Prospect Info: Marlies & Prospect Discussion

[Stringer Bell]

Brazeau broke into the NHL at age 25?

Still hope?

View attachment 954153

If they're showing improvement and progesss, then yes. If not...then maybe not.

That was the point.

The Leafs never had him on a contract.

Semantics.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

Why is everybody on Facebook slamming Cowan?

It sounds like dumb penalties and not passing the puck enough. Was he really that bad he went from top prospect to bum in a matter of a few games. It boggles my mind anyone would take anything from this meaningless tournament in the first place.

It's just another gimmick like the rest of them.

 

[Peasy]

Why is everybody on Facebook slamming Cowan?

It sounds like dumb penalties and not passing the puck enough. Was he really that bad he went from top prospect to bum in a matter of a few games. It boggles my mind anyone would take anything from this meaningless tournament in the first place.

It's just another gimmick like the rest of them.

He took an extremely dumb penalty with less than 10 mins left in the game while down by one out of pure frustration.

Then in the last minute or two with the net empty he makes a no look blind pass from the corner behind canada's net to the slot right to Leonard to ice the game.

Just extremely dumb plays during high pressure moments. Now hes not the only one that made dumb and awful plays, but being a Leafs prospect he will take the most flak. But theres no sugar coating what he was doin in the last 10 mins of the game.

You don't remember Matthews and Marner during their WJC tournament for being Leafs prospects

Matthews every play was scrutnized, especially by Jets fans

Matthews never played in a WJC as Leafs property...

 

[AlienWorkShop]

Kloke's latest Leafs prospect update: Maple Leafs prospect report: What’s next for Topi Niemela, Marshall Rifai and others
- Some positive words about Holinka, noting how it's not easy for a shy Czech with little English to jump to the WHL. Asst coach Chipchura commenting he varies from 'man amongst boys' to looking a bit lost in a new league/system/lifestyle. (Another recent article on him here: Meet Maple Leafs prospect Miroslav Holinka, the quiet player with a loud game for Czechia at World Juniors, yeah yeah apologies for the paywalled links)
- Wickenheiser pretty pointed that Niemela needs to improve his strength/speed, and hints that he's probably playing for a contract elsewhere at this point (and essentially admits a player of his size, while not that small, is probably working from a deficit in this organisation, so doesn't help if he's not putting in the requisite gym time)
- As implied by his two call-ups, Rifai considered next in line on D. Wickenheiser impressed by his work ethic and thinks he's NHL ready.
- Kokkonen likely next in line. Doing well with the Marlies. Wickenheiser positive about him, but trying to get him to be more physical in front.
- Hirvonen: needs to start producing (which is trending positively), but work ethic and skill are there. Wickenheiser: 'he will will himself to the NHL in some way, shape, or form', but also hints that could be elsewhere
- Malinoski: has grown from 6'1 174 to 6'2 185. Enjoying more responsibility at Providence, but needs work on his neutral zone D and board play (which should improve as he's getting stronger)
- Voit: perhaps thinking too creatively for the ECHL. Head coach saying he slows it down too much for risky plays, needs to move his feet more
- Peksa: not sounding positive, noting he's got a lot of aspects of his game to work on and their coach suggesting he hasn't 'bought in' to playing at the ECHL level
- Johansson: making good progress, showing more two-way potential and getting regular SHL call-ups. Possible he joins the Marlies next year, but more likely he'll join Leksand's top-6.
- Moldenhauer: despite struggling production, his asst coach is actually quite positive about his progress, says he's getting chances but perhaps snakebitten (he's only shooting 4.8% after shooting 12.9% last year. His shots/game has slightly fallen from 1.5 to 1.4, but shot attempts/game have risen from 2.3 to 3.1). Notes he struggled with the initial adjustment from USHL to NCAA. Averaging 14:17 of icetime but can't find that number for 2023-24 (icetime tracking looks to be new (and incomplete) for some NCAA teams this year)
- Miller: Harvard coaching staff rave about him. Improving offensively. Kloke suggests he's in line for a contract after next season (Kloke originally reported that Miller apparently impressed Tre in development camp, which has had me curious. Points production doesn't look that great, but I've noted how that's likely handcapped by playing on some poor Harvard teams)

