Sandin, Liljegren and Robertson...

[Wafflewhipper]

will depend on how Kyle does at Value Village

VV boutique ha

 

[Stonehands1990]

Waivers typical dictate who stays up and who goes down.
Do any of them need to clear to go to the Marlies?

All 3 are waiver exempt. Also it would be beneficial if all 3 make the team, we can demote them on off days and accrue cap space. Ice a roster that is over the cap on game days

 

[BigBlu]

If you can't believe in the players you drafted and developed, then what's the point? Time to run with these 3. We drafted them just for a season such as this. Necessary and cheap supplementation to our over-priced core. Maybe change the dynamic a bit. i'd give them tonnes of rope...i

 

[Bluelines]

Sandin and Robertson should be full time NHLers next year.

Lilly probably up and down but would like to see him get close to half a season of games just to see what hes got long term.

Robertson was clearly a couple steps behind last year, he was not thinking the game at NHL speed. Lilly well he looks like he's a 6/7 guy. Sandin , terrible foot speed but thinks the game well.

Dubas has already said that the expects all 3 to challenge for a spot. they might make it based on cap implications merit might not be a factor if they deserve it or not.

 

[paulhiggins]

If those 3 play regularly enjoy the regular season because there will be no playoffs.

 

[DarkKnight]

Sandin and Robertson should be full time NHLers next year.

Lilly probably up and down but would like to see him get close to half a season of games just to see what hes got long term.

Agreed. Lil will be the injury call up guy or 7th with the team. Real question is can Sandin show enough defensive chops to look credible come playoff time. This regular season is the biggest whatever going, apart from making the playoffs, it tells us nothing.

 

[DarkKnight]

Robertson was clearly a couple steps behind last year, he was not thinking the game at NHL speed. Lilly well he looks like he's a 6/7 guy. Sandin , terrible foot speed but thinks the game well.

Dubas has already said that the expects all 3 to challenge for a spot. they might make it based on cap implications merit might not be a factor if they deserve it or not.

I honestly don’t know what you were seeing with Robertson, couple steps behind? I saw nothing remotely close there, the guy anticipates and is all over the ice, rarely caught.. They need to put him with someone with offensive chops, because he can produce for us, now.

 

[crump]

Are we expecting a full season? I think we’ll need them all. Dubas is going to fill out the roster with cheap Depth FA but eventually all of those 3 will be full timers. They are all grade A prospects and, now healthy, should be able to outplay competition for spots unless Dubas takes a massive swing and trade. .

 

[meefer]

In order of their importance to the team this year:
1) Liljegren: We've but two signed D on the right side and limited resources. I can't see them spending more than 1.5 on a 3rd pairing D. This does not promise the success of Bogo last year. A strong start by TL would help the team greatly. I'd like him paired with Muzzin because it gives Liljegren the greatest chance for success. 10-15 games at least to start, please.
2) Robertson: Much the same reasons as Liljegren, but on wing, therefore less important.
3) Sandin: Rielly, Muzz and Dermott ahead of him, no hurry.
4) Andersen: Would be great if he could supplant Simmonds, but as I've never seen the kid play, I have no idea whether he has a shot or not.

 

[Mickey Marner]

In exchange for all the draft picks Dubas has stockpiled?

Probably in exchange for the kids that can't hack it.

 

[Magic Man]

Sandin played 14 games with the Leafs last year and 1 with the Marlies. They made room for him when he was returning from injury by moving Lehtonen. He's a lock. He's now becoming a NA 4th year pro and he's looked great. It's time.

Liljegren will be entering his 5th year as NA pro and should be a lock as well. If they plan on sending him to the AHL they should sell on him now, before tanking his trade value. I think he will rotate with Dermott until he proves to be the more stable option mid-season.

Robertson should spend another year in the AHL. He didn't dominate like many expected, but was still very good. He should be one of the top call-ups, but I'd like to see him spend a significant amount of the time dominating at the AHL level. He's still fairly young and hasn't had as much development time as the others.

 

[Dreakmur]

Sandin played 14 games with the Leafs last year and 1 with the Marlies. They made room for him when he was returning from injury by moving Lehtonen. He's a lock. He's now becoming a NA 4th year pro and he's looked great. It's time.

Liljegren will be entering his 5th year as NA pro and should be a lock as well. If they plan on sending him to the AHL they should sell on him now, before tanking his trade value. I think he will rotate with Dermott until he proves to be the more stable option mid-season.

Robertson should spend another year in the AHL. He didn't dominate like many expected, but was still very good. He should be one of the top call-ups, but I'd like to see him spend a significant amount of the time dominating at the AHL level. He's still fairly young and hasn't had as much development time as the others.

Sandin needs a year getting strong and faster. I’m not sure he’s top-6.

 

[supermann_98]

Sandin and Robertson should be full time NHLers next year.

Lilly probably up and down but would like to see him get close to half a season of games just to see what hes got long term.

