Prospect Info: Marlies/Prospects Thread - The AHL is up and prospects are in play

[supermann_98]

One of the more underappreciated aspects of this shift was why there was a play at the line in the first place. The puck becomes loose on the wall and Timmy has the instinct to drift to the neutral zone to cover a potential turnover. And only once the puck was recovered by the Marlies he steps back into the play. Too many times you see guys like Dermott, Reilly maintain their offensive position and it ends up in an odd man rush going the other way If that 50/50 puck is not won by the Leafs. This is a great example of not only the high IQ Timmy has to recognize the vulnerability of that play, but also the skillset to get back into the play quickly

Example A: tonight's game Edmonton where Reilly reacted to late against Archibald

 

[LeafsOHLRangers98]

Problem is though Muzzin tends to get a lot of shutdown usage. Not exactly a great place for a rookie D man

He'd be fine in Holl's spot I think. Worst case you load up Muzzin/Brodie on a shutdown pair.

Eventually you have to expose young D-men to these situations so they can learn how to handle them. Better to have Muzzin beside him than Marincin.

 

[aingefan]

I appreciate what some of you guys are talking about with our lineup for next year and comments about expansion draft.

My opinion, our D core next year should have Muzzin and Liljegren as a pairing. I like the idea of having a physical veteran, to ease a rookie into the league.

Sandin could play further with the Marlies, depending on whether it’s Holl or Dermott that gets selected in the expansion draft.

I don’t like the idea of two rookies on the bottom pairing.

Holl has been a late blooming revelation, but I feel like he’s benefiting from Muzzin’s strong play. Liljegren will be a better D within a year than Holl could dream of.

I agree Muzz will help insulate Lili perfectly. And both guys on the same pair is risky.
I just wouldn’t sleep on Holl on another pair...he and TD made a great shutdown pair last year. And I love how he’s developing a bit of enforcer to his game.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

I agree Muzz will help insulate Lili perfectly. And both guys on the same pair is risky.
I just wouldn’t sleep on Holl on another pair...he and TD made a great shutdown pair last year. And I love how he’s developing a bit of enforcer to his game.

We could do Dermott with Holl next year. You lose a bit of edge by dropping Bogosian for Liljegren but I don't think that will be a big deal.

 

[Randy Randerson]

Yeah that's one thing that was really noticeable last year when he played for the Leafs. He was getting clearly beat too. I'm hoping this can be fixed, maybe as Sandin gets strong. Deconstruct and rebuild his skating seem really extreme...

His whole posture when he's at speed is awkward, too tall, weird angle for his upper body. But, Underhill has done more with less, I think he'll be fine. He doesnt need to be to be a huge plus top speed skater either imo, just fast enough to not always be compensating to protect the outside.

 

[justloveleafs]

I think liljegren is being groomed for replacing huge cap of Morgan Rielly. Morgan, still has no shot.

Let him go, let Lilly grow, let someone else tie up a guy who has realistically, one of the worst shots ever, from, the blue line.

Let the parrot go, let Joey Bautista go, and let Morgan go.

I like Morgan, but he looks like he bongs it big, and while he is doing it, he is not working on his shot.

Cool guy, really mobile, but a shot that wouldn't scare off any flies, off a fresh piece of dung Sad

Morgan with a shot? Could have been lethal. But I think what he is, is what he is. Great mobile zone guy, with a junior C shot. Its sad. Lilly can replace him And Lilly can break a dman's ankle with his shot.

 

[Fogelhund]

We could do Dermott with Holl next year. You lose a bit of edge by dropping Bogosian for Liljegren but I don't think that will be a big deal.

I doubt you have both Dermott and Holl after the expansion draft though.

 

[Fogelhund]

I think liljegren is being groomed for replacing huge cap of Morgan Rielly. Morgan, still has no shot.

Let him go, let Lilly grow, let someone else tie up a guy who has realistically, one of the worst shots ever, from, the blue line.

Let the parrot go, let Joey Bautista go, and let Morgan go.

I like Morgan, but he looks like he bongs it big, and while he is doing it, he is not working on his shot.

If we are moving on from Mo, I think we should be looking at Ekholm. I really like Liljegren, but I don’t see him replacing Mo. I’m really hopeful he can become a good second pairing guy though.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

I think liljegren is being groomed for replacing huge cap of Morgan Rielly. Morgan, still has no shot.

Let him go, let Lilly grow, let someone else tie up a guy who has realistically, one of the worst shots ever, from, the blue line.

