Prospect Info: Marlies/Prospects Thread

[hamzarocks]

There are 3: Matthew Knies, Topi Niemela, Roni Hirvonen.

Aren't hirvonen and Niemela not eligible?

This is there D+3 and both are older than 20?

Or did they change the age criteria from Under 20 to under 21?

 

[Leaf Fans]

Aren't hirvonen and Niemela not eligible?

This is there D+3 and both are older than 20?

Or did they change the age criteria from Under 20 to under 21?

They are allowing eligibility from the December tourney from last year.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Looks like there is one more spot open on the Marlies for an AHL contract if the right guy presents himself.

There will be some solid NCAA UFA's available next Monday (Cole Guttman, Samuel Walker, Brett Stapley) so maybe the Marlies have their eyes on one of them.

 

[acrobaticgoalie]

Logan Cooley is committing to U. Minnesota. Knies is about to have a huge year

 

[ZEBROA]

Holmberg says he want to fight for a spot on leafs. Realistic chance of that happening in %?

 

[Knies iT]

Holmberg says he want to fight for a spot on leafs. Realistic chance of that happening in %?

He was skating with Backlund from the Flames this summer.

He's the inevitable Kampf replacement IMO but i'd rather see Anderson make it out of camp due to waiver status. He definitely gets NHL games this year either way.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Holmberg says he want to fight for a spot on leafs. Realistic chance of that happening in %?

Probably 5%, which is arguably the worst chance out of Abruzzese, Robertson, Malgin, Anderson, McMann, and Steeves.

He has a number of things working against him: Waiver exemption, limited North American experience, and he projects as a guy who can fill a role similar to Jarnkrok or Kerfoot (can play both special teams and can be used on either an offensive or defensive line) which is not really a big need for us right now. He could also stand to have one more year to bulk up a bit more.

McMann, Anderson, and even Steeves are guys who can provide more grit to an offensive line. Robertson, Malgin and Abruzzese have more pure offensive ability. Both of those things are needed more than a two-way forward right now. Anderson and Malgin are also not waiver-exempt which also likely means both will edge out the competition if someone does not clearly stand above the rest, and all 6 have significant NA experience.

The good news for Holmberg is that we will need smart two-way forwards next year. Engvall, Kerfoot, Kampf, and NAK are all pending UFA's. Holmberg can spend a year getting acclimated and bulking up and then be ready to hit the ground running in 2023-2024; similar to Engvall 3 years ago.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Teemu Kivihalme went back to Finland and signed with TPS.

One of my least favourite players over the last 3 years. He wasn't really good at anything and was just taking away opportunities from younger and better players the entire time. I am so happy that we will have Kokkonen in the lineup instead of him.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Rangers are pulling the EDM in terms of our scouts.

Ari Vuori is joining them as Director of European Scouting. They also hired one of the guys we fired in the Scouting purge in 2016: Pierre Rioux.

John Lilley is their Director of Amateur Scouting after filling the same role for us.

We currently do not have a replacement listed for Vuori. I imagine Bergman would get the job if he wants it.

No idea how good of a job Vuori did. He did well with the Finns, but our Russian track record was poor. Swedes were always Bergman. Maybe the Leafs did not feel like he did well enough for the role/money he is probably getting (especially out of one of the major European hotbeds), or maybe the Rangers are giving him a better deal (similar to Lilley).

The Leafs also hired a European development coach: Tomas Pacina. He was an NHL skill coach in the late 00's and then was Portland's skill coach for a decade after that before working exclusively for Czechia as the Women's HC.

Tomas Pacina at eliteprospects.com

Eliteprospects.com staff profile of Tomas Pacina, 1968 Praha, CZE Czechia.

www.eliteprospects.com

The Coaches Site

thecoachessite.com

Seems like a pretty good hire for a guy who works exclusively with our Europeans.

 

[weems]

Finland will be very interesting to watch this tournament and many people saying they have a good shot at gold.

