As long as it is a full camp and not abbreviated at all, there will be a lot more than just those guys there. Most prospects are invited, and usually don't attend because they are playing overseas.
Prospect Info: Marlies/Prospects Thread - Who ordered a taxi?
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Brobust
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These are the overseas guys. Thought, I'm not sure if Kokkonen is a full time Marlie next season.
stickty111
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This is my end of season prospect list analysis breakdown.
#16. (C) Alex Steeves
Last Season Rank: NA
Overview
Alex Steeves went undrafted playing in Notre Dame. His production improved all 3 seasons he played in the USHl. He followed the same pathway the next 3 seasons in Notre Dame. This season was his best year in production scoring 15 goals and 32 points in 29 games. The goals were a team high. Leafs were clearly happy with his progress signing him to a 3 year ELC in March that begins next season.
Statistical Analysis
Playing for Sioux City in the USHL in 15/16, Steeves put up 11 points in 39 games, which was followed up by 18 points in 53, before his best season 17/18 where he was over PPG with 57 points in 55 games. He more than tripled his goal scoring from the previous season going from 6 to 20 goals. Beginning in 18/19 he went over to Notre Dame in the NCAA, he had 9 points in 39 games. He took a big step the next season recording 28 points in 36 games. This past year was his best season where he had 32 points in 29 games. One of the main differences from this season to last was Steeves started shooting more. He fired 125 shots in 29 games this year, which was an improvement from the 116 in 36 last year. Of his 15 goals this season, 14 came at ES.
Talent Analysis
Breakdown of grades:
1- Poor
2- Below average
3- Average
4- Good
5- Great
Player Grades: Present/Future
Skating: 2.5/3
Shot: 3.5/4
Puck Skills: 3.5/3.5
Compete: 4/4
Defence: 3.5/3.5
Smarts/IQ: 3.5/3.5
note: Puck skills includes passing ability, puck control and creating
His North South explosiveness is lacking. His edges and agility are good, but his foot speed needs to improve a step or two. For a medium sized player, it’s what will determine what his ceiling is.
He has a nice shot that he can score from distance. One of his coaches described the way he would fool goalies when he is shooting. He would pull the puck one way or another to make it tough for the opposing goalie to track. Deception is what he does on his shot and that transitions to the rest of his game offensively too. He keeps opponents off balance with what he does with his hands. Whether it’s little pauses or little movements he does, he makes it tough on the opposing player. The fakes he has are some of the things that make him dangerous.
Compete is not an issue with him. Despite not being the biggest player, he is very good at getting body position inside and protecting it in tight spaces. He is good at applying back pressure and fore check pressure. Effort is not in question.
He is solid defensively. Sometimes he will make mistakes in coverages, and it might need some refinement as he goes into more structures defences in the future, but he is committed in his own end and as mentioned, good at applying pressure both sides. He could play a PK role in the future.
His IQ is strong. He isn’t a one move player when he has the puck. He is good at reading his defender and making the right play. Sometimes he can get shot happy which lowers the rating for me, but he is a smart player and reads the ice well.
My Future Projection: There are a lot of tools to work with, but are they high end enough? His time in the AHL will give us the most understanding. I personally don’t see him as great or anything but that’s mainly because we haven’t seen him here in pro yet.
NHL Player? No
#16. (C) Alex Steeves
Last Season Rank: NA
Overview
Alex Steeves went undrafted playing in Notre Dame. His production improved all 3 seasons he played in the USHl. He followed the same pathway the next 3 seasons in Notre Dame. This season was his best year in production scoring 15 goals and 32 points in 29 games. The goals were a team high. Leafs were clearly happy with his progress signing him to a 3 year ELC in March that begins next season.
Statistical Analysis
Playing for Sioux City in the USHL in 15/16, Steeves put up 11 points in 39 games, which was followed up by 18 points in 53, before his best season 17/18 where he was over PPG with 57 points in 55 games. He more than tripled his goal scoring from the previous season going from 6 to 20 goals. Beginning in 18/19 he went over to Notre Dame in the NCAA, he had 9 points in 39 games. He took a big step the next season recording 28 points in 36 games. This past year was his best season where he had 32 points in 29 games. One of the main differences from this season to last was Steeves started shooting more. He fired 125 shots in 29 games this year, which was an improvement from the 116 in 36 last year. Of his 15 goals this season, 14 came at ES.
