Wheeler's evaluations on our prospects in the tournament. I will only put the ones that are on NHL deals/draft picks.
Standouts
LW Nick Robertson (No. 53, 2019): Robertson was consistently the Leafs’ most dangerous player offensively throughout the tournament. He created from his very first shift and didn’t let up (until he was given a five-minute major on his very last shift). His energy was ramped up as usual; you can see it in the way he creeps into the faceoff circle or the effort he displays on the backcheck or steals or some of the second effort plays he makes after he loses a battle. There was lots of heel-to-heel. He was all over it on the forecheck applying pressure and forcing defenders into difficult choices. His curl-and-drag wrister popped. He showed impressive touch on some very difficult saucer passes over sticks and bodies. He transported a lot of pucks through neutral ice with his feet where he took off and created entries himself. My only nitpicks were that he pulled the trigger whenever there was an opportunity a little too eagerly and he tried too often to force things or be cute with his hands.
C
Mikhail Abramov (No. 115, 2019): Abramov finished tied for second in the tournament in scoring with six points in four games and his east-west vision really distinguished him in the group (though I would have liked to see him get off the perimeter a little more with the puck). His skating looked breezy and he has this knack for hanging onto the puck until his options open up, without hanging onto it too long — and then passing around sticks and feet. And when there isn’t a play to make that involves hanging onto it, he anticipates the play so well that when he gets the puck he can make a quick play. He also looked good defensively, stripping several pucks.
C
Semyon Der-Arguchintsev (No. 76, 2018): SDA got better with every game — and that’s after scoring in the opener. He looks boxier out there, for sure. He played through a lot of contact to hang onto the puck for extended sequences and pulled the trigger more aggressively (his 13 shots finished as the second-most on the team). I thought he was forcing it at times instead of playing with that easy comfort that makes him who he is, but he was excellent by the time the third game rolled around and impactful throughout.
Other Notes
LW
Pavel Gogolev (NHL deal): Gogolev didn’t dominate but he played with pace in transition and I thought his stride looked really clean, which is a good sign for him
RHD William Villeneuve (N0. 122, 2020): I noticed Villeneuve
a lot. It wasn’t always for good reasons but he was very involved. He activated early and often, both in joining the rush deep into the zone and looking to use his feet to attack off the line instead of catching into a standstill. His gaps looked good and crossovers looked smooth through neutral ice (though his reads were still iffy and his decision-making still needs a little tightening). He made some crafty plays out of his crossovers and his control through some difficult skating patterns looked good (which is a big deal for him). But it was a roller coaster.
