Prospect Info: Marlies & Prospect Discussion

[JEI]

Can’t say I’m a fan of Miller over Villeneuve. I have been hopeful for Villeneuve turning into something since he was drafted. Seems to have a good head and flashed offensive skill in junior. Guess he just hasn’t shown enough. Too bad. Looks like he doesn’t have the trust of the coaching staff.

I'm thinking they may rotate some players in for tomorrows game. Early still for Villeneuve to establish himself as a mainstay in the top-six. Lots of depth there this year at the moment.

 

[ULF_55]

Marlies opening lineup:

Abruzzese - Shaw - Nylander
Hirvonen - Blandisi - Steeves
Grebenkin - Paré - Tverberg
Mastrosimone - Quillan - Solow

Rifai - Miller
Kokkonen - Mattinen
Webber - Niemelä

Murray
Akhtyamov

Murray starts. Miller gets the edge over Villeneuve. Miller/Rifai make for an interesting shutdown pair. Barbolini/Clifford/Kressler etc. extras.

*And as I say that, 1-0 San Diego lol

So Eric Nesterenko scored a minute in.
He must be 90 years old now isn't he?

 

[aingefan]

After two:
Quills is quick out there. Bit greasy too.
Tverberg makes quick decisions with the puck. You can see the upside.
Greb looking good and confident with the puck, but he hasn’t had it much.
Steeves on the pk, looked okay so far. Not on the PP though.
Rifai with a nice finish.
Not sure if Matt Murray is cool and collected or a lil slow.

 

[Stringer Bell]

I've been told that there are rumours going around that Matt Murray is not a good goaltender. I don't know if there is any truth to these rumours, it's just what I've heard - want to make that clear.

 

[JEI]

Marlies pull a late (under 2 minutes) go-ahead goal. On a delayed PP, Shaw feeds it over to Abruzzese for the finish on a 2 on 1.

Finish with the 4-3 win. Murray faced 21 shots.

 

[aingefan]

Marlies pull a late (under 2 minutes) go-ahead goal. On a delayed PP, Shaw feeds it over to Abruzzese for the finish on a 2 on 1.

Finish with the 4-3 win. Murray faced 21 shots.

Interesting the Steeves is getting plenty of defensive assignments, pk and end of game.

Not a great flow game for the Marlies, but good enough.

Hoping Kress, WillyNeuve and AA draw in tomorrow.

 

[weems]

Cowan goal

https://x.com/i/web/status/1845225006667595947

 

[1specter]

Interesting the Steeves is getting plenty of defensive assignments, pk and end of game.

Not a great flow game for the Marlies, but good enough.

Hoping Kress, WillyNeuve and AA draw in tomorrow.

I do hope Steeves gets a look at some point. Could be another late bloomer like McMann.

Cowan goal

https://x.com/i/web/status/1845225006667595947

Is he playing C at all? I was hoping they'd slot him there

 

[shaner8989]

Marlies play at 4pm today

 

[JEI]

Marlies lineup today:

Abruzzese - Shaw - Nylander
Hirvonen - Blandisi - Steeves
Grebenkin - Paré - Tverberg
Barbolini - Quillan - Solow

Rifai - Niemelä
Kokkonen - Mattinen
Pietroniro - Villeneuve

Akhtyamov
Peksa

Webber and Miller come out on the back end. Barbolini in for Mastrosimone on forward.

 

[aingefan]

Marlies lineup today:

Abruzzese - Shaw - Nylander
Hirvonen - Blandisi - Steeves
Grebenkin - Paré - Tverberg
Barbolini - Quillan - Solow

Rifai - Niemelä
Kokkonen - Mattinen
Pietroniro - Villeneuve

Akhtyamov
Peksa

Webber and Miller come out on the back end. Barbolini in for Mastrosimone on forward.

AA getting the start which is cool, and WikkyNeuve on is good.
Missing some Kressler, still.

 

[Borschevsky]

I'm at the game and AA has been pretty solid.

I feel like Mattinen is just a half step behind everyone. He hasn't been bad but his reaction time isn't quite AHL level

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[darrylsittler27]

Topi Niemela and other undersized prospects caught in Maple Leafs organizational shift - The Athletic

If you didn’t know any better while watching Topi Niemela during the Toronto Maple Leafs rookie tournament in September, it would have been easy to assume he was on the fast track to the NHL.

Niemela’s skating, efficient decision-making and skill with the puck looked a cut above the rest of the Leafs defencemen during two games against Montreal Canadiens prospects. The Leafs’ 2020 third-round pick put up five points in two games. Perhaps for a 22-year-old, that should be expected. Still, Niemela looked primed for the next step in his career after a full season in the AHL.