While I'm at it, for the ice-time stats I am seeing for our NCAA prospects (rank among F or D):
- Miller is 1st at Harvard at 18:37
- Moldenhauver is 10th at Michigan at 14:17
- Fusco is 2nd at Darmouth at 22:18
- Koster is 3rd at Minnesota at 19:06
- Malinoski is 3rd at Providence at 16:35 (definitely seem to mostly roll lines there)
- Schingoethe apparently only playing 4:21 in the 8 games has played???

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

He took an extremely dumb penalty with less than 10 mins left in the game while down by one out of pure frustration.

Then in the last minute or two with the net empty he makes a no look blind pass from the corner behind canada's net to the slot right to Leonard to ice the game.

Just extremely dumb plays during high pressure moments. Now hes not the only one that made dumb and awful plays, but being a Leafs prospect he will take the most flak. But theres no sugar coating what he was doin in the last 10 mins of the game.


Matthews never played in a WJC as Leafs property...

Thanks for letting me know.

I can't be bothered to watch anything but the NHL. I'm sure there's already someone calling me an uninformed fan and I'll freely profess being ignorant regarding a bunch of kids who probably won't make the big league. All I know is that the entire hockey internet is ripping this poor kid right now and I kinda feel bad for him.

Then again if he thinks this is pressure wait until he's wearing a Leafs uniform in April one day.

 

[The Iceman]

Team Canada needs to revamp their management, scouting and decision making at both the player and coaching selection. It's even worse than last year.

I don't know how 4-5 players are on this team. They are good players no doubt but not sure they are top 20 players on this team.

Anyone know if it’s true Iginla wasn’t even invited to
Camp?


He would be our highest drafted player…..what’s up with that?

 

[fahad203]

Anyone know if it’s true Iginla wasn’t even invited to
Camp?


He would be our highest drafted player…..what’s up with that?

The fact that Andrew Cristall is not here is a crime

Same with Parekh. Our D was extremely slow

 

[Peasy]

Anyone know if it’s true Iginla wasn’t even invited to
Camp?


He would be our highest drafted player…..what’s up with that?

He wasnt invited, but a few weeks after the invites he was shut down for hip surgery so its probably likely that they knew that was going to happen.

The most egregious omissions were Sennecke and then not taking 1 of Parekh/Yak.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

He wasnt invited, but a few weeks after the invites he was shut down for hip surgery so its probably likely that they knew that was going to happen.

The most egregious omissions were Sennecke and then not taking 1 of Parekh/Yak.

There is a lot of talk about Yak being a bad omission....but then you look at the season he is having and it doesn't look very impressive. Sennecke and Cristall are easily the two worst omissions. I am honestly not upset about Parekh and Yak not being there.

 

[SprDaVE]

