he goes on to be a solid 3rd-4th liner.

If Patches is out I hope he gets a look.

 

[Fogelhund]

If Patches is out I hope he gets a look.

I read they expect Patches to be out long-term. Steeves has earned a look for sure now.

 

[Fogelhund]

""

 

[darrylsittler27]

I'm not really sure how he can be overrated when there is next to no hype around him beyond people thinking he can be a useful NHL player. I don't think I've seen a single comment about high-end potential/upside or projecting a massive amount of points at the pro level.

He's pretty firmly in potential-3C territory with an optimistic upside of 2C who can play both ends of the ice. Considering what we know about his work ethic, PK ability from last year, and the little bit of offensive potential he's shown in junior, this seems pretty reasonable.

If we weren't weak at C there would be no discussion.

 

[ULF_55]

I see Minten is PPG in the AHL.

Just so we can claim he's being hyped ...

For those who watch, was the line Grebenkin-Minten-Steeves?

Looked like on one of the goals that was it.

Grebenkin 6 assists in 10 games. 3 goals.
Steeves almost GPG, 9 goals 10 games.

 

[SprDaVE]

I see Minten is PPG in the AHL.

Just so we can claim he's being hyped ...

For those who watch, was the line Grebenkin-Minten-Steeves?

Looked like on one of the goals that was it.

Grebenkin 6 assists in 10 games. 3 goals.
Steeves almost GPG, 9 goals 10 games.

Grebenkin-Minten-Steeves was the line yep. They look pretty good, Steeves though has been a beast so it helps a lot.

 

[aingefan]

Is it possible they are developing a fourth liner by playing him on the fourth line?

It's a serious question. Does he get PK time? Defensive zone starts? Shut down assignment.

It might make sense to develop a guy in the role he has a shot at playing in the NHL. I have no idea if this is what they are doing.

It’s a fair one.
I don’t know the league well enough to speak about matchups. Gets some pk time, but that gets spread out.
Haven’t paid close attention to zone times either or have data, but coach there seems to mostly just roll the lines. I mean, it’s early in the season, lots of vets there. And his group is used more like an energy line.
I’d say at this point, it’s more about a hierarchy of AHL guys and a hierarchy of NHL contract guys.
The top AHL guys get their minutes. Then the top NHL contract guy hierarchy works in there. I think he’s lower on the totem pole than the vets (Steeves/Abruzzese) and risers (Minten/Grebs/Hirvonen/Tverberg) so I think he’s gotta do some leapfrogging.
But dude has skill and tools. Does dangerous things, isn’t shy physically, makes plays, gets in good scoring position and transitions well from O>D and D>O.
It’s early for him as a pro, but I wouldn’t say his ceiling is fourth line, I could see him on a third line in the NHL in time.

 

[aingefan]

I read they expect Patches to be out long-term. Steeves has earned a look for sure now.

Interesting for him too, is that he’s got lots of time on the RW despite being LH.
So, if he gets his chance, maybe BobbyMac moves up, NickRob slides to his natural side, and he can line up in the third line. Could help out a few guys.
He’s definitely put in his time, improved over the years, and seems plenty attentive and physical these days.

 

[DarkKnight]

Steeves has never impressed me when he’s been called up, and he consistently looks awful in camps, when he supposedly trying to distinguish himself. Now he looks formidable again in the AHL, getting prime minutes, but I don’t see it translating at all. Hope I’m wrong.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Steeves has never impressed me when he’s been called up, and he consistently looks awful in camps, when he supposedly trying to distinguish himself. Now he looks formidable again in the AHL, getting prime minutes, but I don’t see it translating at all. Hope I’m wrong.

I wouldn't mind giving him the chance because...sure why the hell not but at the same time, my observations have been your observations.

I think he's a AAAA player, almost too good for the AHL but not an NHL guy, he may be Europe bound.

 

[TMLAM34]

To be fair to Steeves, Keefe always threw him on the fourth line with plugs with very limited usage. Can’t really expect much from him given the position he was put in every time he’s been called up.

 

[LeafParade]

If Domi is the 3C for the foreseeable future, than I think Steeves on his wing is not a bad fit.
With Patches out, Robertson probably moves up. So Steeves/Domi/McMann could be the 3rd line for a bit.

 

[notdoneyet]

Steeves has never impressed me when he’s been called up, and he consistently looks awful in camps, when he supposedly trying to distinguish himself. Now he looks formidable again in the AHL, getting prime minutes, but I don’t see it translating at all. Hope I’m wrong.

It’s hard to establish what you are playing 8-9 minutes a night on the fourth line
Same for Robertson put him in the top six and see what he can do

 

[Lemontree]

It’s hard to establish what you are playing 8-9 minutes a night on the fourth line
Same for Robertson put him in the top six and see what he can do

I don't disagree if your style is more of a setup/playmaker however Robertson and Steeves are not playmakers. Neither one of them have shown that they can handle the role they have been given in the NHL (to date) and asking for either of them to be elevated in the lineup is not something either of them deserve.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

It’s hard to establish what you are playing 8-9 minutes a night on the fourth line
Same for Robertson put him in the top six and see what he can do

Robertson has had plenty of opportunity at this point. Steeves has not. That doesn't mean Steeves will do anything with it either, but the two aren't the same for sure.

 

[weems]

Chadwick goal

https://x.com/i/web/status/1856112422139916535

 

[supermann_98]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1855752059754258585

Steeves should really get a shot

With the way the Leafs 3rd and 4th liners are "producing" he should definitely get a call up and an opportunity

 

[barriers]

Steeves should really get a shot

https://x.com/i/web/status/1856343710088204696

 

[DarkKnight]

Here's another reason why I'm not high on Steeves. He's sucked at camp, repeatedly, and he's been given good minutes in his games too. Look at Robertson fighting every camp to make it. Look at McMann when given a shot. Then look at Steeves, absolutely useless, not even in the conversation to stick. And when he gets called up, never shows anything to merit more time, warm body, not much jam, zero desperation. Maybe this time it's different, but his camp was embarrassing to me, for a guy supposedly wanting to make the jump. He's a star on an underwhelming prospect pool AHL team, seen this before.

 

[Fogelhund]

Here's another reason why I'm not high on Steeves. He's sucked at camp, repeatedly, and he's been given good minutes in his games too. Look at Robertson fighting every camp to make it. Look at McMann when given a shot. Then look at Steeves, absolutely useless, not even in the conversation to stick. And when he gets called up, never shows anything to merit more time, warm body, not much jam, zero desperation. Maybe this time it's different, but his camp was embarrassing to me, for a guy supposedly wanting to make the jump. He's a star on an underwhelming prospect pool AHL team, seen this before.

It seems he plays tonight. I can't disagree with your assessment, but some players have different trajectories. He's been the best Marlies so far this year offensively, and has earned another shot. It would suck if we gave up on him, and he went on to success elsewhere like so many others. At least he's given a shot this time, hopefully he's not given fourth line role, with limited linemates. We need something from the third line tonight.

 

[DarkKnight]

It seems he plays tonight. I can't disagree with your assessment, but some players have different trajectories. He's been the best Marlies so far this year offensively, and has earned another shot. It would suck if we gave up on him, and he went on to success elsewhere like so many others. At least he's given a shot this time, hopefully he's not given fourth line role, with limited linemates. We need something from the third line tonight.

Agree, he's earned a shot with the injuries. Organization has to reward his production, I'm just sceptical it translates, because we've heard this hype before and he wilts everytime. Hope to be wrong.