Niemela, Hirvonen, Raty, Lambert, Kemell, Simontaival, Koivunen, Kapanen, Jarventie, Helenius...lots of future NHL'ers in this group.

 

[Prominence]

What’s funny about nyr stealing our scouts is that it doesn’t matter how talented the scouts are as long as james dolan keeps telling the scouts to only draft tough players.

 

[stickty111]

Rangers are pulling the EDM in terms of our scouts.

Ari Vuori is joining them as Director of European Scouting. They also hired one of the guys we fired in the Scouting purge in 2016: Pierre Rioux.

John Lilley is their Director of Amateur Scouting after filling the same role for us.

We currently do not have a replacement listed for Vuori. I imagine Bergman would get the job if he wants it.

No idea how good of a job Vuori did. He did well with the Finns, but our Russian track record was poor. Swedes were always Bergman. Maybe the Leafs did not feel like he did well enough for the role/money he is probably getting (especially out of one of the major European hotbeds), or maybe the Rangers are giving him a better deal (similar to Lilley).

The Leafs also hired a European development coach: Tomas Pacina. He was an NHL skill coach in the late 00's and then was Portland's skill coach for a decade after that before working exclusively for Czechia as the Women's HC.

Tomas Pacina at eliteprospects.com

Eliteprospects.com staff profile of Tomas Pacina, 1968 Praha, CZE Czechia.

www.eliteprospects.com

The Coaches Site

thecoachessite.com

Seems like a pretty good hire for a guy who works exclusively with our Europeans.

I thought Bergman retired?

 

[andora]

I thought Bergman retired?

Just trying out EHM again for the first time in eons.. Bergman retired afrer first season in 23

Bugger

 

[Orfieus]

Would be nice if someone knowledgeable about the WJC made a thread so we can easily keep track of our prospects

So who do we have in the tournament and when does it start?

 

[SeaOfBlue]

I thought Bergman retired?

He is still listed on the management page, so I don't think so.

He is 74 though so it will be a huge hit when he finally does retire.

 

[Fogelhund]

Would be nice if someone knowledgeable about the WJC made a thread so we can easily keep track of our prospects

So who do we have in the tournament and when does it start?

The Toronto Maple Leafs will send top prospects Matthew Knies (USA), Roni Hirvonen and Topi Niemela (Finland).

 

[SeaOfBlue]

The Toronto Maple Leafs will send top prospects Matthew Knies (USA), Roni Hirvonen and Topi Niemela (Finland).

And it starts tomorrow.

 

[kerk]

Would be nice if someone knowledgeable about the WJC made a thread so we can easily keep track of our prospects

So who do we have in the tournament and when does it start?

 

[ULF_55]

Two of them have more to gain, than the other who is returning to amateur hockey after the tournament.

 

[The Nic]

Teemu Kivihalme went back to Finland and signed with TPS.

One of my least favourite players over the last 3 years. He wasn't really good at anything and was just taking away opportunities from younger and better players the entire time. I am so happy that we will have Kokkonen in the lineup instead of him.

Huh... you didn't like Kivihalme? You certainly hid it well...

 

[daethfromabove1979]

Two of them have more to gain, than the other who is returning to amateur hockey after the tournament.

How so? Niemela and Hirvonen already have NHL contracts. Knies doesn't because he chose to go back to the NCAA.

 

[ULF_55]

How so? Niemela and Hirvonen already have NHL contracts. Knies doesn't because he chose to go back to the NCAA.

Separation, prove they are above the other boys on the ice.
If they're not amongst the best the competition will be short.

 

[stickty111]

Hirvonen is the captain for Finland which he was originally. Niemela also gets a letter on his jersey

 

[Tarmore]

Anyone know what numbers the boys will be wearing?

 

[daethfromabove1979]

Anyone know what numbers the boys will be wearing?

22 for Hirvonen
7 for Niemela