Kloke's latest Leafs prospect update: Maple Leafs prospect report: What’s next for Topi Niemela, Marshall Rifai and others
- Some positive words about Holinka, noting how it's not easy for a shy Czech with little English to jump to the WHL. Asst coach Chipchura commenting he varies from 'man amongst boys' to looking a bit lost in a new league/system/lifestyle. (Another recent article on him here: Meet Maple Leafs prospect Miroslav Holinka, the quiet player with a loud game for Czechia at World Juniors, yeah yeah apologies for the paywalled links)
- Wickenheiser pretty pointed that Niemela needs to improve his strength/speed, and hints that he's probably playing for a contract elsewhere at this point (and essentially admits a player of his size, while not that small, is probably working from a deficit in this organisation, so doesn't help if he's not putting in the requisite gym time)
- As implied by his two call-ups, Rifai considered next in line on D. Wickenheiser impressed by his work ethic and thinks he's NHL ready.
- Kokkonen likely next in line. Doing well with the Marlies. Wickenheiser positive about him, but trying to get him to be more physical in front.
- Hirvonen: needs to start producing (which is trending positively), but work ethic and skill are there. Wickenheiser: 'he will will himself to the NHL in some way, shape, or form', but also hints that could be elsewhere
- Malinoski: has grown from 6'1 174 to 6'2 185. Enjoying more responsibility at Providence, but needs work on his neutral zone D and board play (which should improve as he's getting stronger)
- Voit: perhaps thinking too creatively for the ECHL. Head coach saying he slows it down too much for risky plays, needs to move his feet more
- Peksa: not sounding positive, noting he's got a lot of aspects of his game to work on and their coach suggesting he hasn't 'bought in' to playing at the ECHL level
- Johansson: making good progress, showing more two-way potential and getting regular SHL call-ups. Possible he joins the Marlies next year, but more likely he'll join Leksand's top-6.
- Moldenhauer: despite struggling production, his asst coach is actually quite positive about his progress, says he's getting chances but perhaps snakebitten (he's only shooting 4.8% after shooting 12.9% last year. His shots/game has slightly fallen from 1.5 to 1.4, but shot attempts/game have risen from 2.3 to 3.1). Notes he struggled with the initial adjustment from USHL to NCAA. Averaging 14:17 of icetime but can't find that number for 2023-24 (icetime tracking looks to be new (and incomplete) for some NCAA teams this year)
- Miller: Harvard coaching staff rave about him. Improving offensively. Kloke suggests he's in line for a contract after next season (Kloke originally reported that Miller apparently impressed Tre in development camp, which has had me curious. Points production doesn't look that great, but I've noted how that's likely handcapped by playing on some poor Harvard teams)

While I'm at it, for the ice-time stats I am seeing for our NCAA prospects (rank among F or D):
- Miller is 1st at Harvard at 18:37
- Moldenhauver is 10th at Michigan at 14:17
- Fusco is 2nd at Darmouth at 22:18
- Koster is 3rd at Minnesota at 19:06
- Malinoski is 3rd at Providence at 16:35 (definitely seem to mostly roll lines there)
- Schingoethe apparently only playing 4:21 in the 8 games has played???

There's going to be a heavy transition over the next year in terms of prospects and organization depth. It's already sort of happened with Treliving, but it will get even more transparent with a new scouting staff. I'd expect a lot of prospects let go/traded from the previous regime.

Niemela has been pretty solid with the Marlies, typically the Rielly of the team. But yeah his development has stalled.

 

[Peasy]

There is a lot of talk about Yak being a bad omission....but then you look at the season he is having and it doesn't look very impressive. Sennecke and Cristall are easily the two worst omissions. I am honestly not upset about Parekh and Yak not being there.

I just feel like theyre really missing those dynamic players on the back end. They had schaefer and thats it. Despite his OHL point totals, Dickinson is not that type of player. Yak or Parekh would just be much more of a scoring threat on the back end durin a PP. Like USA for example have both Buium and Hutson that bring that element.

 

[aingefan]

Oh boy lol

That’s exactly what I said.

That whole 6 on 5 tho. Oof.

Rematch will be wild. If someone doesn’t run eiserman, then Canada is a disgrace to itself.

That’s if we don’t choke in the quarters

Yeah. What was all the smack he was talking?
What’s the history?

 

[ThrowDemTongs]

Don't worry, guys. I told Easton mom's best friend exactly how we all felt about his performance

 

[fahad203]

I am not worried about Easton. Welcome to Leafs hockey bud. Get used to people hating you for no reason

Albeit, that penalty was dumb. He already got away with one earlier in the game

Coming off an injury and diving right into a tournament isn't easy.

If Team Canda somehow gets through the round, I can definitely see them winning it at all

George looked really good. A lot of good players found their games yet

 

[ULF_55]

If they're showing improvement and progesss, then yes. If not...then maybe not.

