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Prospect Info: Marlies/Prospects Thread - 2023-23 Season Edition

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andora said:
This is kinda the problem.. depending on how you look at it.

There could be long term good players but they cannot receive the opportunity in similar roles once up with the big club

If a team is good enough to withstand young guys getting extended looks (which i think this team is) in similar roles to where they are succeeding in the ahl it could be beneficial to that graduation and internal process.

I mean, this top line carries bunting and the body of kerfoot and still does well.. i see no reason why a 2nd line cant carry steeves or mcmann for a longer look..
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Bunting hasn't been great recently but when he was at his best, he was still able to contribute in a variety of ways. Kerfoot does as well. It is not like these guys are a pair of nobodies who were not doing similar things in the bottom 6 when they were away from the top guys; obviously playing with top guys means their linemates helped finish some things for them.

McMann didn't really do much in the bottom 6. Same with Steeves. They weren't awful, but it didnt look like they were generating things that their linemates couldn't finish. Anderson looked better and he wasn't given a chance in the top 6 either.

Steeves still has exemption so he likely will be a priority call up next year. Robertson does as well, but he is much better so he has a chance. McMann is older but cheap so he may have a shot, but I don't think he is skilled enough to be on a roster. Big body, works hard, good IQ so he can be a good fill in, but his raw skill is just not there enough for him to do what he does at the NHL level. Maybe he can figure it out, but at 27, there is not much room left for him.
 
notbias said:
The only thing I'll say is he has shown flashes of being skilled in his time with the Leafs and looked like he had some offensive capabilities. I think he could be a bump/grind/retrieve the puck kind of player for a super-skilled duo.

I don't think most are expecting too much from him, just seems like someone you can put beside two high end scorers and he doesn't look too out of place if he sticks to his role of being a puck retriever and option #3.
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I think you're really underestimating the skill required to be that guy. Kerfoot had 2 40pt NHL seasons under his belt by the age McMann established himself as a viable AHL depth player.

ZAR vastly out produced McMann at similar ages/levels, forchecks hard, good defense but no one would dream of suggesting him as a viable top 6 option.
 
SeaOfBlue said:
Bunting hasn't been great recently but when he was at his best, he was still able to contribute in a variety of ways. Kerfoot does as well. It is not like these guys are a pair of nobodies who were not doing similar things in the bottom 6 when they were away from the top guys; obviously playing with top guys means their linemates helped finish some things for them.

McMann didn't really do much in the bottom 6. Same with Steeves. They weren't awful, but it didnt look like they were generating things that their linemates couldn't finish. Anderson looked better and he wasn't given a chance in the top 6 either.

Steeves still has exemption so he likely will be a priority call up next year. Robertson does as well, but he is much better so he has a chance. McMann is older but cheap so he may have a shot, but I don't think he is skilled enough to be on a roster. Big body, works hard, good IQ so he can be a good fill in, but his raw skill is just not there enough for him to do what he does at the NHL level. Maybe he can figure it out, but at 27, there is not much room left for him.
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I didnt mean to imply bunting and kerfoot arent useful however they are also players that are to be replaced by internal and cheaper candidates

I thought mcmann looked good from what i saw, simple game, was physical and could skate. Simple games not need a ton of skill and skill can show itself with confidence and time.

Steeves maybe had what 20 minutes of ice time this year, so it is early with him .. and i think holmberg is a roster player before steeves.. but internally i think that if you want to get a good rotation going you need to look at getting a player that is successful in the minors into a similar type role once they come up. Hopefully when they have 2 yrs left on a deal to get the value

Personally i believe steeves holmberg and mcmann can be nhl players and should get a shot in similar roles. Getting these players in extended looks also can bump your established depth down and create a stronger bottom line.

Just my opinion of course
 
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VanW27 said:
I think you're really underestimating the skill required to be that guy. Kerfoot had 2 40pt NHL seasons under his belt by the age McMann established himself as a viable AHL depth player.

ZAR vastly out produced McMann at similar ages/levels, forchecks hard, good defense but no one would dream of suggesting him as a viable top 6 option.
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I'm just going based on what I've seen. I think Kerfoot is very underrated firstly, he gets put down so much for no reason. I've just seen some good skills from McMann and want to see what he can do as a complimentary piece. My expectations are he will be an AHL player, but I think he has the potential to be a decent 3rd option.

His path is also pretty unique, so not really fair to use comparables based on age in my opinion, also ZAR has never put up an AHL season comparable to McMann's currently, I think it's worth giving him a shot on a skilled line.
 
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notbias said:
I'm just going based on what I've seen. I think Kerfoot is very underrated firstly, he gets put down so much for no reason. I've just seen some good skills from McMann and want to see what he can do as a complimentary piece. My expectations are he will be an AHL player, but I think he has the potential to be a decent 3rd option.

His path is also pretty unique, so not really fair to use comparables based on age in my opinion, also ZAR has never put up an AHL season comparable to McMann's currently, I think it's worth giving him a shot on a skilled line.
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Fair enough, I agree he needs a shot to see what we have and the continuos improvement is something he deserves credit for and a chance to show how far he can take it.