Two guys who's straight line skating speed is not yet NHL caliber. Both have nice edge work and are shifty enough but their top gear is significantly lacking. Sandin had a year and a half to improve in that department and first playoff game gets burned twice due to his inability to beat a guy in a straight race to the puck starting with a 20 feet head start.

Other than on the PP where Sandin and Robertson's offensive ability should translate Liljegren is the only guy ready for full time minutes imo

 

[Trapper]

It’s fine if you want to pencil them in but because it’s 3 of them (and 2 are D) you better have a backup plan.
What happens if Muzzin gets hurt for a month or two.
You can’t expect these guys to fill a lower role and then be required to shoulder a heavy load.

 

[B Champman]

Very curious to hear why, with our current LW depth chart, anyone could possibly think that Robertson wont be in the stRting line up?
It’ll require trades/signings of at least two top 9 Wingers to keep him out of starting night lineup

 

[seanlinden]

Very curious to hear why, with our current LW depth chart, anyone could possibly think that Robertson wont be in the stRting line up?
It’ll require trades/signings of at least two top 9 Wingers to keep him out of starting night lineup

Objectively, he's not really an ideal fit.

If the pairings remain the same (Matthews/Marner, Tavares/Nylander), both groups will be looking for puck retrieval, board battling guys. That's not Nick Robertson's game. That might be Michael Bunting's game.

You're then looking at a 3rd or 4th line spot for him. Personally, I think he'd work well on a line with Alex Kerfoot and Jason Spezza; but I can certainly see Keefe having other priorities in his bottom 6.

As for Sandin & Liljegren, it seems obvious that the Leafs are much more invested into Sandin than they are Liljegren. I suspect Sandin sticks in a similar #6/7 role assuming the Leafs bring in another vet on the right side.

That being said, they NEED to cash out on whatever value Liljegren has left. There's nothing more for him in the AHL.

 

[socko]

Sandin & Robertson for sure. Not sure Keefe is a fan of Lilly. Seems kinda Engvall-ish about him. But use him this year or trade him in.my mind

A good chance this is Keefe's last year.

 

[BertCorbeau]

Sandin makes it for sure .. Robertson will have to win a spot in camp .. Lily should be favoured to take a spot too, but has to have a good camp

 

[Apex Predator]

I think Robertson starts the year in the minors. I would rotate a combination of Sandin Dermott Liljegren on the bottom pair. Pair one of Liljegren or Dermott with Brodie on the Pk. Time for our young defenseman to show what they got.

 

[ItsFineImFine]

Lmao people talking about how Robertson will have to earn a spot and not looking at the roster list....the team has awful depth. He's gotten a spot by default. And if he hasn't somehow, he will after like 1 injury.

Being able to have him develop in the AHL is a luxury teams who don't blow their cap space like us have.

 

[Lauro]

It's about time to insert prospects again. As all teams do. These three are the first wave and we have a lot of good complimentary pieces following the next years.
Especially Liljegren needs to play now. He improved every season, had a very strong year with the Marlies.

 

[Maplebeasts]

Sandin and Robertson should be full time NHLers next year.

Lilly probably up and down but would like to see him get close to half a season of games just to see what hes got long term.

Neither Sandin nor Robertson looked quite NHL ready last season. I wouldn't have either on the opening night roster unless they really impress in camp. Liljegren though has undoubtedly been a better AHL player than Sandin but without the chances with the Leafs Sandin has had. He should make the team out of camp if for nothing else than he is without a doubt our third best RHD with the potential to be our 2nd best quickly.

 

[freshwind]

seems every lily thread i need to post this ..... the lack of ice time for lily had nothing to do with how much they like him and everything to do with the cap .. pre-covid lily was due to get a call up but had an ankle injury i believe ... last year, when we were within pennies of the cap all year his performance bonuses held him back... under the cba the full bonus counts against the cap whether earned or not ... last year lily's cap hit would have been 1.3 or so vs rasmus' 895'ish ... that was 400,000 extra dollars that were not available .... to help understand this read amirov's interview after signing his elc - he said that he signed with NO performance clauses because he wants to keep the route to the nhl as easy as possible .... this is just another example of how restrictive the nhl cap is ... lily should get a solid opportunity this year as in my opinion he is more rounded and ready than rasmus at this point in their career

 

[Leaf Fans]

In exchange for all the draft picks Dubas has stockpiled?

You were just whining in the other thread about only having three draft choices. Currently, we have 2 for 22. So unless your idea is to trade 23s? Maybe some of the prospects he has stockpiled or perhaps roster players are traded in the summer to get some picks. Whatever he does or doesn't do will come as a surprise to many.

 

[TheGroceryStick]

I'd love to play em all.

Only if we can make a trade for top6er capable player...while shedding Kerfoot + Dermott

(Via UFA/trade) - Matthews - Nylander
Robertson - Tavares - Marner
Bunting - (Via UFA/Trade) - Mikhayev
Simmonds - Kampf - Spezza
*or slide Kampf up to 3C (aquire 4W)

Rielly - Brodie
Muzzin - Liljgren
Sandin - Holl
**Lilj tried with Muzz, Sandin insulated with Holl.