Prospect Info: Marlies/Prospects Thread - 2021/22

[kerk]

I'll be honest, it completely surprised me.

Incoming about him being 5'9" and 170 lbs. lol

don't forget ex-soo

 

[Magic Man]

I've always liked Hollowell. I think he could fill the role Dermott plays on an NHL team.

 

[fahad203]

I've always liked Hollowell. I think he could fill the role Dermott plays on an NHL team.

What can you tell me about him?
Skating, physical?

 

[nobody]

I really like our prospect pool and Dubas and co's drafting philosophies but there is one thing that still absolutely irks me and that is the type of players we can capitalize on as undrafted UFAs. I'm looking at a guy like Arber Xhekaj who is 6'4, a pretty solid skater, has decent skills, and is tough as nails. Someone in the mold of the current Habs player Ben Chiarot who many are speculating is drawing interest from teams like the Leafs. We could easily have thrown a contract at this dude who more or less plays in the Leafs' backyard (at least compared to the Habs) and their scouts should have had plenty of looks at. We always talk about how our D is too soft and we don't have the type of mean guys who can really clear the net or provide grit when need be. I understand that often players like these are easy to obtain on the UFA market and throwing picks (at least high picks) at a guy whose calling card is sandpaper might not be the wisest move but for a free wallet who plays a rugged game with some upside, why not roll the dice.

Just boggles my mind. I rather we signed him over Kressler.

A few more players I have my eyes on right now are;

Simon Kubicek (Edmonton Oil Kings)
Benjamin King (Red Deer Rebels)
Logan Morrison (Hamilton Bulldogs)
Lucas Edmonds (Kingston Frontnacs)
Andrew Perrott (Windsor Spitfires)

 

[weems]

I really like our prospect pool and Dubas and co's drafting philosophies but there is one thing that still absolutely irks me and that is the type of players we can capitalize on as undrafted UFAs. I'm looking at a guy like Arber Xhekaj who is 6'4, a pretty solid skater, has decent skills, and is tough as nails. Someone in the mold of the current Habs player Ben Chiarot who many are speculating is drawing interest from teams like the Leafs. We could easily have thrown a contract at this dude who more or less plays in the Leafs' backyard (at least compared to the Habs) and their scouts should have had plenty of looks at. We always talk about how our D is too soft and we don't have the type of mean guys who can really clear the net or provide grit when need be. I understand that often players like these are easy to obtain on the UFA market and throwing picks (at least high picks) at a guy whose calling card is sandpaper might not be the wisest move but for a free wallet who plays a rugged game with some upside, why not roll the dice.

Just boggles my mind. I rather we signed him over Kressler.

A few more players I have my eyes on right now are;

Simon Kubicek (Edmonton Oil Kings)
Benjamin King (Red Deer Rebels)
Logan Morrison (Hamilton Bulldogs)
Lucas Edmonds (Kingston Frontnacs)
Andrew Perrott (Windsor Spitfires)

Ya that was a really good undrafted signing by the Habs.
I was impressed with Xhekaj's play but at the time he was being overshadowed by Sebrango, Vukojevic and Bergkvist.

 

[Magic Man]

What can you tell me about him?
Skating, physical?

His skating is his best attribute. Fast and a bit of a figure skater out there. He's strong and can play physical. For a guy his size he can definitely handle the physical play and dish it out as good as he gets it.

I remember his first AHL game was a playoff game and he was shaking the mitts in his first few scrums looking for a fight. I thought it was cool an undersized rookie who wasn't known for fighting was so willing in his first action.

His skating and ability to withstand and play physical are actually two of the biggest reasons I think he will have success. His hands are good, he can QB a PP and he can defend well 5 on 5. He can skate or move the puck well.

I don't see why he couldn't provide what Dermott does. Limited minutes, mostly 5 on 5. Not many mistakes, some physicality, good puck movement, not much offense.

 

[fahad203]

His skating is his best attribute. Fast and a bit of a figure skater out there. He's strong and can play physical. For a guy his size he can definitely handle the physical play and dish it out as good as he gets it.

I remember his first AHL game was a playoff game and he was shaking the mitts in his first few scrums looking for a fight. I thought it was cool an undersized rookie who wasn't known for fighting was so willing in his first action.

His skating and ability to withstand and play physical are actually two of the biggest reasons I think he will have success. His hands are good, he can QB a PP and he can defend well 5 on 5. He can skate or move the puck well.

I don't see why he couldn't provide what Dermott does. Limited minutes, mostly 5 on 5. Not many mistakes, some physicality, good puck movement, not much offense.

Thank you sir. You are a gentleman

 

[aingefan]

What happened to him and how long is he out?

This is still a good question. Is he actually hurt?

 

[aingefan]

I know he's been a bit disappointing this year compared to last year. But he's not exactly been given the same opportunity to thrive either.