Let the parrot go, let Joey Bautista go, and let Morgan go.

I like Morgan, but he looks like he bongs it big, and while he is doing it, he is not working on his shot.

They are not letting go of their number 1 defenseman in the middle of a window if they have anything to say about it.

His shot is not one of the worst shots ever. Not even one of the worst on the team. His slap shot does not have a ton of power but neither does Marner's. Doesn't stop him from being an excellent player, and Rielly is no different.

 

[justloveleafs]

In summary, you don't win with Morgan Rielly. Not the guy. Imho.

 

[Randy Randerson]

I think liljegren is being groomed for replacing huge cap of Morgan Rielly. Morgan, still has no shot.

Let him go, let Lilly grow, let someone else tie up a guy who has realistically, one of the worst shots ever, from, the blue line.

Let the parrot go, let Joey Bautista go, and let Morgan go.

I like Morgan, but he looks like he bongs it big, and while he is doing it, he is not working on his shot.

I dont think we're built to take a lot of point shots honestly. Not that it won't be useful at times, but we want our forwards handling the puck in dangerous areas. Rielly's skillset suits this team well - really capable at taking the puck low and starting a cycle while still being able to cover back, and moves the puck well along the blue line.

I agree on Liljegren or Sandin being groomed to replace that though. I think either could QB an NHL powerplay now.

 

[justloveleafs]

I have some great contacts, ex Leafs, but they won't say anything bad about Morgan. Its like a club. They just don't disparage. But me? I see his shot. Its very underwhelming.

I want shots from the blue line, if I am a coachi want that scare, everyone on the ice, from the refs, to your own team, to the opposition.

Morgan? His shot? What is he doing in the offseason? Because unless he has zero ability to improve, its just a terrible shot.

I think Lilly can replace him. And for much less.

Morgan has the kind of mobility we saw from the greats. Orr, Coffey, Leetch, Housley. But all of those guys spent an hour at least in the offseason, on their point shots.

If I was defending Rielly, I would just let him free wheel, cut off the angle and laugh as I pigeonholed him into taking a point shot.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

I dont think we're built to take a lot of point shots honestly. Not that it won't be useful at times, but we want our forwards handling the puck in dangerous areas. Rielly's skillset suits this team well - really capable at taking the puck low and starting a cycle while still being able to cover back, and moves the puck well along the blue line.

I agree on Liljegren or Sandin being groomed to replace that though. I think either could QB an NHL powerplay now.

He is a guy with a good, accurate wrister (when he is not forcing it) that is good for tips too, which works well for us as well.

Nobody on our defense has a bomb, and not many guys in the NHL really do anymore. Most of the defensive guys with high goal totals are featured on the PP and that is never going to happen on our PP when we have forwards who have far better shots than pretty much every defenseman in the NHL.

 

[Randy Randerson]

He is a guy with a good, accurate wrister (when he is not forcing it) that is good for tips too, which works well for us as well.

Nobody on our defense has a bomb, and not many guys in the NHL really do anymore. Most of the defensive guys with high goal totals are featured on the PP and that is never going to happen on our PP when we have forwards who have far better shots than pretty much every defenseman in the NHL.

I honestly dont think you'd want a Ryan Pulock here - those guys injure their own forwards at times, 100mph shots are harder to tip, and missing the net means the puck leaves the danger area and maybe the zone.

Tavares is one of the premier tipping scorers in the nhl, Hyman and Simmonds are both good at it.

So I agree, Rielly just getting the puck through when it's time to shoot is more valuable to us. Plus he can make a pass, moves well along the blue line and is very capable of sliding down when the opportunity is there. He's a great fit here, I hope we can afford to keep him.

 

[justloveleafs]

And we need goaltending. Jack Campbell, is not a starter, for one reason He has a bad groin, and has had that problem for years.

We cannot count on him .

We literally have no goaltending now. We are just relying on our forwards and D now.

Interesting, but not a playoff formula.

I am still amused at Dubas's junior C move of telling hockey world that he was after a forward.

Every GM must have just shook their head and said to themselves, I am not giving this guy anything close to a goalie.

I like some of Dubas' moves, but that was an uber douche move.

Every GM now knows Andersen is susceptible to the high end shot. They also know Jack Campbell, has groin problems. He will never be healthy unfortunately.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

And we need goaltending. Jack Campbell, is not a starter, for one reason He has a bad groin, and has had that problem for years.

We cannot count on him .

We literally have no goaltending now. We are just relying on our forwards and D now.

