Prospect Info: Marlies/Prospects Thread - Vote Miettinen for the Hobey Baker!

[TheBeastCoast]

What about Miettinen

Late birthday. Will be to old.

 

[weems]

Hirvonen is such an interesting player.

I went into the tournament not so high on him and alot had to do with his skating. There were points in the tournament where his skating and footspeed looked questionable. He just doesnt seem to generate much explosion in his stride and its seen in his first few steps. Once he gets up to fullspeed he's actually elusive but getting to that point is much harder for him than others.

After watching Finland close this tournament this guy is now my favorite prospect and he's someone that Leaf fans will love if he ever makes the NHL.

Super gritty, plays way bigger than his size, very smart, goes to the scoring areas and has very sneaky offensive talent.

He stepped up bigtime for the Fins when it mattered and he got better as the tournament went along.

He will most likely be a winger in the NHL and his skating needs to be improved if he will become a impact forward. If you played him with a big center who can transition the puck well and score, he'd be very effective as he's more of a playmaker.

That trade down with OTT could turn out to be quite the laugher.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

ECHL Update:

Bobby McMann: 5GMS - 3G - 6A - 9PTS
Gordie Green: 4GMS - 3G - 3A - 6PTS
Jeremy McKenna: 5GMS - 4G - 2A - 6PTS
Noel Hoefenmayer: 4GMS - 1G - 2A - 3PTS

 

[Maplebeasts]

What about Miettinen

He's going to be ineligible. Late 2001 birthday.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

He's going to be ineligible. Late 2001 birthday.

Just to make everyone aware of who is eligible from the Leafs:

C/LW Roni Hirvonen - Finland
RD Topi Niemela - Finland
RD William Villeneuve - Canada
LW/RW Dmitri Ovchinnikov - Russia
C/LW/RW Joe Miller - USA
C/LW Wyatt Schingoethe - USA
C Ryan Tverberg - Canada

 

[Maplebeasts]

fixed that for you.

Touché

 

[stickty111]

Loponen returned to action from the break and had a goal and 2 assists.

 

[nobody]

Just to make everyone aware of who is eligible from the Leafs:

C/LW Roni Hirvonen - Finland
RD Topi Niemela - Finland
RD William Villeneuve - Canada
LW/RW Dmitri Ovchinnikov - Russia
C/LW/RW Joe Miller - USA
C/LW Wyatt Schingoethe - USA
C Ryan Tverberg - Canada

Hirvonen and Niemela are the only locks on that list and probably will be the only ones there. I'm surprised looking at the Russian team that Ovch didn't get a shot this year. His MHL numbers are vastly superior to many of the players who played on team Russia.

 

[Maplebeasts]

Hirvonen and Niemela are the only locks on that list and probably will be the only ones there. I'm surprised looking at the Russian team that Ovch didn't get a shot this year. His MHL numbers are vastly superior to many of the players who played on team Russia.

I don't see how Russia leaves Ovchinnikov behind. He's one of the top 18 year olds in the country and could easily be in their top 6 next year.

 

[nobody]

I don't see how Russia leaves Ovchinnikov behind. He's one of the top 18 year olds in the country and could easily be in their top 6 next year.

I mean, they left him off the roster this year. I hope it doesn't happen again but he does play on a more remote/ smaller team in the MHL so who knows.

 

[Maplebeasts]

I mean, they left him off the roster this year. I hope it doesn't happen again but he does play on a more remote/ smaller team in the MHL so who knows.

I think that decision had a lot to do with the fact that the top six roles were already taken. Ovchinnikov also didn't really separate himself as a truely dangerous offensive threat until later last season and into this year.

 

[nobody]

I think that decision had a lot to do with the fact that the top six roles were already taken. Ovchinnikov also didn't really separate himself as a truely dangerous offensive threat until later last season and into this year.

That's a fair point. I hope he continues his tear and learned to become a more better-rounded 200-foot player.

 

[Maplebeasts]

I'd like to take a minute and give @stickty111 a shoutout for the Koster love. Niemela, Amirov and Miettinen have been getting lots of attention lately but Koster looks to have taken an insane step in his development. It's a small sample size but he's playing like a true #1 defenseman in the NCAA at age 19. Really impressive stuff from him.

 

[cupcrazyman]

Denis Malgin (23) clears waivers & will be able to report to the Marlies at the conclusion of the Swiss League season.

 

[stickty111]

Ovchinnikov with 2 assists today

Long shot but continues his great start this season. If he hits, it will be as an impact player.

 

[daethfromabove1979]

Our Swedish prospects have not been very productive this year, Hallander has 11 points in 26 games and Holmberg has 10 points in 25 games. Really expected much more production from them.

 

[Isaac Nootin]

Our Swedish prospects have not been very productive this year, Hallander has 11 points in 26 games and Holmberg has 10 points in 25 games. Really expected much more production from them.

I forget the exact stats, but apparently Hallander is absolutely killing it analytically.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

I forget the exact stats, but apparently Hallander is absolutely killing it analytically.