Rapid decline on what looked like a relatively decent free wallet. There is a raw NHL skillset there IMO. I wonder what has gone wrong

Good question. Hope he can take advantage and get a bit of a kick start.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

I really like our prospect pool and Dubas and co's drafting philosophies but there is one thing that still absolutely irks me and that is the type of players we can capitalize on as undrafted UFAs. I'm looking at a guy like Arber Xhekaj who is 6'4, a pretty solid skater, has decent skills, and is tough as nails. Someone in the mold of the current Habs player Ben Chiarot who many are speculating is drawing interest from teams like the Leafs. We could easily have thrown a contract at this dude who more or less plays in the Leafs' backyard (at least compared to the Habs) and their scouts should have had plenty of looks at. We always talk about how our D is too soft and we don't have the type of mean guys who can really clear the net or provide grit when need be. I understand that often players like these are easy to obtain on the UFA market and throwing picks (at least high picks) at a guy whose calling card is sandpaper might not be the wisest move but for a free wallet who plays a rugged game with some upside, why not roll the dice.

Just boggles my mind. I rather we signed him over Kressler.

A few more players I have my eyes on right now are;

Simon Kubicek (Edmonton Oil Kings)
Benjamin King (Red Deer Rebels)
Logan Morrison (Hamilton Bulldogs)
Lucas Edmonds (Kingston Frontnacs)
Andrew Perrott (Windsor Spitfires)

Kressler was signed because he doesn't have any downside besides his size (5'9", 165lbs) but plays a mature, hard-working, and tenacious game with solid skill profile that project to an NHL bottom 6. If he was a few inches taller and played last year, he is easily a guy who could have found himself taken in the 2nd or 3rd round. That, and being a major standout in Leafs camp, is why he was signed.

Unfortunately, he was injured for most of the year and Flint was struggling to put up offense (outside of Othmann) before he was injured. He will figure it out.

A lot of the guys on that list are guys I have been tracking for a while. I even had some of them in my top 125 in their draft years (I think Kubicek was even the highest ranked UD guy on my board in 2020).

The most common trend for most of these guys is:

1) Their skating needs a lot of work. Most are nothing more than average skaters at best in the CHL, and that won't cut it in the AHL/NHL.
2) Even if they reach their upside, they don't have enough there to be worth the investment. Some don't have the IQ and some just don't have enough skill.

For example, a guy like Logan Morrison, I think he could turn into a solid AHL player because he has great IQ and solid work ethic, but he is just fairly vanilla when it comes to anything. His shot is not amazing. His hands are not amazing. He is not big or physical. He skates hard but his skating is still below average (the main reason he went undrafted in the first place). Solid in his own end but I don't think he is going to turn into a defensive specialist. So what does he have, outside of his IQ and work ethic, which is worth an ELC?

Then you can look at Perrott. Physical, works hard, solid in his own end, and has some improved offensive ability. He is the kind of guy who might find a chance on an AHL deal and work his way up from the ECHL similarly to Justin Holl, but he is far too much of a long shot to get an ELC right away.

A lot of these guys are the kinds of guys you target on AHL deals first and see if they earn an ELC from there. Personally, I had Xhekaj in that category too. The Marlies don't have too many young AHLers who are likely coming back; Chyzowski, Petruzzelli, and Douglas are the only ones who are prospect-aged and signed to an AHL deal for next year, and I don't see too many of the non-vets being brought back besides maybe Kopacka. Orrin Centazzo may get an AHL deal from us too (currently on an ECHL deal with Newfoundland).

SPC/ELC Candidates
1) LW Andrei Kuzmenko – KHL – 1996 (for 2022)
2) LW/C Ben Meyers – NCAA – 1998 (for 2022)
3) C Marc McLaughlin – NCAA – 1999 (for 2022)
4) C Ilya Usov – KHL – 2001 (for 2022)

AHL Contract Candidates
1) C Ethen Frank – NCAA – 1998 (for 2022)
2) RW Taylor Ward – NCAA – 1998 (for 2022)
3) RD Zach Metsa – NCAA – 1998 (for 2022)
4) LW/RW Bobby Trivigno – NCAA – 1999 (for 2022)
5) RD Spencer Meier – NCAA – 1999 (for 2022)
6) C/LW Brett Budgell – QMJHL – 2001 (for 2022)
7) LW Simon Pinard – QMJHL – 2001 (for 2022)
8) RD Noah Laaouan – QMJHL – 2001 (for 2022)
9) LD Vincent Sevigny – QMJHL – 2001 (for 2022)
10) LW Arshdeep Bains – WHL – 2001 (for 2022)
11) RW Josh Williams – WHL – 2001 (for 2022)
12) LW Luke Toporowski – WHL – 2001 (for 2022)
13) LD Clay Hanus – WHL – 2001 (for 2022)
14) LD Chad Nychuk -WHL – 2001 (for 2022)
15) LD Daniel Baker – WHL – 2001 (for 2022)
16) RD Simon Kubicek – WHL – 2001 (for 2022)
17) RW/LW Lucas Edmonds – OHL – 2001 (for 2022)
18) RW Daniel D’Amato – OHL – 2001 (for 2022)
19) C/RW Mitchell Russell – OHL – 2001 (for 2022)
20) LD Nathan Staios – OHL – 2001 (for 2022)

There are a few guys I might take off, a few guys who may end up earning ELC's instead (likely from other teams), and a few more I may decide to put on later. Don't worry about the "for 2022" part; I originally was tracking for guys in the future as well. Guys like Ben King, Logan Morrison, James Hardie, and Theo Rochette would lead the way as 02's who I would target on AHL deals next year if they have good years, but I think I will wait for them to have good years before putting them on.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

I've always liked Hollowell. I think he could fill the role Dermott plays on an NHL team.

