Prospect Info: Marlies/Prospects Thread

[SeaOfBlue]

Not sure a 7-9 goal scorer concerns other teams, but yes I'd rather give a 23-24 year old Marlie with expected upside the minutes (if they don't get buried) than someone on a huge downslide of their career. At least to start the season and to invest in them. You can always chicken out nearer the playoffs if no progress has been made and put in the olde farts.

If he is given 4th line minutes, that concerns them a lot more than our 4th line with a bunch of useless grinders.

 

[ULF_55]

If he is given 4th line minutes, that concerns them a lot more than our 4th line with a bunch of useless grinders.

Again, no one wants useless players whether they're inept at goal scoring but skate well, or are physical but can't get there.

You want useful players, and being a grinder doesn't negates being able to score anymore than being a good skater makes you a good offensive player.

Of course, it isn't like the Marlies were loaded with offensively gifted players.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Again, no one wants useless players whether they're inept at goal scoring but skate well, or are physical but can't get there.

You want useful players, and being a grinder doesn't negates being able to score anymore than being a good skater makes you a good offensive player.

Of course, it isn't like the Marlies were loaded with offensively gifted players.

The Marlies have offensive gifted players, and I do not exactly see how having Trevor Moore on your 4th line is a bad thing. He wasn't great in the one stretch with us when we traded him, but his first stretch with us and his entire LA career is pretty much exactly what we need for our 4th line. He can skate, he can score, he is a solid defensive player, he is gritty... If he was 6'2", he is exactly the kind of guy everyone would be rushing to overpay right now but being sub 6'0" does not exactly stop him from being very effective.

I have no issues with having skilled grinders. In fact, I think that is what I would consider a guy like Trevor Moore or Zach Hyman or Connor Brown. That is what I think a lot of the guys on the Marlies can become, if we are willing to actually use them.

The issue I have is that a lot of the grinders people want are not useful players or are drastically overrated as players, and if they were not large or gritty, they would never even cross their minds... Hence why I called them useless grinders.

 

[Stephen]

The Marlies have offensive gifted players, and I do not exactly see how having Trevor Moore on your 4th line is a bad thing. He wasn't great in the one stretch with us when we traded him, but his first stretch with us and his entire LA career is pretty much exactly what we need for our 4th line. He can skate, he can score, he is a solid defensive player, he is gritty... If he was 6'2", he is exactly the kind of guy everyone would be rushing to overpay right now but being sub 6'0" does not exactly stop him from being very effective.

I have no issues with having skilled grinders. In fact, I think that is what I would consider a guy like Trevor Moore or Zach Hyman or Connor Brown. That is what I think a lot of the guys on the Marlies can become, if we are willing to actually use them.

The issue I have is that a lot of the grinders people want are not useful players or are drastically overrated as players, and if they were not large or gritty, they would never even cross their minds... Hence why I called them useless grinders.

Not sure about the distinction of useful grinder vs skilled grinder. Generally, I think the challenge with that player type is how they are deployed in the game plan, how many grinders your using on one line, what kind of skill binder you might accompany them with, the play style expected, as well as the age of the player.

I think of a perfect grinder as someone in their mid to late 20s, mature and have been through the development and know a role. But they aren't worn down and basically an athletic husk the way some of our 4th liners have been.

 

[hockeynorth]

Not sure a 7-9 goal scorer concerns other teams, but yes I'd rather give a 23-24 year old Marlie with expected upside the minutes (if they don't get buried) than someone on a huge downslide of their career. At least to start the season and to invest in them. You can always chicken out nearer the playoffs if no progress has been made and put in the olde farts.

Moore had 48 points this year, I wish we still had Moore

 

[ULF_55]

Moore had 48 points this year, I wish we still had Moore

I'm sure he'd have done okay on the Leafs 3rd. line.

Of course Leafs wouldn't have had Campbell.

 

[Americanadian]

Of course Leafs wouldn't have had Campbell.

Not sure that is a bad thing. He's 30th in goalie WAR over the last 2 years as the Leafs starter. Moore is at least under contract an additional year.

 

[deprw]

Holmberg is a bit of a mystery box when it comes to playing in NA, though he certainly has a track record that you'd hope would see success here. Then we have Andersen who really needs to be competing for a spot now... Seney as well if he's brought back. Steeves and Abruzzese should be in the mix as well. The problem here is I've listed two guys at 5'9", two at 5'11" and only Andersen is 6'. Height and size isn't everything, but you need a balance and some size in the lineup.

Holmberg seems to be gamer, which usually correlates on having potential for some sort of NHL career. If one can lift his game in meaningful games it's good sign. Artturi Lehkonen had that same promise and carved himself a career, despite being mostly mediocre talent other than that.

