Prospect Info: Marlies/Prospects Thread

[Twine Tickler]

I think he has the offensive skills to make it. If you can move the puck you've got a chance. Might not be with the leafs but I think he'll get NHL games at some point. His skating does leave something to be desired. He might need to call Barbara for her private lessons now that shes no longer with the Leafs.

Ya I was very pleasantly surprised at the way he saw the ice from the Dev Camp. It was a while back, but he definitely was the one Defenseman during that tourny for the Leafs that stood out to me. Which I'll be honest I was not expecting. His skating didn't seem to be an issue against his peers in that tourny, and he actually played within his limitations quite well. Will it get exposed at higher levels? potentially.

What I came away with was his ability to breakout the puck and his ability to keep the play alive at the blue line. Not an overly risky player, even though he was drafted with the offensive defenseman tag. I actually thought he played a far more 2 way game than purely offensive.

I think there can often times be an overemphasis on a D-man, specifically a puck moving D-man being a burner. I've always said I'd rather a D-man be a bit slower but have the awareness of their own limitations.

Prime example is Liljegren. I routinely say his best attribute is his ability to recognize the plays he can make, and even more importantly the ones he can't. His footspeed is nothing spectacular, but he doesn't often put himself in positions where he would have to rely on that weakness. He plays to his strengths.

Dermott on the other hand has never figured this out with consistency. In his mind, he is still that pt/game D-man snapping it around to Connor squared in Erie, and he gets exposed more times than he should despite being a better skater.

I think it was noted that since William was drafted by the Leafs he started playing a more defensive brand of hockey, which is why his Pt. Totals have not matured since being drafted. To me, that's a major sign of maturity. Not many kids his age would redefine their games when you put up close to a pt/game in your draft year. Not to mention he was also a very high draft pick in the Q as well, so for him to show zero ego and do what was required to play at the next level is very impressive to me.

Still a long way away, but I agree, I think there is some NHL upside. Far from a sure thing, but I'm happy with what I'm seeing for sure.

 

[Cor]

Listened to the latest Leaf report.

Mirtle calls Liljegren his biggest surprise this year.

I can only laugh

 

[Apex Predator]

Listened to the latest Leaf report.

Mirtle calls Liljegren his biggest surprise this year.

I can only laugh

which one between Mirtle and Siegel is the one that’s close with Dubas?

 

[Cor]

which one between Mirtle and Siegel is the one that’s close with Dubas?

I don’t if he’s close with Dubas or not but Mirtle is the more “insiderish”

 

[Apex Predator]

I don’t if he’s close with Dubas or not but Mirtle is the more “insiderish”

Yeah that’s the word I was looking for “insiderish”

thanks Cor

The fact that he was never high on Liljegren made me think he was getting inside from someone in the leafs. I could be wrong but he always seemed to be passed info from the Leafs on how they feel about things.

 

[hockeynorth]

I'm very very excited for Knies and Tverberg, they're exactly the player type we need. Add in Robertson and Amirov and we have some nice wingers coming in. I'd like to see us get a high end C prospect at the draft to center them.

 

[Knies iT]

Knies is a can't miss prospect in my eyes. Watched most of his games this year and agree with that Gopher's fan that posts here - he'll turn pro after his sophomore year.

His skating is the only concern people bring up but his speed is completely fine and his edges are excellent. The only minor concern is his hunched over skating posture, similar to Byfield/Robertson, but it's fixable to some degree. He'll never be an elite skater but he doesn't have to be due to his shiftiness.

Blows my mind he fell to the late 2nd and some might say it's still early to make any guarantees, but I have no doubts about him being an NHLer.

 

[francis246]

I'm very very excited for Knies and Tverberg, they're exactly the player type we need. Add in Robertson and Amirov and we have some nice wingers coming in. I'd like to see us get a high end C prospect at the draft to center them.

could Semeyonov potentially be that guy with more opportunity?

 

[hockeynorth]

could Semeyonov potentially be that guy with more opportunity?

I doubt it, we need a top 6 calibre C prospect we can develop i.e. Pano Fimis, Frank Nazar, Jack Hughes, David Goyette etc

 

[SeaOfBlue]

could Semeyonov potentially be that guy with more opportunity?

Highly unlikely. I think he can be a solid 4C in the NHL if given the opportunity, but I would not count on anything better than that. Maybe a shutdown 3C like Kampf if everything worked out perfectly for him.

He just turned 27 though. He is not exactly young or anything.

 

[TMLAM34]

Der-Arguchintsev has looked pretty good dating back to pre-season. He’s really filled out his frame from his draft year, excellent vision on the ice and is defensively responsible as well.

Kral is another guy I really like down with the Marlies.

 

[francis246]

I doubt it, we need a top 6 calibre C prospect we can develop i.e. Pano Fimis, Frank Nazar, Jack Hughes, David Goyette etc

I like Nazar but he’s gonna be gone by the time it’s our pick. Jack Hughes (northeastern) would be nice!

 

[francis246]

Highly unlikely. I think he can be a solid 4C in the NHL if given the opportunity, but I would not count on anything better than that. Maybe a shutdown 3C like Kampf if everything worked out perfectly for him.

