Toggle sidebar

Sandin, Liljegren and Robertson...

  • Xenforo Cloud will be upgrading us to version 2.3.5 on March 3rd at 12 AM GMT. This version has increased stability and fixes several bugs. We expect downtime for the duration of the update. The admin team will continue to work on existing issues, templates and upgrade all necessary available addons to minimize impact of this new version. Click Here for Updates
None of them are NHL caliber hockey players. All busts. Typical trash Leaf drafting.
 
Maplebeasts said:
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.
Click to expand...
I agree with this analysis. I don't think we can slot Robertson in quite yet. He really needs more time in the AHL and more time to bulk up. I'm excited to see him though....in a year or two.

We know why Sandin got more ice time than Lily......it was cap related. I strongly believe that Lily is going to to do well immediately this season. He's gonna be a factor for our success (or lack thereof). Sandin....I dunno. As people mentioned, he's a very smart player with a lot of skills, but speed is a factor. Hopefully, he works on that. If he can't improve it, I don't see him as top-pairing guy.
 
Trapper said:
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.
Click to expand...
That kind of thing is part of the game. These prospects only become able to handle the heavy load with real NHL experience. They're A-level prospects, it's time to sink or swim. You can rotate them over and over in the minors until their ELC's run out, but that doesn't seem like a better plan.
 
freshwind said:
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
Click to expand...

This is true.

Also doesn't help that the Leafs D was both very good and very healthy.

There were only about 15 man games lost to injury on the defense last year, and Lehtonen couldn't be waived down.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GoLeafsGo96
It's time for Liljegren to play, or be traded.

Rielly-Brodie
Muzz-Liljegren
Sandin/Dermott-Holl

If after 10 games its obvious Liljegren is in over his head you can always switch Liljegren and Holl and run with the status quo from the last couple years. Medium risk/High reward. If Lilly pans out you have a top 4 two way D man on an ELC filling a top 4 spot. While having Sandin/Lilly paired with steady veteran D men.
 
  • Like
Reactions: chamchibap
ACC1224 said:
Waivers typical dictate who stays up and who goes down.
Do any of them need to clear to go to the Marlies?
Click to expand...

Buds17 said:
All three players are exempt from waivers.

I imagine one of the d-men makes the team for sure (perhaps both if the management/coaching staff are somehow undecided and opt for a rotation to start with). I'm 50/50 about Robertson's chances.
Click to expand...

TorontoTrades said:
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.
Click to expand...

We've been talking about the potential of these 2 defenders (especially Liljegren) and their transition to the big league for years now it seems. So, I sure hope the transition occurs this year. It sure would timely and very helpful given our crappy cap situation.

That is the way things are supposed to work, whereby a portion of your team is the end result of the draft/develop/graduate process. I'd say we are long overdue as far as having this happen.
 
freshwind said:
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
Click to expand...
This is a deeper dive or analysis of what has happened and why.

But, the ability to draft, develop and graduate is regular, routine process that many (possibly most) teams manage to do with regularity. In fact some (small market) teams rely on this (almost totally) as their main tool to build.

If our management didn't manage the cap very well, they have nobody to blame but themselves. I'd think this is just another excuse (not directing this comment at you or anyone in particular) which we seem to be very good at and should stop doing. The results of what we've done speak for themselves.
 
It appears the Leafs are counting on all 3 of these players making the team and help fill the losses from last year.

Robertson slotted in on the 2nd line to replace Nick Foligno loss and Liljegren to replace Bogosian and Sandin becomes a regular switching with Dermott in the bottom pairing.
 
Diatonic said:
We've been talking about the potential of these 2 defenders (especially Liljegren) and their transition to the big league for years now it seems. So, I sure hope the transition occurs this year. It sure would timely and very helpful given our crappy cap situation.

That is the way things are supposed to work, whereby a portion of your team is the end result of the draft/develop/graduate process. I'd say we are long overdue as far as having this happen.
Click to expand...

Absolutely. After Day 1 of Free Agency, I'm definitely expecting one of the young defenders to make the team from the start of the season. I'm leaning towards that d-man being Sandin a lot more than Liljegren though.
 
Magic Man said:
That kind of thing is part of the game. These prospects only become able to handle the heavy load with real NHL experience. They're A-level prospects, it's time to sink or swim. You can rotate them over and over in the minors until their ELC's run out, but that doesn't seem like a better plan.
Click to expand...

Finally, someone says it. The only way to gain experience is to be given an opportunity. The Leafs let the Liljegren and Sandin hone their craft in the minors for four and three years, it is time to let them play.

Did Sandin have a bad game in the playoffs? Yes, he did, but a lot of players had a bad series. I find it funny that people were madder at Sandin, than the players making the big coin.
 
MakeTheIronSing said:
As opposed to the people on HF Boards, who know everything about everything?
Click to expand...
Nobody knows everything, but some HF people know more by actually watching Liljegren play. Hayes is awful and admitted he doesn't watch the Marlies.
I will listen to the AHL viewers and scouts over a radio host.
 
stickty111 said:
Nobody knows everything, but some HF people know more by actually watching Liljegren play. Hayes is awful and admitted he doesn't watch the Marlies.
I will listen to the AHL viewers and scouts over a radio host.
Click to expand...

Hayes is a good broadcaster, because he knows he can throw out stuff like that and get people going. And having worked in the industry a long time, I know comments like that are mostly for ratings boosts. Whether he believes it or not is irrelevant. His "character" much like McCowan, is designed to get people talking. The worst kind of broadcaster is a boring one. You may not like what he says, or agree with it, but you're talking about it. And that's what it's all about.
 
  • Like
Reactions: stickty111
With another year of training this off season, I think Robertson and Sandin are full time NHLers at the value their contract brings. Robertson especially trains super hard and I am excited for him to have an opportunity (if he can stay healthy).

Liljegren is a part time nhler based on our depth on D. But with injuries will be an important factor in that.
 
freshwind said:
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
Click to expand...

Good post. If Sandin needs more seasoning, we could theoretically roll with:

Rielly-Brodie
Muzzin-Liljegren
Dermott-Holl

Still a potentially solid core.
 
  • Like
Reactions: stickty111
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Ad

Ad

Top Bottom