Interesting, but not a playoff formula.

I am still amused at Dubas's junior C move of telling hockey world that he was after a forward.

Every GM must have just shook their head and said to themselves, I am not giving this guy anything close to a goalie.

I like some of Dubas' moves, but that was an uber douche move.

Every GM now knows Andersen is susceptible to the high end shot. They also know Jack Campbell, has groin problems. He will never be healthy unfortunately.

None of Campbell's current injuries has anything to do with his groin. They are knee injuries.

 

[Twine Tickler]

Example A: tonight's game Edmonton where Reilly reacted to late against Archibald

Lol it really could not have been more on queue. I swear Dermott and Rielly both do that at least 2-3 times a game. Just no awareness TBH. I am still a big fan of Reilly, he’s an offensive defensemen but there is no benefit in him staying in the zone there. If Brodie manages to contain that bouncing puck, he’s not going over to his partner, he’s putting back down low. I think the Timmy awareness on his goal with the Marlies was even more impressive because I think he noticed it was a forward covering for his partner as well. So just overall great awareness all around for Timmy. Glad to see him get rewarded for smart play

 

[justloveleafs]

Jeez, is it just me or does Gally look like a talent with some heart?

 

[justloveleafs]

And Pierre Engvall. Does he realize, that almost no one can catch him or defence him? I think he does but if this guy has just more confidence, he could do some real damage.

He reminds me of Jean Beliveau, but with no confidence. He even has a shot.

 

[Menzinger]

He'd be fine in Holl's spot I think. Worst case you load up Muzzin/Brodie on a shutdown pair.

Eventually you have to expose young D-men to these situations so they can learn how to handle them. Better to have Muzzin beside him than Marincin.

I doubt he can step into that role opening night. To me, hed be better off as the #5 and then if he shows he can do more bump him up to the second pairing by midseason.

Holl stepped into the Leafs when he was his later 20s, so he was basically fully developed at that point (at least physically) so I'm not sure if his quick adjustment can be as easily replicated

 

[LeafsOHLRangers98]

I doubt he can step into that role opening night. To me, hed be better off as the #5 and then if he shows he can do more bump him up to the second pairing by midseason.

Holl stepped into the Leafs when he was his later 20s, so he was basically fully developed at that point (at least physically) so I'm not sure if his quick adjustment can be as easily replicated

Even if he doesn't immediately, Jake Bean and Shea Theodore are recent examples of guys that show very quickly that they are capable of a bigger role and move up the lineup.

No guarantee he replicates those guys success but that's the level he's playing at right now.

 

[aingefan]

I doubt he can step into that role opening night. To me, hed be better off as the #5 and then if he shows he can do more bump him up to the second pairing by midseason.

Holl stepped into the Leafs when he was his later 20s, so he was basically fully developed at that point (at least physically) so I'm not sure if his quick adjustment can be as easily replicated

Or if you split up Muzzin/Holl, you just mix and match the second and third pair as the game dictates.

 

[Future]

We could do Dermott with Holl next year. You lose a bit of edge by dropping Bogosian for Liljegren but I don't think that will be a big deal.

Dermott needs to get out. I’m sorry. He’s replacement level, and Sandin and Liljegren have a chance to be legitimate top 4 guys, if not more.

 

[LeafChief]

I will be very surprised if Liljegren can crack the top 6 next season especially with Sandin ahead of him. we would have to lose two starters and I dont think Dubas wants two 20'ish rookie dman in the lineup when we are possibly an elite level team

Sandin gets the first opportunity, it doesn't matter what side is available, Dubas seems to be very high on Sandin and will make room

It borders on impressive the way in which you post with such confidence about a topic you seemingly know nothing about.

 

[Randy Randerson]

Dermott needs to get out. I’m sorry. He’s replacement level, and Sandin and Dermott have a chance to be legitimate top 4 guys, if not more.

For a team that struggled with replacement level bottom pairings for a long time, we shouldn't be so quick to wish away competence. Dermott likely isn't ever better than a 2nd pairing guy, but certainly not replacement level.

I assume the second "Dermott" in your post was meant to be "Liljegren". The problem with getting Dermott out of the way for Sandin is that those guys aren't going to be used the same at all, Sandin wouldn't thrive in Dermott's minutes and he'll need to be sheltered by a partner who can skate where Dermott is that partner. No issue with getting the kids some time next year but Dermott is a guy that keeps them from getting exposed, he'd be great to pair one of them with