Talent Analysis
Breakdown of grades:
1- Poor
2- Below average
3- Average
4- Good
5- Great
Player Grades: Present/Future
Skating: 2.5/3
Shot: 3.5/4
Puck Skills: 3.5/3.5
Compete: 4/4
Defence: 3.5/3.5
Smarts/IQ: 3.5/3.5
note: Puck skills includes passing ability, puck control and creating
His North South explosiveness is lacking. His edges and agility are good, but his foot speed needs to improve a step or two. For a medium sized player, it’s what will determine what his ceiling is.
He has a nice shot that he can score from distance. One of his coaches described the way he would fool goalies when he is shooting. He would pull the puck one way or another to make it tough for the opposing goalie to track. Deception is what he does on his shot and that transitions to the rest of his game offensively too. He keeps opponents off balance with what he does with his hands. Whether it’s little pauses or little movements he does, he makes it tough on the opposing player. The fakes he has are some of the things that make him dangerous.
Compete is not an issue with him. Despite not being the biggest player, he is very good at getting body position inside and protecting it in tight spaces. He is good at applying back pressure and fore check pressure. Effort is not in question.
He is solid defensively. Sometimes he will make mistakes in coverages, and it might need some refinement as he goes into more structures defences in the future, but he is committed in his own end and as mentioned, good at applying pressure both sides. He could play a PK role in the future.
His IQ is strong. He isn’t a one move player when he has the puck. He is good at reading his defender and making the right play. Sometimes he can get shot happy which lowers the rating for me, but he is a smart player and reads the ice well.
My Future Projection: There are a lot of tools to work with, but are they high end enough? His time in the AHL will give us the most understanding. I personally don’t see him as great or anything but that’s mainly because we haven’t seen him here in pro yet.
NHL Player? No
stickty111
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- Jan 23, 2017
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Clune is back with the Marlies. Never a bad thing to keep extending him.
Basically a life coach / training guru but was actually not terrible last year in the lineup.
He can stay as long as he wants.
An old game featuring john fusco. Probably not the best game as he made quite a few mistakes on one of the goals scored against his team. He still looks dominant as a d+1 although in a high school league. Leafs drafted him for his skating, transition skill, and aggression. If you look into my history, i did a write-up of his ushl games. He definitely cleans up a lot of his game, but his skating is merely okay for the ushl as a d+2. He shoots a lot, but i don’t think his shot is special. He is still trigger-happy.
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Wrote an article on the end of the Eemeli Rasanen era in Toronto, including what I think went wrong for him, would love thoughts!
Eemeli Rasanen Era Finally Over in Toronto
One thing I didn't highlight in this article:
I watched some tape of Rasanen during the final few games of his time at HPK... they tried him at the wing.
It just looked like they took a very tall dude from the street and asked him to play a game. Not great.
Sad that it didn't work out with the Leafs
Eemeli Rasanen Era Finally Over in Toronto
One thing I didn't highlight in this article:
I watched some tape of Rasanen during the final few games of his time at HPK... they tried him at the wing.
It just looked like they took a very tall dude from the street and asked him to play a game. Not great.
Sad that it didn't work out with the Leafs
stickty111
Registered User
- Jan 23, 2017
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Here is my end of year prospect report. Bolded is new information
#15. LHD. Mike Koster
LYR: 16
Overview
One of the picks which people were surprised got to the Leafs. Koster was drafted in the 5th round in last year’s draft 146th overall. He was expected to go earlier than this, so Leafs were fortunate he fell to where he did. He played in the USHL this season, before he is expected to go to college next season. Koster overall had a decent albeit a little bit injury filled season. He really struggled at the start in the new role he got, before really settling in. He was given tough defensive assignments as was the plan to work on his defensive game. He got going offensively after a slow start. Koster was one of the biggest risers in the system this season. College hockey viewers and announcers were raving about his play. He looked a lot more refined as a prospect and took major steps in his D+2. He kept earning a bigger role as the season went on, and when a lot of the Gophers D went to the WJC, he was put on the top pair and excelled. He was a fixture on the top PP as well. He will remain in college and continue his progress.
