Prospect Info: Marlies & Prospect Discussion

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aingefan

Registered User
Feb 27, 2008
5,186
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I’m liking the shape of the Marlies, health permitting.
Steeves and Abruzzese are the two waiver eligible guys, but strong for the level.
Hirvonen hopefully has a healthy year, and can show more of his greasy two way play.
Quillan and Minten can show some strong two way play down the middle.
Tverberg had a good first pro year, and can hopefully build.
Hoping Ty Voit is healthy and stronger.
Kressler had a nice season in the O on the offensive side, and has wheels.
None of the defense are waivers eligible. Hoping Topi can add some mass to his frame. Already a smooth puck mover, with a bit of chippy to him. Rifai is call up ready, simple game, physical. Kokkonen similar. Webber might become a pk specialist. Books not finished on Villeneuve. Mattinen makes rhe triumphant return.
The goalie rotation has upside.
I think it’s realistic for Quillan-Minten-Tverberg-Niemela and Hildeby to be knocking on the door before the end of the year.
 

darrylsittler27

Registered User
Oct 21, 2002
7,371
1,559
I’m liking the shape of the Marlies, health permitting.
Steeves and Abruzzese are the two waiver eligible guys, but strong for the level.
Hirvonen hopefully has a healthy year, and can show more of his greasy two way play.
Quillan and Minten can show some strong two way play down the middle.
Tverberg had a good first pro year, and can hopefully build.
Hoping Ty Voit is healthy and stronger.
Kressler had a nice season in the O on the offensive side, and has wheels.
None of the defense are waivers eligible. Hoping Topi can add some mass to his frame. Already a smooth puck mover, with a bit of chippy to him. Rifai is call up ready, simple game, physical. Kokkonen similar. Webber might become a pk specialist. Books not finished on Villeneuve. Mattinen makes rhe triumphant return.
The goalie rotation has upside.
I think it’s realistic for Quillan-Minten-Tverberg-Niemela and Hildeby to be knocking on the door before the end of the year.
I look and I see 5 guys who help the Leafs. The rest look like elsewhere or nowhere.
 

aingefan

Registered User
Feb 27, 2008
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Cowan, Minten, Niemela, Hildeby and Tverberg.


Add Danforth.
Yeah, I was talking about actually enjoying the Marlies. And the possibility of development. That’s why the team exists. Some times guys hit their stride, some had different development paths. That can be fun to follow. And the hope that guys that put in the effort get rewarded.
But I’d peg your five+ as high odds, with Quillan in that mix, though Cowan, Greb and Danford won’t be there.
I’ll still be hopeful on some other guys either adding size and strength or adding detail to their game and seeing what’s what.
Should be a fun year there.
 
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Thornbury

Registered User
Dec 29, 2019
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Yeah, I was talking about actually enjoying the Marlies. And the possibility of development. That’s why the team exists. Some times guys hit their stride, some had different development paths. That can be fun to follow. And the hope that guys that put in the effort get rewarded.
But I’d peg your five+ as high odds, with Quillan in that mix, though Cowan, Greb and Danford won’t be there.
I’ll still be hopeful on some other guys either adding size and strength or adding detail to their game and seeing what’s what.
Should be a fun year there.
Agreed, I am interested to track both of the young goalies, Niemela, Webber and even Kokkonen on D, and Quillan, Tverberg, Minten and Voit up front.
 
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aingefan

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Feb 27, 2008
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Agreed, I am interested to track both of the young goalies, Niemela, Webber and even Kokkonen on D, and Quillan, Tverberg, Minten and Voit up front.
Guys like Voit are wild cards, very interesting.
If he gets stronger and heavier or zippier, or adds penalty killing or something to his game, cool. Or if he can make plays at the rate he did in junior, also cool.
That kid in particular was a Covid casualty. So, a bit of a mystery box.
I’m also really curious to see a healthy RoniH. See if he can add more grease to his current game, get more two-way responsibility.
 
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Leaf Fans

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Sep 29, 2017
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Cronyism? Wes wasn't promoted in Florida. His good buddy Dubas brought him back to Toronto in 2018 and promoted him after he took over for Lou. lol
Every GM brings in their own people . After Hunter left, Dubas brought in his own guy. He is still here even though Dubas left. He was brought in as an amateur scout for Florida and stayed two years and was hired as an Asst. Dir. of Player Personnel then Dir. of Player Personnel added Dir. of Amateur Scouting and continues in both jobs while the other guy was fired from his job in Florida and has not worked in the NHL since.
 
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TheMadHatTrick

Registered User
Nov 2, 2008
7,086
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Every GM brings in their own people . He was brought in as an amateur scout for Florida and stayed two years and was hired as an Asst. Dir. of Player Personnel then Dir. of Player Personnel added Dir. of Amateur Scouting and continues in both jobs while the other guy was fired from his job in Florida and has not worked in the NHL since.
Ok. And?

You used not being "promoted" as some kind of point against Bukala, but then in the next post admit yourself that people typically get these positions initially based on who they know and not necessarily what they know.

The guy you're talking about held the job Wes does now for almost a decade, which means he had to have done something right. In that time he drafted Ekblad, Barkov, Huberdeau, Tippet, Trochek, Weegar, Matheson, Crouse, Malgin, and Lundell so he has a much longer track record of successful drafting to hang his hat on.