Dermott has looked significantly better at the AHL level, so I doubt it.

Hollowell is an offensive defenseman who doesn't put up much offense. He hasn't shown anything more than that on a consistent basis.

He has 7 points in his last 9 games which has helped him look a little bit more respectable in the production department for an offensive defenseman, but I am not seeing NHLer there. He looks like a less aggressive version of Connor Carrick, without nearly as much of the success thus far.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

I know he's been a bit disappointing this year compared to last year. But he's not exactly been given the same opportunity to thrive either.

Rapid decline on what looked like a relatively decent free wallet. There is a raw NHL skillset there IMO. I wonder what has gone wrong

One-dimensional skill set.

He has a good shot, and some decent puck skills. Not good in his own end. I think we tried to develop his defensive game a bit but it has not worked.

Not really a surprise this has happened, but probably not the end for him either.

 

[4thline]

I would like if we acted now to secure Douglas on 2022 start ELC. 30th in U22 centre points per game in the A while playing low in the lineup, slightly ahead of the likes of Lauko/Back/Hallander who were picked in the same range and seen as legitimate B prospects.

 

[Menzinger]

Dermott has looked significantly better at the AHL level, so I doubt it.

Hollowell is an offensive defenseman who doesn't put up much offense. He hasn't shown anything more than that on a consistent basis.

He has 7 points in his last 9 games which has helped him look a little bit more respectable in the production department for an offensive defenseman, but I am not seeing NHLer there. He looks like a less aggressive version of Connor Carrick, without nearly as much of the success thus far.

Will be curious if he gets any NHL icetime. Perhaps they see him as trade currency

 

[SeaOfBlue]

2 assists for Tverberg.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Will be curious if he gets any NHL icetime. Perhaps they see him as trade currency

I doubt it. He would not get much in return and we just re-signed him.

Seems like they just want to get him an NHL paycheque.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Sign me up for Marc McLaughlin out of BC.

His character was always unquestioned, but he brings it on the ice too. He does everything.

His upside is not high, but he has an extremely high floor and could challenge for an NHL job on day 1. A high end 4th line who just wears down other teams with his speed and never-ending work ethic, while also being a key PK and faceoff guy... Similar to what Boston would consistently churn out for their bottom 6 (Acciari is probably his closest comparable of the bunch).

In fact, I would be shocked if Boston is not the frontrunner for him. Seems like a perfect fit, but I am doing my best to get in there too if I am Dubas.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Watching Gogolev in the ECHL can be described with one word: Effortless.

Both positively and negatively.

Offensively, he can do pretty much anything he wants. Sniped a goal in the top corner without even breaking a sweat. He can skate pretty well and play hard when he wants to, which is usually going the offensive direction. Hands are pretty good as well but maybe not as effortless as his shot.

He doesn't really try at all on the back check. Really puts no effort in at his end of the ice short of it being right in front of him. That is going to be a real problem for him, because he is not going to make the NHL as a pure offensive player, and I can see why he was sent down. He is not going to do well on our AHL 4th line when he is only focused on offense, and we have a lot of guys to play in offensive roles right now.

He should get a lot of ice time in the ECHL. The skill is there, but he needs to diversify his game and up the effort level if he wants to get anywhere as a pro here.

 

[aingefan]

Marlies up 2-1 after 2.
JHS in on both goals (1+1), Abramov with an apple and SDA with a goal.

 

[kb]

Jack McBain is on fire. Yes please (if he won't sign with Minny).

 

[Mitch nylander]

Gotta wonder with Kallgren being 25, on a one year deal if he will get an opportunity with the leafs especially with Campbell, and Mrazek's current form

 

[GQS]

Gotta wonder with Kallgren being 25, on a one year deal if he will get an opportunity with the leafs especially with Campbell, and Mrazek's current form

Should just bring him up for a couple of games and let Campbell take a break and Mrazek be the backup. Who knows maybe Kallgren pulls a Binnington and leads the Leafs to a cup win. Probably not but what else can we do with both goalies struggling?

 

[WTFMAN99]

I heard from someone I trust that Toronto and McBain has a chance to be a thing.

Also I would totally go for Ben Meyer, grabbing both would really bolster centre for us.

 

[aingefan]

I heard from someone I trust that Toronto and McBain has a chance to be a thing.

Also I would totally go for Ben Meyer, grabbing both would really bolster centre for us.

McBain Meyers and McLaughlin would be a nice trifecta, wouldn’t it?
Probably good for endorsement money too if one hit beside M&M.
In fact, why aren’t they endorsed already. Those adorable little candies on the side of helmets?

 

[aingefan]

Bit of a third period collapse for the Marlies too.
I didn’t comment on Joe Woll in my first game update because I didn’t want to jinx anything.
Seems he was great in the first two periods (24/25) not so much in the third.