Will see, it's different game here and he is small, but I think it would be nice for him to be able to get 4th line role and go from there. I think we need players that can make that slow and steady rise, which also gives us chance to keep those players here longer.

 

[fahad203]

Holmberg seems to be gamer, which usually correlates on having potential for some sort of NHL career. If one can lift his game in meaningful games it's good sign. Artturi Lehkonen had that same promise and carved himself a career, despite being mostly mediocre talent other than that.

Will see, it's different game here and he is small, but I think it would be nice for him to be able to get 4th line role and go from there. I think we need players that can make that slow and steady rise, which also gives us chance to keep those players here longer.

I see him more like Andreas Jhonsson. Mango was a gamer too and still is. Their physical profile also very similar

 

[ULF_55]

So when can they invite some undrafted juniors to their development camp and sign them?

 

[uncleben]

So when can they invite some undrafted juniors to their development camp and sign them?


View attachment 566404

Invites can start right away, essentially
Don't remember off the top of my head when dev camp business starts in a non-Covid year, typically, though...

Contracts can start July 13
In 2019, Nikolai Knyzhov went undrafted, for San Jose to sign him to an ELC July 2

 

[SprDaVE]

Invites can start right away, essentially
Don't remember off the top of my head when dev camp business starts in a non-Covid year, typically, though...

Contracts can start July 13
In 2019, Nikolai Knyzhov went undrafted, for San Jose to sign him to an ELC July 2

Last I checked Leafs have their camp near the end of the month.

Invites go out usually over the next few days after the draft. Someone like Morrison will probably get a lot of attention.

 

[ULF_55]

Invites can start right away, essentially
Don't remember off the top of my head when dev camp business starts in a non-Covid year, typically, though...

Contracts can start July 13
In 2019, Nikolai Knyzhov went undrafted, for San Jose to sign him to an ELC July 2

Guess we'll see how Braiden Kressler does this year?

Still only 19.

 

[Stephen]

Didn’t we invite Steve Staois’ kid to camp a few years ago and now he’s a fairly sought after overager?

 

[Leaf Lander]

Do we still have dahlstrom?

 

[diehardleafsfan9878]

Do we still have dahlstrom?

Yes

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Invites can start right away, essentially
Don't remember off the top of my head when dev camp business starts in a non-Covid year, typically, though...

Contracts can start July 13
In 2019, Nikolai Knyzhov went undrafted, for San Jose to sign him to an ELC July 2

They will likely happen after the weekend.

 

[Leaf Fans]

Last I checked Leafs have their camp near the end of the month.

Invites go out usually over the next few days after the draft. Someone like Morrison will probably get a lot of attention.

Development camp starts July 17.

 

[Leafed]

Where do the new picks slot in?

1. Robertson
2. Knies
3. Niemela
4. Amirov*
5. Minten
6. Hirvonen
7. Abruzzesse
8. Holmberg
9. Villeneuve
10. Tverberg
11. Voit
12. Kral
13. Moldenhauer
14. Steeves
15. Hildeby
16. Woll
17. Douglas
18. Kokkonen
19. Abramov
20. SDA

In many ways it is too early of an exercise. The list likely looks different by mid-season and may feature the late round picks, considering Knies' and Voit's ascents after being drafted... Intrigued by what I've read about Minten: elite defensively, physical, untapped offence, future captain. Originally had Hirvonen ahead of him but Minten seems a better version of what Hirvonen provides. Excited to appreciate the prospect over the next couple World Junior tournaments.

 

[Leafed]

What can the Leafs expect from the five players taken at the 2022 NHL Draft?

Let's break down the five players the Leafs hope will be part of the future of their organization from a developmental perspective.

theathletic.com

Pick No. 1: Fraser Minten

He can chip in offence by being consistently active in the offensive zone, though he still makes himself noticeable in all three zones. He’s got the kind of character that, according to multiple people within the Blazers organization, made him the kind of person that others gravitated toward. He’ll undoubtedly wear a letter with the Blazers next season.

Pick No. 2: Nicholas Moldenhauer

“Our team is different with him in the lineup when we compared to when we did not have him. And he has that unique ability, from the offensive side to make plays and be aware of where his teammates are. As he grows into his body, becomes a man and continues to get stronger, he’s going to be a hell of a hockey player at the NHL level,” said Sheahan.

Pick No. 3: Dennis Hildeby

Dubas said Jon Elkin, who works as head of the team’s goaltender evaluation and development, built up the kind of case for drafting Hildeby that then made the Leafs “very, very passionate about being able to come away from the draft with him.” The Leafs ended up trading their 2023 fourth-round pick to get into the fourth round this year, and it sounds like that was done to land Hildeby and what he might become.