Stats
2019/2020
USHL
GP: 37
Goals: 3
Assists: 15
Points: 18
Rating: -8
2020/2021
NCAA
GP: 31
Goals: 3
Assists: 9
Points: 12
Rating: +10
Statistical Analysis
As mentioned, Koster struggled at the beginning adjusting to his new role as a defensive player which affected his production, and then his production started to catch up. He finished tied for 2nd among defensemen on his team in scoring, and Koster played 11 less games then the player he was tied with. After going pointless in his first 5 games, and only 6 points in the first 16 games, Koster finished with 12 in the next 21 games. Plus Minus is a terrible stat to use, but he was -10 in those 16 games, and finished a +2 the rest of the way whatever that means. Koster put up 12 points in 31 games playing primarly 3rd pair minutes all though he earned top PP minutes. There were stretches where he got top minutes with his play. He had 49 shots on goal as well. 9 of his points came at ES while 3 were on the PP.
Talent Analysis
Breakdown of grades:
1- Poor
2- Below average
3- Average
4- Good
5- Great
Player Grades: Present/Future
Skating: 4/4.5
Shot: 3/3
Puck Skills: 4/4
Compete: 3.5/3.5
Defence: 3/3.5
Smarts/IQ: 4/4
Note: Puck skills includes passing ability, puck control and creating
Some conflicting views on his skating. Pronman says it’s average, while Wheeler says it’s a plus. Getting the chance to watch him more, his skating is better than my initial evaluation. This comes from his edge work which is really solid. He can escape pressure well when going east to west. His speed is just average, but the way he can turn and just avoid fore checkers is great to see. His skating style reminds me of Liljegren in the way they move, but Koster is more fluid. If he can get a step quicker which I believe he will, his skating becomes very good, and that’s why I put him at 4.5 as a future value. His edgework is really good, so just a little more speed really makes it strength, a s he already has the other element you want in terms of his skating. If he doesn’t improve where here he is now, I don’t think it will affect him too muay not be as dynamic.ch but m
He is a tremendous passer. Koster can make passes in transition and land the puck right on the tape. This really helps when he is breaking the puck out, and this might be his best trait. Even when he has to make a quick decision, he usually finds his teammates. His passing is best used in transition. One thing he can do is use his great passing better in the offensive zone. His first pass really impressed me the most though. Last year I had complaints about him overshooting, but he picked his spots a lot better and made the right decisions on when to shoot or hold back. This brings me to his shot which I would classify as average. It’s decent and at times it will lead to goals, but it’s not really a huge tool that he should be using a lot. His potential offensive value will come from his passing.
He is a motivated player who is willing to get better in the areas he requires work in. Despite being put in a defensive role the last 2 years with the Storm, he has handled the challenge well. It’s clear that defensive role helped him based on his play this year. Every time his role was increased, he just got better and better.
He showed a lot of improvement defensively this season. When it comes to defending his blue line, he is solid. He plays a tight gap and takes away time and space from the opposing player. This is the way you want your defensemen to defend the blue line, so it’s a great sign Koster has that. His in zone defending showed progress. He wasn’t losing his coverage as much and just looked surer in his own end.
His IQ is one of his better tools, and honestly I underrated it last year. You barely noticed any bad plays he was making whether it was with the puck on the breakout, or in the O zone. He picked the right times to rush or stay back. This is the biggest thing that stuck out of how he would make the right reads. He played the game in control and didn’t rush his decisions.
My future projection: I have a good feeling about this player, and my feelings have continued with his play as a freshman in College. He plays to where the game is going, and his tools are better than initially thought, and weaknesses are not as paramount. He is still far away, but I think he becomes a player for the team. He ranks 15 on my list but you can put him higher easily.
NHL Player? Yes but in time
@Morgs @SeaOfBlue
Agree?
