Training Camp Thread - First round of Cuts Made (10 players)

[smitty10]

First thought, Robidas must be worse off then we are led to believe for us to sign these 2 to try outs.

Why do you say that? We have like 16 capable forwards competing for 13 spots and now we have 9 defensemen competing for 7 spots. I like that Holzer isn't just being handed the 7 spot. He's going to be made to work for it and now will have to compete against a veteran and someone his own age for ice time. I also think this is less about Franson being moved like speculated, because if he's moved we'll likely get a defenseman back like the Gorges trade, and more about having depth for when injuries hit and pushing the young guys in camp. This will allow the young guys to eat up time with the Marlies and gives us a lefty and a righty in the press box for when injuries occur or someone isn't playing well.

I don't think Mikkelson will be signed. Tallinder will likely be offered a contract if he performs well. Absolutely love this!

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Why do you say that? We have like 16 capable forwards competing for 13 spots and now we have 9 defensemen competing for 7 spots. I like that Holzer isn't just being handed the 7 spot. He's going to be made to work for it and now will have to compete against a veteran and someone his own age for ice time. I also think this is less about Franson being moved like speculated, because if he's moved we'll likely get a defenseman back like the Gorges trade, and more about having depth for when injuries hit and pushing the young guys in camp. This will allow the young guys to eat up time with the Marlies and gives us a lefty and a righty in the press box for when injuries occur or someone isn't playing well.

I don't think Mikkelson will be signed. Tallinder will likely be offered a contract if he performs well. Absolutely love this!

I don't believe in coincidences. To me this is a reactive move to Robidas not being cleared for contact. It is the prudent thing to do from Nonis' part.

 

[TheProspector]

So are these two like wicked with all that corsi or fenwick stuff?

No. They aren't.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Why would anyone object to any PTO? Costs the team nothing.

 

[Mansfield]

good, will be nice to have one of them on a cheap deal as a #7

 

[TMLeafer]

I can get behind this. Tallinder should give it a good go.

Brendan Mikkelson: was he not with the Marlies a few years ago? If I recall, Anaheim didn't have an AHL team for a season and they loaned out players to various teams, so Marlies got Mikkelson.

 

[FlareKnight]

Well nothing wrong with having a few extra bodies in camp. Though I'd be worried if these guys beat someone out of a spot in the roster.

In the end let's them have some more options out there and maybe they get surprised.

 

[LeafalCrusader]

Its likely between him and Holzer for the #7 spot. I doubt they want Granberg or Percy as the #7 when they won't have to clear waivers and can log big minutes with the Marlies.

 

[McMatthews]

Phaneuf - Robidas
Gardiner - Franson
Rielly - Polak
Tallinder - Granberg

 

[TribalPhoenix]

I was pointing out that Toronto gave up 256 goals against and Buffalo gave up 248 goals. Buffalo was better defensively despite finishing lower in the standings.

I'm just having fun with you .. There is no risk to giving a player a tryout and perhaps Robidas health might be a underlying reason behind the invite. Tallinder has had a long and successful career only is there anything left at his age.

The only downside I see is that Granberg now has to beat out Tallindar and I'd perfer the Leafs to give Petter a fair chance. You know me "play the kids" and all.

More to the point, the Sabres had fewer GA with worse goaltending in Ryan Miller who was lackluster all season while Bernier was pretty damn solid.

Insofar as Granberg is concerned, I want him to play a regular shift... if he was 1 or 2 years older, I'd be OK with him as a #7 if his development line made sense, but he's still young and can still mature with more reps in the AHL.

Overall, if Tallinder isn't useless, I think he'd be an ideal #7 if he was around 700K$.

 

[Mystifo]

Talinder on a league min or sub 1m contract is fine with me. I thought the guy was an NHL caliber player.

 

[Nithoniniel]

First thought, Robidas must be worse off then we are led to believe for us to sign these 2 to try outs.

Don't agree. There's a deficit of NHL experienced D-men for depth. As things are now, when injuries hit we'll have to rely on Granberg, Finn or Percy no matter what. That's not how you want to do things. You don't want to be forced into playing one of them on an NHL roster if they are going through a hard period in the AHL, and you absolutely don't want one of them to go through a period of the season sitting in the press box.

You need players for every role. We have no veteran depth right now.

EDIT:

I'm not saying that they didn't think of Robidas when taking this decision, I'm saying that it doesn't have to mean he is worse off and it's for sure not the only reason. If it was, then our management is disregarding a weakness on our roster and I don't think they'd do that.

 

[hockeywiz542]

Brendan Mikkelson's sister, Meaghan has been a part of Canada’s National Women’s Team since 2007. Meaghan Mikkelson and Natalie Spooner are teammates on the 2nd season of The Amazing Race Canada.

https://twitter.com/Mikkelson12/status/510240038357970944

Meaghan Mikkelson

‏@Mikkelson12

“@Sportsnet: Maple Leafs give tryouts to d-men Tallinder, Mikkelson” good luck little bro!

6:34 PM - 11 Sep 2014

http://meaghanmikkelson.com/about/

About Meaghan

Born: January 4th, 1985

Hometown: St. Albert, AB

Position: Defense

Athletic Career

Meaghan is currently enjoying her eighth season with the National Women's Hockey Team. With two Olympics gold medals from the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics, a gold medal at the 2012 IIHF Women's World Championships, and four silver medals at the 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2013 IIHF Women's World Championships, Meaghan aspires to continue to represent Canada and win gold at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang in 2018. With these goals in mind, Meaghan continues to look for ways to improve as an athlete and as an individual.