Pick No. 4: Nikita Grebenkin

“The word that came back to us on him was machine-like,” said Clark. “And he can make plays. I know he’s a re-entry. He’ll go and try and battle for a spot in the KHL. We like that. We like the competitiveness.”

Pick No. 5: Brandon Lisowsky

Liskowsky is a shooter, finishing fifth among all WHL rookies (Behind Minten) in shots on goal (211).

“He’s got a world-class shot. He’s going to score goals at every level he plays at,” said Blades GM Colin Priestner.

 

[Leafed]

Pick No. 1: Fraser Minten
Pick No. 2: Nicholas Moldenhauer



Pick No. 4: Nikita Grebenkin
Pick No. 5: Brandon Lisowsk

 

[hockeywiz542]

What you need to know about Fraser Minten and the rest of the Maple Leafs draft picks

The Vancouver native is a skilled playmaking forward who can score. He’s also a classically trained pianist who took up hockey a bit later than most other kids.

www.thestar.com

Not that mistakes are his thing. Fraser Minten is a skilled playmaking forward who can score, with 20 goals last year for the Kamloops Blazers.

“He’s a very intelligent young man,” Leafs GM Kyle Dubas said. “There’s a lot of intriguing things about Minten. Number one would be he’s played a pivotal role at a young age on a very good team in the Western league, and they’re going to be there hosting the Memorial Cup next year. And he plays in all situations."

“He hasn’t played at a high level of hockey for that long. And so he doesn’t come from a family that’s deeply entrenched in hockey or has a huge hockey background. And he’s sort of carved his own path that way in Vancouver and then on to Kamloops. So we think there’s a lot of upside there.”

Dubas traded out of the first round on Thursday — part of the price of sending goaltender Petr Mrázek to Chicago — but he was happy Minten was available with the second-round pick the Leafs got in return.

“We were thrilled he was still there when we picked at 38,” Dubas said. “That couldn’t have worked out better for us.”

Minten, a left-hand shot listed at six-foot-one and 185 pounds, said he understands it will take some time before he makes the NHL.

“I think getting a lot stronger for me is a big part of my game,” he said. “I think I can be much more effective physically if I get stronger and be a bit more physical and protect the puck better. I think my skating as well will get a lot quicker. I think I’ve got a pretty good stride and good power, but some quickness and agility would really benefit me.”

The Leafs went into the draft with three picks and came out of it with five, all on the second day. They traded one of their third-round picks for two later picks.

Nicholas Moldenhauer, 95th

Moldenhauer, from Mississauga, is expected to return the USHL’s Chicago Steel before heading to the NCAA. He had 18 goals and 43 points in 41 games with the Steel last season and represented Canada in May at the world under-18s. At five-foot-11, he’s deemed to be a fairly crafty playmaker. “Highly intelligent, highly competitive, loves playing at the net,” said Wes Clark, the Leafs’ director of amateur scouting. “He can score and he can make plays.”

Dennis Hildeby, 122nd

The 20-year-old Swedish goaltender, who played for the Färjestad juniors, has been passed over in previous drafts, but he’s six-foot-six, just the frame NHL teams are looking for in goalies. He posted a .931 save percentage last year. “(Scout Jon Elkin) raved about obviously his size and his mobility and the potential,” Clark said. “I know he’s a little older but he’ll be in a good place there in Färjestad next year, in a tandem role. We’ll see what happens after that.”

Nikita Grebenkin, 135th

The six-foot-two right winger had 17 goals and 47 assists in 58 games with the Magnitogorsk juniors in Russia, and 13 points in nine playoff games. He has represented Russia at every age group. “It could be a bit of a longer path for him,” Dubas said. “But we really like what he brings competitively and as a player.”

Brandon Lisowsky, 218th

The five-foot-nine left winger had 33 goals in 66 games for the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades. He was rated as high as 53rd (by McKeen’s Hockey). “Obviously he can score, which is a great attribute to have,” Dubas said. “And he’s competitive guy and we hope he continues to develop in Saskatoon, continues to improve his skating ability and hope that it’s just one of these seventh-round picks that everyone looks back on.”

 

[Menzinger]

Best of luck. Hopefully he still has a shot at an NHL career one day

 

[Leaf Fans]

Best of luck. Hopefully he still has a shot at an NHL career one day

Yup, it was worth a shot. We could have had him another year on the Marlies deal, but I don't think he would have made the Leafs.

 

[Orfieus]

Yup, it was worth a shot. We could have had him another year on the Marlies deal, but I don't think he would have made the Leafs.

Ya, that's risky