As far as ZAR never putting up a comparable AHL season, that's true, but of course ZAR was in the NHL after his rookie AHL season so never really had a chance.
 
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fahad203 said:
Kallgren on the other hand

Dudeeee
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He was pretty good.

Unrelated, but was it just me or was getting into the game a complete mess today? Only one gate open and the line to get in was all the way back to BMO field. Missed almost the entire first period because of it.
 
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Borschevsky said:
He was pretty good.

Unrelated, but was it just me or was getting into the game a complete mess today? Only one gate open and the line to get in was all the way back to BMO field. Missed almost the entire first period because of it.
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That was weird
We waited an hour in the cold. It was definitely a bit of a mess. I wonder if it's because of March break
 
LaPlante94 said:
Minnesota just lost in the Big 10 Championship. When does the Frozen 4 start? I'm assuming next week?
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If they lost, wouldn’t that mean they are not going to the national championship? Or does the Big 10 have two entries this year. We may see Knies sooner now.

*EDIT they are ranked #1 in the country, they’ll be in the national championship.
 
LaPlante94 said:
Minnesota just lost in the Big 10 Championship. When does the Frozen 4 start? I'm assuming next week?
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The tournament starts next week with the regional sections. Technically he could be available sometime between March 23-26 if they're eliminated early, but Minnesota will be heavily favoured to advance to the Frozen Four, that takes place April 6-8
 
LeafChief said:
Next weekend.

They're ranked #1 so they have a birth into the Frozen Four. If they lose next weekend, Knies can sign and get in about 9 games. Would be ideal (for the Leafs).

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The best part is in the first clip where 13 skates into him at full speed, doesn’t move him an inch and bounces off instead. That’s a 22 year old 6’1 190 NHL sized forward.
 
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VanW27 said:
I think you're really underestimating the skill required to be that guy. Kerfoot had 2 40pt NHL seasons under his belt by the age McMann established himself as a viable AHL depth player.

ZAR vastly out produced McMann at similar ages/levels, forchecks hard, good defense but no one would dream of suggesting him as a viable top 6 option.
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My gold standard for diamonds in the rough coming up through the Marlies is still Trevor Moore.

I am holding out hope that Marlie alumni Connor Brown re-signs with a home town discount to replace Bunting who I figure will price himself out of our budget.
 
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1679235919540.png


Can someone get that toilet seat off our player please???? ;)
 
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I did a little look into Niemelä’s TOI for the year. So last year in 48 GP he sets the U20 point total record for dman with 32P, gets 19:50 TOI/GP, and across 48 GP he had 110:54 PP time and 65:00 PK time. Then this year he plays 58 GP, 18P, 18:39 TOI/GP, 94:53 PP time, 69:41 PK time. In 10 more games this season he still played 16 minutes less PP time. Unfortunate he wasn’t given a bigger opportunity/role this year, maybe he didn’t earn it through their camp/start of season but still. That team was a circus show this year. When is he coming to NA…

Also, for fun: his top registered skating speed was pretty much identical from 2021-2022 to 2022-2023. His hardest shot recorded in 2021-2022 was somewhere around 150 km/h but this season was 136.
 
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The Iceman said:
My gold standard for diamonds in the rough coming up through the Marlies is still Trevor Moore.

I am holding out hope that Marlie alumni Connor Brown re-signs with a home town discount to replace Bunting who I figure will price himself out of our budget.
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Would love Brown back, I'd say good chance it happens too. With the lost season due to injury he's probably looking for a short term prove it deal. Leafs get 1 or 2 years for cheap abd he gets to rebuild his value for one last 'big' contract while playing 3rd wheel in the Leafs top 6.

Sounds like a good deal for everyone.
 
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mistaclick said:
I did a little look into Niemelä’s TOI for the year. So last year in 48 GP he sets the U20 point total record for dman with 32P, gets 19:50 TOI/GP, and across 48 GP he had 110:54 PP time and 65:00 PK time. Then this year he plays 58 GP, 18P, 18:39 TOI/GP, 94:53 PP time, 69:41 PK time. In 10 more games this season he still played 16 minutes less PP time. Unfortunate he wasn’t given a bigger opportunity/role this year, maybe he didn’t earn it through their camp/start of season but still. That team was a circus show this year. When is he coming to NA…

Also, for fun: his top registered skating speed was pretty much identical from 2021-2022 to 2022-2023. His hardest shot recorded in 2021-2022 was somewhere around 150 km/h but this season was 136.
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Karpat added Rundblad in the offseason who took over the #1 PP duty role. You may recall Rundblad was once a highly regarded offensive D prospect for the Sens (Karlsson 2.0 hype for a bit) which quickly fizzled out once stepped onto the ice in North America.
 
Next weekend is the round of 16 and quarterfinals... Frozen Four is April 6-8.
LeafChief said:
Next weekend.

They're ranked #1 so they have a birth into the Frozen Four. If they lose next weekend, Knies can sign and get in about 9 games. Would be ideal (for the Leafs).
Click to expand...
 
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