Personal

After marrying Scott Reid, who played twelve years of professional hockey as a goaltender in various leagues including the American Hockey League (AHL), East Coast Hockey League (ECHL), Central Hockey League (CHL), and UK Elite League (EIHL), in July 2011, Meaghan currently resides and trains in Calgary.

Hockey runs in the bloodlines of the Mikkelson family. Great uncle Jim McFadden played for the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks in the 1940's and 1950's, and was awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy for rookie of the year in 1948. Jim also won the Stanley Cup with the Red Wings in 1950. Meaghan's father Bill also played approximately three seasons in the NHL with the Washington Capitals, New York Islanders, and Los Angeles Kings. Lastly, Meaghan's brother Brendan was drafted 31st overall by the Anaheim Ducks in 2005, and is currently signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins and plays for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the American Hockey League (AHL).

 

[DjD4GGR]

Trading Franson would be a mistake imo I believe he will have a bounce back year now that he has a full training camp he can focus on being ready for a great season

 

[The_Chosen_One]

Tallinder -21
Myers -26
Ehrhoff -27

Those figures are pretty pointless considering that Buffalo was intentionally tanking that year. There is no way Tallinder would've performed well under such a heavily truncated roster.

Should be a decent bottom pairing option.

 

[Leafidelity]

Those figures are pretty pointless considering that Buffalo was intentionally tanking that year. There is no way Tallinder would've performed well under such a heavily truncated roster.

Should be a decent bottom pairing option.

It was more so show for some context to Mess singling out Tallinder's +/-

 

[Prominence]

Why does everyone assume the leafs have signed mikkelson and tallinder? They are given professional tryouts. It's not like they have been signed by the leafs to actual contracts. And besides, if they do impress and the leafs do sign them, they can become trade bait for picks and futures.

 

[Budsfan]

Trading Franson would be a mistake imo I believe he will have a bounce back year now that he has a full training camp he can focus on being ready for a great season

I agree, I think he will have a bounce back year, as a matter of fact he too should benefit from a more veteran presence and Tallinder may be that player to match him up with.

 

[TheProspector]

The Franson hate around here at this time is incredible.

His defensive numbers were because he was sheltered up until this year. His apparent regression didn't come out of nowhere, and as a maturing player, he'll come into his own - something defensemen take longer to do, anyway.

The idea that Tallinder is better than Franson, even at the #5 or #6 hole (which is the role he played in Buffalo), is comically wrong. You put Franson back at #5, #6, and he'll go back to putting up points and a positive +/-. Tallinder's performance will still be tragic.

 

[crump]

Welcome to the virtual pile on. We used to do it as kids in the school yard. It was some primal need to join the pack. One kid throws himself on an unwitting defendant and it's like lemmings to the cliff. A runaway freight train, never coming back...as long as Franson's on it.

 

[Bluelines]

This probably has more to do with how the preseason splits up the teams roster and wanting to stretch out NHL calber d-men.

My bet is both are "released".

 

[Mess]

It was more so show for some context to Mess singling out Tallinder's +/-

I simply posted Tallinder's actual last years NHL stats.

I singled him out as he was the player in question being invited to tryout for the Leafs.

In terms of Tallinder's +/- and context the NHL.com shows that of the 303 NHL dmen last year Franson ranked 290th in +/- with -20 and Tallinder 291st on 303 overall. (http://www.nhl.com/ice/playerstats....ADALL&viewName=plusMinus&sort=plusMinus&pg=10). So Franson and Tallinder being compared in this thread they are about the same defensively in +/- terms , but both near the bottom of the league.

 

[Myke]

I don't get the Franson hate. Two seasons ago he was arguably our best D man and now people want to dump him? Let's see how he does this year before we pull out the pitchforks.

That being said, Mikkelson will probably end up on the Marlies and Tallinder will end up in the KHL or retired.

 

[Bluelines]

I don't get the Franson hate. Two seasons ago he was arguably our best D man and now people want to dump him? Let's see how he does this year before we pull out the pitchforks.

That being said, Mikkelson will probably end up on the Marlies and Tallinder will end up in the KHL or retired.

Points dont = arguably our best d-man.

He's always been a step behind defenceivly (sp?), used in the proper setting he can be effective but he struggles if the other team is quick on the forecheck and tends to panic if he is forced to move the puck quickly. He does not think the game well.

Use him like they use Subban and I bet the opinions on Franson change quickly and no I'm not suggesting Fanson is on par with Subban. There are ways you can get the most out of one dimensionial players, like sheltering their minutes into situations where they are almost exclusivly on the attack vs put in situations where they have to defend.

 

[ULF_55]

I don't get the Franson hate. Two seasons ago he was arguably our best D man and now people want to dump him? Let's see how he does this year before we pull out the pitchforks.

That being said, Mikkelson will probably end up on the Marlies and Tallinder will end up in the KHL or retired.

I don't remember Franson ever being close to the Leafs' best defenseman.

I do remember he played very well on the 3rd. pairing.

I expect Tallinder to be better than any rookie the Leafs could bring up, he has years of experience and the Leafs rookies don't.

Leafs have to make an investment in the future by letting rookies get playing time over better more experienced vets on the way out of the league.