#15. LHD. Mike Koster
LYR: 16
Overview
One of the picks which people were surprised got to the Leafs. Koster was drafted in the 5th round in last year’s draft 146th overall. He was expected to go earlier than this, so Leafs were fortunate he fell to where he did. He played in the USHL this season, before he is expected to go to college next season. Koster overall had a decent albeit a little bit injury filled season. He really struggled at the start in the new role he got, before really settling in. He was given tough defensive assignments as was the plan to work on his defensive game. He got going offensively after a slow start. Koster was one of the biggest risers in the system this season. College hockey viewers and announcers were raving about his play. He looked a lot more refined as a prospect and took major steps in his D+2. He kept earning a bigger role as the season went on, and when a lot of the Gophers D went to the WJC, he was put on the top pair and excelled. He was a fixture on the top PP as well. He will remain in college and continue his progress.
Stats
2019/2020
USHL
GP: 37
Goals: 3
Assists: 15
Points: 18
Rating: -8
2020/2021
NCAA
GP: 31
Goals: 3
Assists: 9
Points: 12
Rating: +10
Statistical Analysis
As mentioned, Koster struggled at the beginning adjusting to his new role as a defensive player which affected his production, and then his production started to catch up. He finished tied for 2nd among defensemen on his team in scoring, and Koster played 11 less games then the player he was tied with. After going pointless in his first 5 games, and only 6 points in the first 16 games, Koster finished with 12 in the next 21 games. Plus Minus is a terrible stat to use, but he was -10 in those 16 games, and finished a +2 the rest of the way whatever that means. Koster put up 12 points in 31 games playing primarly 3rd pair minutes all though he earned top PP minutes. There were stretches where he got top minutes with his play. He had 49 shots on goal as well. 9 of his points came at ES while 3 were on the PP.
Talent Analysis
Breakdown of grades:
1- Poor
2- Below average
3- Average
4- Good
5- Great
Player Grades: Present/Future
Skating: 4/4.5
Shot: 3/3
Puck Skills: 4/4
Compete: 3.5/3.5
Defence: 3/3.5
Smarts/IQ: 4/4
Note: Puck skills includes passing ability, puck control and creating
Some conflicting views on his skating. Pronman says it’s average, while Wheeler says it’s a plus. Getting the chance to watch him more, his skating is better than my initial evaluation. This comes from his edge work which is really solid. He can escape pressure well when going east to west. His speed is just average, but the way he can turn and just avoid fore checkers is great to see. His skating style reminds me of Liljegren in the way they move, but Koster is more fluid. If he can get a step quicker which I believe he will, his skating becomes very good, and that’s why I put him at 4.5 as a future value. His edgework is really good, so just a little more speed really makes it strength, a s he already has the other element you want in terms of his skating. If he doesn’t improve where here he is now, I don’t think it will affect him too muay not be as dynamic.ch but m
He is a tremendous passer. Koster can make passes in transition and land the puck right on the tape. This really helps when he is breaking the puck out, and this might be his best trait. Even when he has to make a quick decision, he usually finds his teammates. His passing is best used in transition. One thing he can do is use his great passing better in the offensive zone. His first pass really impressed me the most though. Last year I had complaints about him overshooting, but he picked his spots a lot better and made the right decisions on when to shoot or hold back. This brings me to his shot which I would classify as average. It’s decent and at times it will lead to goals, but it’s not really a huge tool that he should be using a lot. His potential offensive value will come from his passing.
He is a motivated player who is willing to get better in the areas he requires work in. Despite being put in a defensive role the last 2 years with the Storm, he has handled the challenge well. It’s clear that defensive role helped him based on his play this year. Every time his role was increased, he just got better and better.
He showed a lot of improvement defensively this season. When it comes to defending his blue line, he is solid. He plays a tight gap and takes away time and space from the opposing player. This is the way you want your defensemen to defend the blue line, so it’s a great sign Koster has that. His in zone defending showed progress. He wasn’t losing his coverage as much and just looked surer in his own end.
His IQ is one of his better tools, and honestly I underrated it last year. You barely noticed any bad plays he was making whether it was with the puck on the breakout, or in the O zone. He picked the right times to rush or stay back. This is the biggest thing that stuck out of how he would make the right reads. He played the game in control and didn’t rush his decisions.
My future projection: I have a good feeling about this player, and my feelings have continued with his play as a freshman in College. He plays to where the game is going, and his tools are better than initially thought, and weaknesses are not as paramount. He is still far away, but I think he becomes a player for the team. He ranks 15 on my list but you can put him higher easily.