Bukala left his job in Florida as part of a larger front office shakeup during covid. Bill Zito took over for Talon and, as to your point, wanted all of his own people in place. Who cares if he hasn't worked in the NHL since then (a little over 3 years). That could be for any number of reasons. Maybe he didn't want to move to another city right away. Maybe he was burnt out after almost two decades working in the NHL in various capacities. Or maybe because he left during COVID and his new job as an analyst allowed him to work remotely he just liked it better. The reasons are largely irrelevant and the point a red herring, since it has nothing to do with his scouting acumen. Wes was fired too, once upon a time. By Lou Lamariello, in fact. Ironically, that was not long after the infamous draft in which (with Dubas' buddy Wes as a scouting consultant) we traded back out of the 1st round several times and ended up with Dermott, Bracco, and Dzierkals in exchange for Travis Konecny.
 

Leaf Fans

Registered User
Sep 29, 2017
21,081
9,168
Ok. And?

You used not being "promoted" as some kind of point against Bukala, but then in the next post admit yourself that people typically get these positions initially based on who they know and not necessarily what they know.

The guy you're talking about held the job Wes does now for almost a decade, which means he had to have done something right. In that time he drafted Ekblad, Barkov, Huberdeau, Tippet, Trochek, Weegar, Matheson, Crouse, Malgin, and Lundell so he has a much longer track record of successful drafting to hang his hat on.

Bukala left his job in Florida as part of a larger front office shakeup during covid. Bill Zito took over for Talon and, as to your point, wanted all of his own people in place. Who cares if he hasn't worked in the NHL since then (a little over 3 years). That could be for any number of reasons. Maybe he didn't want to move to another city right away. Maybe he was burnt out after almost two decades working in the NHL in various capacities. Or maybe because he left during COVID and his new job as an analyst allowed him to work remotely he just liked it better. The reasons are largely irrelevant and the point a red herring, since it has nothing to do with his scouting acumen. Wes was fired too, once upon a time. By Lou Lamariello, in fact. Ironically, that was not long after the infamous draft in which (with Dubas' buddy Wes as a scouting consultant) we traded back out of the 1st round several times and ended up with Dermott, Bracco, and Dzierkals in exchange for Travis Konecny.
yes, Clarke has been promoted while Bukala was fired and has not worked in the NHL since.
As I said" No wonder why he was fired while Clark has been promoted." based on his poor take in the video.


BTW Travis Konecny. was never a Leaf. They could have drafted him though, but Dubas traded back and got more picks.
 

4thline

Registered User
Jul 18, 2014
14,603
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Waterloo
Have to admit- with two kids under 36 months following the draft wasn't on my radar this season. Kind of liberating- outside of a handful of names at 23 I had no hopes or preconceptions of who I wanted. This seems like an exciting draft class to follow. Danford and McCue are easy players to root for. If Holinka comes over it will be fun to see if he translates to NA hockey in the CHL. The Russian's and Johansson seem like classic project picks, and after Chadwick last year I'm hopefull on Mayes/Lahey really boosting their stock.
 
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weems

Registered User
Jul 3, 2008
18,521
12,593
Have to admit- with two under 36 months following the draft wasn't on my radar this season. Kind of liberating- outside of a handle of names I had no hopes or preconceptions of who I wanted. This seems like an exciting draft class to follow. Danford and McCue are easy players to root for. If Holinka comes over it will be fun to see if he translates to NA hockey in the CHL. The Russian's and Johansson seem like classic project picks, and after Chadwick last year I'm hopefull on Mayes/Lahey pulling a Chadwick (not offensively) and really boosting their stock.

I think we have drafted pretty well the past few years especially considering where the picks were.

Then you factor in the awful outcome for Amirov and that he'd most likely be contributing right now, I feel confident in this area of our organization right now.
 

BertCorbeau

F*ck cancer - RIP Fugu and Buffaloed
Jan 6, 2012
56,369
38,662
Simcoe County
My quick top 10 prospect tanks

1. Cowan (W, C)
2. Grebyonkin (W)
3. Hildeby (G)
4. Minten (C)
5. Niemela (D)
6. Danford (D)
7. Tverberg (W)
8. Akhtyamov (G)
9. Chadwick (D)
10. Villeneuve (D)

HM: Quillan, Voit, Webber, Hirvonen

Robertson, Knies, and McMann graduating changes the landscape of the winger pool. I left Abruzzese and Steeves off because of their age (25 and 24).
 

The Iceman

Registered User
Sep 22, 2007
5,225
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If Danford develops into a 2nd pair RHD the draft was a success.
Same guy was probably handing out a D- this point last year after the Cowan choice.

One thing that I have noticed with Knies, Cowan and now Danford is compete level and second half stats are weighed more heavily in the final drafting decision.
I have heard Danford had an amazing playoff run and although not known as a scorer he potted 4 goals in 21 playoff game vs 1 goal in 64 regular season games.

This seems to be the case here too.
 
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TheDoldrums

Registered User
May 3, 2016
12,957
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Newcastle, Ontario
If Danford develops into a 2nd pair RHD the draft was a success.
Same guy was probably handing out a D- this point last year after the Cowan choice.

One thing that I have noticed with Knies, Cowan and now Danford is compete level and second half stats are weighed more heavily in the final drafting decision.
I have heard Danford had an amazing playoff run and although not known as a scorer he potted 4 goals in 21 playoff game vs 1 goal in 64 regular season games.

This seems to be the case here too.

Yeah I think complete level, hockey sense and strong finishes to the season are the most common denominators in our highest picks under Clark.

I really like making strong finishes to the year a focus. Give me a kid with that 10/10 times over someone with a consistent season, much more likely to make rapid improvements as they're on a higher trajectory recently.
 
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