Tyler Biggs

[Durkin67]

Biggs is not capable of playing the role you have assigned him in the AHL yet so why would he be given the same role in the NHL.

He is a long way away from an NHL role....and looking more and more like a possible bust for a drafted pick that cost us a second round pick as well. I do not see any indication that he is anywhere near ready to play at the NHL level currently nor do I expect him to progress enough over the last part of the season and summer to compete for a roster spot.

First pro season, and he's a bust... got it... thanks for weighing in.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

The reason Biggs was picked was he was a safe bet to make the NHL. Would like Spott to use him in a more offensive role next year, Biggs is exactly the type of winger we could use in the line up. We are far too soft up front.

 

[Atomos2]

What part of "Replacement for Orr" are you struggling with? You think either Ashton or D'Amigo has the physical attributes to replace Orr? I see Biggs as a guy who can do all Colton does, while taking a regular shift. Youre comparing chalk and cheese here; I'm trying to plug a pretty good piece into a hole that needs to be addressed. Orr cant compete at this level because the skills just arent there. Biggs doesnt have that problem. He only lacks experience and opportunity. Everyone here seems to be judging him by what he's done on the fourth line playing probably under 8 minutes a game, in his first pro year. They forget he was an integral piece of Oshawa's offense last year with 53 points in 60 games.

"The opportunity" as you call it, is a chance to take Colton's roster spot. You want D'Amigo fighting Chris Neil and Milan Lucic????

You already responded to the earlier quote. And I responded with this:

Sorry, got a little carried away in terms of a fourth line role. Honestly, I'd put Devane or Broll who are older and have more NHL experience. If Biggs can leapfrog them, I'd still keep him in the minors at least in order to give him some kind of scoring touch and to make him a leader at the AHL level.

Biggs was captain of the U18 team IIRC so I think when he takes more responsibility on the marlies roster, thats when he should take a shot at the maple leafs roster. Biggs isn't even playing the enforcer role on the marlies. The guy is still a kid, has he even fought in the AHL? If he has it's not a regular occurrence. Are you really gonna send a 21-22 year old kid to match up against all the tough guys in the NHL?

He needs to take up a leadership reponsibility with the marlies before he gets any type of sustained time with the big club. Honestly, until I see him wear an A on his sweater, I wouldn't even think of bring him up.

I think you just mixed up the more recent reply.

 

[Durkin67]

The reason Biggs was picked was he was a safe bet to make the NHL. Would like Spott to use him in a more offensive role next year, Biggs is exactly the type of winger we could use in the line up. We are far too soft up front.

Agreed, and if the expectations are reasonable, i.e.; more Chris Neil than Cam Neely, we may end up with a solid role player that can contribute safe minutes and chip in a little. Fred Gauthier is another first rounder who probably pans out as a 3rd liner who can win draws and control defensive zone situations effectively. We have a nice assortment of these role players.

I really think Leafs management needs to start looking internally for solutions to bottom 6 issues and let some of the younger guys play.

I've moved off the Biggs idea slightly, only because I think Broll may be further ahead at this point, but if Biggs has a strong playoffs and a good camp, I think he needs to be in the conversation regarding who replaces Orr

 

[Durkin67]

You already responded to the earlier quote. And I responded with this:



I think you just mixed up the more recent reply.

Ah OK...apologies; I'm a 2 coffee in the morning kinda guy and I was only half way there

 

[Atomos2]

Ah OK...apologies; I'm a 2 coffee in the morning kinda guy and I was only half way there

No worries

 

[therealkoho]

30th pick
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=130557

39th pick
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=123445

since it was mentioned

Biggs is 6'3" 225, no one can teach that!

when he was drafted they knew he was a project, they knew there were some skating and consistency issues ........no worries for now

http://www.torontosun.com/2013/12/0...yler-biggs-adjusting-to-pro-life-with-marlies

For Tyler, it’s about becoming an everyday pro,” Spott said. “He is hard on himself, puts a lot of pressure on himself, and I think he works extremely hard on and off the ice.

“We are expecting more of a complete game. I think it has been an adjustment, but he has bought into it and he is playing a great checking role for us.”

Spott doesn’t want to stifle Biggs’ offence, but might have more patience as the native of Binghamton, N.Y., has been adjusting to playing centre. It’s the trickle-down effect from Marlies injuries and from the Leafs, who have plucked Trevor Smith and Jerred Smithson from the Marlies’ centre ranks thanks to the absences of Dave Bolland, Tyler Bozak and to a lesser extent, Nazem Kadri.

“It’s more than one change,” Biggs said of moving into the middle from the wing. “In your own end, you are thinking a little bit more, you are looking for guys, you are trying to stay on the defensive side of things.