He just turned 27 though. He is not exactly young or anything.

makes sense! I liked his game in preseason, I hope he gets a few more looks. Seems to be killing it with the Marlies. Would love to see him and Ho Sang up

 

[Twine Tickler]

I'm very very excited for Knies and Tverberg, they're exactly the player type we need. Add in Robertson and Amirov and we have some nice wingers coming in. I'd like to see us get a high end C prospect at the draft to center them.

Yup we could definitely use a player who tracks into a 2nd line center. Not sure Abramov or SDA will ever be able to fulfill that role once JT regresses. I do think it should be a priority in the next draft. Obviously draft BPA, but if an opportunity presents itself to trade up/down the board to select that player I think we should. Have a target in rounds 2/3 and make every attempt to get the pick needed to acquire that player.

 

[Byron Bitz]

I'm very very excited for Knies and Tverberg, they're exactly the player type we need. Add in Robertson and Amirov and we have some nice wingers coming in. I'd like to see us get a high end C prospect at the draft to center them.

Abramov is an underrated center prospect. I think he’s our best C prospect, better than Hirvonen

 

[notbias]

Abramov is an underrated center prospect. I think he’s our best C prospect, better than Hirvonen

SDA > both

I have a feeling SDA may end up a pretty good player, he just seems to have that unique ability to see plays develop before they do.

 

[stickty111]

Hirvonen assist. Now at 0.5 PPG which is decent improvemenr from last year. He's also dominating in his role.

 

[Apex Predator]

Hirvonen assist. Now at 0.5 PPG which is decent improvemenr from last year. He's also dominating in his role.

Is he still eligible for world juniors?

 

[TMLAM34]

SDA > both

I have a feeling SDA may end up a pretty good player, he just seems to have that unique ability to see plays develop before they do.

I agree. I don’t think he’ll be able to carry a line on his own but he can develop into a real solid second line center surrounded by good wingers. Kind of reminds me of Kyle Wellwood who had a few good years here and then let his drinking habits get the best of him and his body lol

 

[hockeynorth]

I like Nazar but he’s gonna be gone by the time it’s our pick. Jack Hughes (northeastern) would be nice!

I know Nazar is likely gone, just love his game

 

[Leafs1991]

could Semeyonov potentially be that guy with more opportunity?

Nope. He wasn't that good and his skating won't elevate his game to be top 6 worthy. I didn't find anything impressive about him.

 

[Twine Tickler]

Caption on Nick's instagram post:

"Missin it, excited to get back soon!"

Did he see some miracle healer? am I reading too much into it? I didn't think he was getting back soon at all, last picture I saw of him he was in a walking cast

 

[LeafChief]

Is he still eligible for world juniors?

Yes.

 

[SprDaVE]

Caption on Nick's instagram post:

"Missin it, excited to get back soon!"

Did he see some miracle healer? am I reading too much into it? I didn't think he was getting back soon at all, last picture I saw of him he was in a walking cast

He's still like 3-4 weeks away I think...

 

[SeaOfBlue]

I doubt it, we need a top 6 calibre C prospect we can develop i.e. Pano Fimis, Frank Nazar, Jack Hughes, David Goyette etc

I have Fimis more in the Ludwinski, Del Bel Belluz, Beck, and Haight range. Definitely not a 1st round talent right now, and may not be anything better than borderline 2nd round right now. DBB and Beck's stock may be rising after being key members of a very successful Mississauga squad right now though.

I think you have a good bulk in that late-1st/early-2nd range with Hughes, Kasper, and McConnell-Barker as less elite, but more well-rounded players. Gustafson, Ostlund, Bystedt, Zhilkin, Poitras, Kulich, and Goyette have a little bit more high end skill, but maybe need to work on rounding out their games.

The problem I have with all of them right now is that none of them really stand out as clear cut late 1st round quality picks. A lot of them seem more like 35-55 guys than people you would take in the mid-late 20's (which is where we will be if we don't make a deep Cup run). It is also very possible that guys at other positions will be BPA over them. So it may make sense for the Leafs to trade down and add a few picks than to "reach" for any of those guys.

The USDP center trio of Cooley/Nazar/McGroarty are all likely out of reach barring some kind of drop off or injury. Out of the three, McGroarty may be able to get to us. Not totally unreasonable.

One guy who is ranked somewhat high but may drop is Nathan Gaucher. His offense hasn't quite taken off enough for him to live up to the Getzlaf comparisons, and so he may drop into the late 1st round as well.

It is also possible that Slafkovsky, Lekkerimaki, and Lambert may drop enough to get to us, despite receiving a ton of hype from the online scouting community. The problem is that all are likely going to end up as wingers in the NHL.

Just want to put it out there that it may not be the worst idea to add in other areas outside of center however. We have a lot of quality LW's, and some of them may be able to move over to RW, but I don't think it would hurt to add another quality LD and RD to the pool and I would not hesitate adding a high end RW prospect to the pool. Of course, this team could also use another goalie prospect, but I am not loving the crop this year.