That was the point.

It is up to them.

To be fair though that was Covid years.
McMann was in same boat.

Brazeau and McMann on the same line today with a decent center?

 

[kb]

Semantics.

Factual truth is not semantics

 

[Stephen]

You don't remember Matthews and Marner during their WJC tournament for being Leafs prospects

Matthews every play was scrutnized, especially by Jets fans

Matthews and Laine made the NHL right after their drafts so there was no prospect rivalry outside of the NHL and I don't ever remember Matthews being scrutinized at the WJC. The World Championship in the spring that year was a bit of a pre-draft coming out party for him since it entrenched his status even more so as the number one pick.

 

[fahad203]

Matthews and Laine made the NHL right after their drafts so there was no prospect rivalry outside of the NHL and I don't ever remember Matthews being scrutinized at the WJC. The World Championship in the spring that year was a bit of a pre-draft coming out party for him since it entrenched his status even more so as the number one

It was in fact world championship. Thanks for the correction

 

[Stringer Bell]

Factual truth is not semantics

You're reaching a bit here. He was our property.

 

[Leaf Fans]

Thanks for letting me know.

I can't be bothered to watch anything but the NHL. I'm sure there's already someone calling me an uninformed fan and I'll freely profess being ignorant regarding a bunch of kids who probably won't make the big league. All I know is that the entire hockey internet is ripping this poor kid right now and I kinda feel bad for him.

Then again if he thinks this is pressure wait until he's wearing a Leafs uniform in April one day.

He did serve up that pizza and did take a bad penalty (among a consecutive series of bad penalties by Canada ), but he was ripped before then. People like to trash prospects. Last year it was Minton.

 

[aingefan]

Clunker for the Marlies, losing to 2-0 to the Crunch.
Matt Murray was pretty good, bad break in the second goal.
No one really busy, team played fine.
Tverberg back from injury, so that was good.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Clunker for the Marlies, losing to 2-0 to the Crunch.
Matt Murray was pretty good, bad break in the second goal.
No one really busy, team played fine.
Tverberg back from injury, so that was good.

I'd be playing the F out of Ahkymanov....Murray is such a waste of time at the NHL / AHL level right now.

 

[Namikaze Minato]

Though it's quite unimpressive this year it does make me chuckle a bit that he still leads Canada in points.

 

[Fogelhund]

I would argue Niemela is the only truly useful one out of those, but I would say that if you don't believe in any of them having an NHL future the roster spots could be better used by other players with either greater potential or slightly older players who can contribute better for AHL wins and possibly NHL depth.

Why give up on players before they stagnate or regress? Yeah, sometimes the jump in improvement isn't what you hope for, but it's forward progress. Keep with it and see where that gets you. Justin Holl, Mason Marchment, Bobby McMann...their stats in the AHL weren't eye popping but they were generally better than the previous year, and better than the previous year, and better than the previous year...etc.

Same with Brazeau.

Abruzzese? Not so much.

So... you want to give up on Tverberg, who is 22 years old, who has been dealing with injuries, and then a couple of pages later complain we give up on players too soon?

You also want to give up on Hirvonen, who is also 22, who has shown improvements.

Do I think they'll amount to much... odds are against it, but as you say... some mature later... and most importantly, they are decent mid AHL lineup players for now, and help the Marlies... the Marlies will still need players, and they are contributing.

 

[Stringer Bell]

So... you want to give up on Tverberg, who is 22 years old, who has been dealing with injuries, and then a couple of pages later complain we give up on players too soon?

You also want to give up on Hirvonen, who is also 22, who has shown improvements.

Do I think they'll amount to much... odds are against it, but as you say... some mature later... and most importantly, they are decent mid AHL lineup players for now, and help the Marlies... the Marlies will still need players, and they are contributing.

Hirvonen, we'll see. But I don't know many NHLers who regressed in the AHL, do you?