Come Leafs training camp days later, however, Niemela was paired with other AHL defenders. Meanwhile, recent blue line addition Cade Webber, all 6-foot-7 of him, was deployed alongside NHL defenders. Niemela played just one of the Leafs’ six preseason games and his short-term future as a Toronto Marlie seemed pre-destined.

On Friday, Niemela was cut from the Leafs and assigned to the Marlies. The team’s top defence prospect – at least on paper – barely got a sniff at the NHL roster. Drafted as a cerebral, puck-moving offensive blueliner, Niemela’s game has evolved since coming to North America. But he now feels far off management and the coaching staff’s radar.

After a disappointing fall, is it worth wondering what Niemela’s future with the Leafs will look like? The clock isn’t close to midnight on his chances to become a Leaf, but it is ticking.

“I know I got drafted four years ago. But, I don’t personally feel pressure at all,” Niemela said.

Niemela likely spending another full season in the AHL is less of an indictment of his playing ability and more indicative of an organizational shift that has left him, and multiple other prospects, on the outside looking in.

A new focus on size on the blue line only heightens concerns about Niemela’s future. They are concerns that existed when he was drafted and stood 5-foot-10. He was listed in training camp as 6-feet, 181 pounds. There’s an edge to his game, but he doesn’t always play like a typical heavy defender. But just over four years ago, it felt like there could be opportunities on the Leafs roster for small-ish players. Niemela was reflective of the Kyle Dubas-led drafting. Namely, there was a focus on taking swings and betting on talent.

But things have changed, and Niemela’s future with the Leafs is questionable because of that change. Treliving’s focus on size on the blue line may limit the chance for Niemela to show off any upside. He is now in the final season of his entry-level deal.

Recent high Leafs draft picks, including Fraser Minten and Ben Danford might not have high-end upside. But they do have pro-ready traits and size. In Treliving’s first proper draft at the helm of the Leafs this summer, most of their seven picks were in the 6-foot-2 and above range.

On Niemela. We have a new coach who wants to win now..He went vet and Tre signed Lily and must dump him. He might as well play a lot because he is a number 7 dman right now and Toronto may need him for call up before TD. Lily's value is lucky to get 3rd rounder. Overpaid fringer now. Hopefully Tre can find the only other gm who thinks Lily is worth $3 million. It's funny but Leafs only give up on good players but keep duds.

 

[stickty111]

Marlies win 4-1
Artur 37 saves. Hirvonen goal and assist. Niemela and Quillan with an assist each.

 

[aingefan]

AA was first star. Very solid, no problems with positioning or mobility. Seemed to track the puck well. Plus seems like a nice kid.
Marlies 2-0, not really the better team today. Not much chemistry yet. Lots of turnovers on little chip passes and drops.
Pretty solid games from Tverberg and Quillan. Grebs doesn’t mind finishing his checks. No one stood out on D in a good way.

 

[RoadWarrior]

On Niemela. We have a new coach who wants to win now..He went vet and Tre signed Lily and must dump him. He might as well play a lot because he is a number 7 dman right now and Toronto may need him for call up before TD. Lily's value is lucky to get 3rd rounder. Overpaid fringer now. Hopefully Tre can find the only other gm who thinks Lily is worth $3 million. It's funny but Leafs only give up on good players but keep duds.

If you think Lily is only worth a 3rd rounder then I’ve got news for you.

He’s a mobile puck moving defenceman who shoots right and can work a power play. Those are late first rounders at a minimum. Tre didn’t overpay for him. He paid market value.

Don’t confuse Berube’s dislike of him for his value on the market.

Todd Gill is a good example of a d man who was rushed into the nhl and looked horrible for about 5 years then matured into one of the better d men on the team. Remember that D men are typically better at 30 than 25.

That’s why trading away mid twenties d man, especially a right shooting one, is usually a losing proposition.

 

[arso40]

If you think Lily is only worth a 3rd rounder then I’ve got news for you.

He’s a mobile puck moving defenceman who shoots right and can work a power play. Those are late first rounders at a minimum. Tre didn’t overpay for him. He paid market value.

Don’t confuse Berube’s dislike of him for his value on the market.

Todd Gill is a good example of a d man who was rushed into the nhl and looked horrible for about 5 years then matured into one of the better d men on the team. Remember that D men are typically better at 30 than 25.

That’s why trading away mid twenties d man, especially a right shooting one, is usually a losing proposition.

Chief got some of these guys confused

 

[darrylsittler27]

If you think Lily is only worth a 3rd rounder then I’ve got news for you.

He’s a mobile puck moving defenceman who shoots right and can work a power play. Those are late first rounders at a minimum. Tre didn’t overpay for him. He paid market value.

Don’t confuse Berube’s dislike of him for his value on the market.