NHL Player? Yes but in time
@Morgs @SeaOfBlue
Agree?
He has very good skating technique, but he’s not fast…maybe slightly above average. 3.5 would be accurate. His skating is similar to jake gardiner although gardiner can lose checkers with his turns. I’m not sure koster is there yet.
His iq is very high.
I’m excited to see him next year.
Also: some usa high school games are on youtube. I’ve been looking at some joe miller and john fusco games. The fusco pick makes more sense alebit a swing for the fences. The joe miller one…not really sure that was a good pick.
His iq is very high.
I’m excited to see him next year.
Also: some usa high school games are on youtube. I’ve been looking at some joe miller and john fusco games. The fusco pick makes more sense alebit a swing for the fences. The joe miller one…not really sure that was a good pick.
Last edited:
stickty111
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hockeynorth
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stickty111
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Apparently Davidson's contract wasn't renewed so Snowden is replacing him. Would have kept Davidson around but then Snowden doesn't get promoted so it makes sense.
If the last 2 years are any indication, Snowden will be head coach pretty quickly. I think all of us are done with Moore.
SprDaVE
Moderator
- Sep 20, 2008
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I think he takes over this upcoming season of the Marlies if they play flat like they did this past season.
One thing to keep in mind though is that the team isn't as good as it was when Keefe was coaching. So I think it's ok for them to not be as good... but I think they were better than what they showed.
I think we still outspend the other teams though and if an expensive ahl team cannot even make the playoffs or properly develop players, it’s very embarassing.
Minty Cowboy
Slaw Bunnies
SeaOfBlue
The Passion That Unites Us All
- Aug 1, 2013
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One would hope the KHL, or else he is already trending towards bust territory. If you are not in the KHL by your D+2, then you are way behind where you need to be... Especially if you are playing on a team like Sibir.
Menzinger
Kessel4LadyByng
stickty111
Registered User
- Jan 23, 2017
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Ovechkinov is in a weird situation. He’s too good for the mhl, but won’t get decent khl minutes. Due to the lack of competition in the vhl and how development isn’t incentivized, he won’t get development there so he has to make his khl team or else he won’t improve.
I really hope we hang on to Topi Niemela. He just looks so damn comfortable on that PP walking the Blue. His head is always up, and he makes deceptive moves with his head to shake that top PK'er. Seems to always give himself a lane to either dish the puck or shoot the puck through traffic. Seems to really have a knack for getting that shot through. We saw it a lot at this past years WJC. He's like a right handed Sandin
zeke
The Dube Abides
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SeaOfBlue
The Passion That Unites Us All
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Not if you look at the KHLers playing in the NHL right now. These are the forwards currently playing in the NHL who were not in the KHL (or North America) by their D+2 year.
Mikheyev: VHL; Omsk
Barabanov: VHL; St. Petersburg
Volkov: MHL; St. Petersburg
Maltsev: VHL; St. Petersburg
Gusev: MHL; CSKA Moskva
There are a few things you will see that are in common:
1) They all play for some of the best and richest KHL teams where they are flush with high end talent, so it is tougher to make the rosters.
2) All of them except Mikheyev are likely fighting to stay in an NHL lineup.
3) The only one Ovchinnikov compares to stylistically is Gusev, who was one of the most prolific point producers in KHL history once he got to St. Petersburg.
4) Out of these 5 guys, only one was not a full time KHLer by their D+3 year (Barabanov). Volkov moved to North America, the other three were full time KHLers.
I am not calling him a bust, but if he is not in the KHL on a team like Sibir next year, his chances decrease rather significantly based on historical comparisons and he is certainly trending in that direction. You can take a look at Sibir's roster and you will see that while there are maybe 20 guys who are going to compete for a spot on the roster, Ovchinnikov should be better than at least half of them by now if he has serious NHL upside.
Akhtyamov should be trending towards being a full time KHL backup by next year too, although Kazan has Bobkov and Bilyayov so that may be difficult. He should at least be #3 on the depth chart ahead of Amir Miftakhov though.
SeaOfBlue
The Passion That Unites Us All
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stickty111
Registered User
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I guess thats fair but with the team he is on, he won't even get a chance in VHL and barely gets 2 shifts in the KHL per game. He's in a tough spot
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