Holmberg is also.

I am surprised people think either are capable of producing more than they are. Neither are seen as offensive players, and are not really being used as offensive players either. Hallander is a middle 6 energy two-way guy. Holmberg is a bottom 6 two-way guy who will pot 25-30 points but play a strong possession and defensive game.

FWIW Hallander does have a goal today.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Holmberg is also.

I am surprised people think either are capable of producing more than they are. Neither are seen as offensive players, and are not really being used as offensive players either. Hallander is a middle 6 energy two-way guy. Holmberg is a bottom 6 two-way guy who will pot 25-30 points but play a strong possession and defensive game.

FWIW Hallander does have a goal today.

Holmberg is effectively like another Par Lindholm with more offensive upside. That's great for a 6th round pick.

Hallander can probably become a better version of Mattias Janmark. Someone who can put up 35-40 points consistently, play PK and PP, and maybe even hit 50 a few times with the right teammates and opportunities.

 

[Fogelhund]

Hallander can probably become a better version of Mattias Janmark. Someone who can put up 35-40 points consistently, play PK and PP, and maybe even hit 50 a few times with the right teammates and opportunities.

Look, you are a far better judge or prospect talent than I, but I don't see a 50 point potential guy. If we get a 30-40 point guy, who is 6'1", fills out around 200lbs, excels at C, is excellent on the PK, and defensively, plays a solid possession game, I'd be thrilled... anything else is bonus. As a 3C, you'd have to be pretty happy with that.

 

[Morgs]

*all of this is prior to today's game*

I think we need to remember that the SHL is the clear 3rd best league in the world. It's much closer to the KHL in strength than it is to #4, so it's not only exceptional that Hallander has a 1st line role with the team, but that he's doing as well as he is with the spot. Another thing is if you've actually watched him extensively (like I'm sure very few have) you'll see he's far better than his statline shows. He's constantly in the play, setting up chances for himself and teammates.

He's 11th in the league in U21 points, with five 1st round picks ahead of him (Lundkvist, Veleno, Holtz, Seider, Raymond), and one guy I believe is the best prospect in the 2021 NHL draft (Eklund). Of the other 4 guys ahead of him, three are 2nd round picks (Berggren, Drury, Hoglander) and the other is a guy that was a double OA that was picked in the 7th round 2020 (Oberg). Other than Berggren, Drury, and Lundkvist he's one game great game away from being ahead of everyone else in points. Let's not forget too his sh% and his oish% lags behind virtually everyone else on that list too, so the "lack" of production is probably far more of a fluke than something to expect going forward. Not to mention for as good his team is, they score very few goals compared to other good teams. Plus as I mentioned, he's playing in such a tough league his NHLe is actually ahead of guys like Amirov, Miettinen, Hirvonen, etc who people are claiming to be having fantastic offensive seasons and loving their upside.

His play driving is exceptional. On a fantastic analytical team it's harder to drive play as you need to be more than good/average at it, he's the best play driver on the team with a +5.1 rel.CF% and a +4.1 rel.FF%. We don't know how transferrable it is to the NHL, but it's a good sign when a guy like him who I believe would play a perfect support role to either of our top-2 lines is able to dominate possesion the way he is.

There is literally 0 reason to be down on him. I see a fantastic middle-6 play driving winger that like Hyman/Hornqvist has the ability to be effective anywhere in the top-6.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Look, you are a far better judge or prospect talent than I, but I don't see a 50 point potential guy. If we get a 30-40 point guy, who is 6'1", fills out around 200lbs, excels at C, is excellent on the PK, and defensively, plays a solid possession game, I'd be thrilled... anything else is bonus. As a 3C, you'd have to be pretty happy with that.

I don't think you get a guy who plays center out of Hallander.

Janmark is a better comparable than both, but Zach Hyman or Leo Komarov could be another example of the type of guy he could become. Komarov is more physical and less skilled offensively, and Hyman has a little bit more defensive ability. Hallander may have slightly more raw offensive potential than Hyman as well, but it is marginal. The main thing is that neither Komarov nor Hyman are centers, although both can take draws on the PK or can take them if the center gets kicked out. Hallander projects to be the same. I would have also thrown Mikheyev in that conversation, but he doesn't take draws at all.

I wouldn't call Zach Hyman a 50 point potential guy, but he was pacing 50 points this year. If you get Hallander with the right guys, he can get 50 points. If you are talking about what he can do in a role which matches his skill set (3rd line two-way role like Hyman and Mikheyev are being put into right now), you are probably talking about 30-40 points consistently. I think that is all you are getting out of a Hyman or Mikheyev in that kind of role as well.

 

[Morgs]

 

[Morgs]

Oh also: Hallander isn't on Lulea's 1st PP unit consistantly and has the 8th most PP minutes/game on the team.

 

[Leafs at Knight]

To play devils advocate with Hallander - his offensive numbers haven't improved since his d-1 to his current d+2. I know he isn't known for his offence, but you still want to see some growth there.