Todd Gill is a good example of a d man who was rushed into the nhl and looked horrible for about 5 years then matured into one of the better d men on the team. Remember that D men are typically better at 30 than 25.

That’s why trading away mid twenties d man, especially a right shooting one, is usually a losing proposition.

No, Lily went 17th in a weak draft. Most years he is a second rounder. He has never panned out. You want GM's to pay for what might be. Good luck getting a 2nd for him. Won't happen. The fact the Leafs won't play him speaks volumes. Usually you frame guys for trade. Benching them is an admission. They tried trading him, no one wants him. $3m is a real cap hit. He is all risk.

 

[RoadWarrior]

No, Lily went 17th in a weak draft. Most years he is a second rounder. He has never panned out. You want GM's to pay for what might be. Good luck getting a 2nd for him. Won't happen. The fact the Leafs won't play him speaks volumes. Usually you frame guys for trade. Benching them is an admission. They tried trading him, no one wants him. $3m is a real cap hit. He is all risk.

Berube won’t play him…..over Connor dumb penalty Timmins… let’s get real. It’s not like Connor Timmins is a defensive stalwart. Berube just happens to favour Timmins for some unknown reason the same way Robertson was always riding the bench in favour of Noah Gregor with Keefe in charge.

Every coach has their whipping boy.

Marner was the whipping boy under Babcock.

Do you think Babcock’s opinion of Marner or Keefe’s opinion of Robertson affects their trade value? Outside of the organization I can assure you that nobody cares.

 

[Joe n]

No, Lily went 17th in a weak draft. Most years he is a second rounder. He has never panned out. You want GM's to pay for what might be. Good luck getting a 2nd for him. Won't happen. The fact the Leafs won't play him speaks volumes. Usually you frame guys for trade. Benching them is an admission. They tried trading him, no one wants him. $3m is a real cap hit. He is all risk.

He was their best D for over a month last year when everyone was hurt. Let him play and he will prove himself. It's coaches who think players like Timmins are better than him who are ruining his value in a trade.

 

[arso40]

He was their best D for over a month last year when everyone was hurt. Let him play and he will prove himself. It's coaches who think players like Timmins are better than him who are ruining his value in a trade.

Couldn’t agree more like timmins…….?

 

[ULF_55]

No, Lily went 17th in a weak draft. Most years he is a second rounder. He has never panned out. You want GM's to pay for what might be. Good luck getting a 2nd for him. Won't happen. The fact the Leafs won't play him speaks volumes. Usually you frame guys for trade. Benching them is an admission. They tried trading him, no one wants him. $3m is a real cap hit. He is all risk.

Leafs are auditioning Timmins and Benoit.

Benoit is okay, not good but okay.
Timmins is not okay, but Berube may like him better.
Hopefully, no one believes Berube is infallible.
If Berube was perfect Leafs couldn't have hired him because he'd have been under contract.

 

[hockeywiz542]

Maple Leafs prospect Artur Akhtyamov makes strong impression in Marlies debut - The Toronto Observer

TORONTO – Highly-regarded goalie prospect Artur Akhtyamov made a good first impression in his North American debut, a 4-1 Toronto Marlies win over the San

torontoobserver.ca

TORONTO – Highly-regarded goalie prospect Artur Akhtyamov made a good first impression in his North American debut, a 4-1 Toronto Marlies win over the San Diego Gulls on Sunday.

The 22-year-old had no issue adjusting to the AHL in his first assignment, stopping 37 of 38 shots and proving instrumental in the victory as the Marlies swept the weekend series 2-0.

“He was the best player out there today for us,” said captain Logan Shaw, who kept expectations for the young netminder realistic.

“I’m happy for him… it’s his first year so I would say just trying to get [his] feet wet and figure out the whole game and the scheduling of everything.”

It was quite the impressive debut as the Gulls tested him with various dangerous shots from all over the ice, especially late in the game. None of it phased him.

That shouldn’t come as a surprise considering his pedigree.

The Kazan, Russia native split last season between Almetievsk Neftyanik of the VHL, the KHL’s development league, and Kazan Ak-Bars in the KHL, where he posted a 2.51 goals-against average and .921 save percentage over 17 games.

But after being sent back to the VHL in December, Akhtyamov found another level, leading Almetievsk to a VHL title and earning goaltender of the year honours after posting a 16-5-0 record with a 2.15 GAA and .932 SV% in the playoffs.

The wealth of experience has developed a maturity to Akhtyamov’s game.

“I think he has a really good demeanor,” Marlies head coach Jon Gruden said after Sunday’s game. “I don’t ever see him get emotionally like really high or too low.”

The 22-year-old was tested many times throughout the game but never lost his composure.