“If things are not going your way in the circle, that can get pretty frustrating, too. At the same time, it helps because I always have my feet moving and I am getting to the pucks first now. Not that I wasn’t before, but I feel more consistent with it.”

 

[ULF_55]

30th pick
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=130557

39th pick
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=123445

since it was mentioned

Biggs is 6'3" 225, no one can teach that!

when he was drafted they knew he was a project, they knew there were some skating and consistency issues ........no worries for now

http://www.torontosun.com/2013/12/0...yler-biggs-adjusting-to-pro-life-with-marlies

So how long did the center experiment go? Bozak has been back a long time.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Looking for positives, 7 goals in his role, is not great, but it isn't bad either. Broll has 2 goals, Ross has 4, and Ryan 4.

 

[leafs in five]

great to see that Biggs is matching Kenny Ryan's production.

 

[Diatomic]

Biggs could be a great 13th forward one day.

 

[BertCorbeau]

Looking for positives, 7 goals in his role, is not great, but it isn't bad either. Broll has 2 goals, Ross has 4, and Ryan 4.

And Biggs based on what I've read Biggs seems to have improved as the season progressed .. Finding his way to the scoresheet more frequently, hopefully another couple seasons in the AHL allows him to improve his offensive output .. I still like Biggs potential to be a very good third liner that the Leafs will need, a Chris Neil type

Ross has been nothing short of a disappointment though .. Just doesn't seem cut out for the pro game

great to see that Biggs is matching Kenny Ryan's production.

Ryan's actually done well in a bottom 6 role this season .. Hasn't had a great pro career to date but he seems to have turned it around (and has been playing centre too) .. Could still be a quality 4th liner one day

 

[therealkoho]

So how long did the center experiment go? Bozak has been back a long time.

had you clicked the link you would've seen it was a December article

Spott had confidence in him then and still does and although Biggs has yet to find and define what his role will be in pro hockey, he has made progression through this season, they've had him on PP, the PK they've had him play all three forward positions and you know what he keeps showing up and he's eager for more

Not every pick makes the big leagues, not every 7th rounder is a throw away but the guy is in his first pro-season and those 2 picks have a combined 18 more games of NHL experience and lead that race by 2 points

not everything needs a negative spin

 

[leafs in five]

Ryan's actually done well in a bottom 6 role this season .. Hasn't had a great pro career to date but he seems to have turned it around (and has been playing centre too) .. Could still be a quality 4th liner one day

every team passed on Tomas Tatar once but the Leafs passed on him three times and i am still sour about it. the idea that if all breaks right for Kenny Ryan he could be a quality 4th liner doesn't do much to ease the pain.

 

[Mess]

every team passed on Tomas Tatar once but the Leafs passed on him three times and i am still sour about it. the idea that if all breaks right for Kenny Ryan he could be a quality 4th liner doesn't do much to ease the pain.

What makes it worse is that Tatar was a star on the International stage.

At the WJC U20 for Slovakia in 2009 in 7 games he put up 7-4-11 points and was the talk of the tournament.

You would have to be living under a rock or in a cave not to know who this guy was leading into his draft year, particularly your scouts and GM.

 

[MakeTheIronSing]

What makes it worse is that Tatar was a star on the International stage.

At the WJC U20 for Slovakia in 2009 in 7 games he put up 7-4-11 points and was the talk of the tournament.

You would have to be living under a rock or in a cave not to know who this guy was leading into his draft year, particularly your scouts and GM.

The Leafs have a pretty tragic history of drafting in general. Europeans especially fit into this category.

Looking back at this draft, the Leafs clearly were going for a certain type of player, and I think most people would agree that type of player did not correlate to BPA.

Percy, Sparks and Leivo were good picks however, so you can't be overly upset.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

And Biggs based on what I've read Biggs seems to have improved as the season progressed .. Finding his way to the scoresheet more frequently, hopefully another couple seasons in the AHL allows him to improve his offensive output .. I still like Biggs potential to be a very good third liner that the Leafs will need, a Chris Neil type

Ross has been nothing short of a disappointment though .. Just doesn't seem cut out for the pro game



Ryan's actually done well in a bottom 6 role this season .. Hasn't had a great pro career to date but he seems to have turned it around (and has been playing centre too) .. Could still be a quality 4th liner one day

I am a big Biggs booster when he was drafted, I thought he was a safe 3rd liner with his skating and shot, that could play it tough.

My hope was he would be able to be a top 6 player, on the highside. And these players are rare, so I can see why the Leafs moved to get him. Not going to criticize this.

Time for him to start atleast looking like a 3rd line player. Pretty sure he is not a top 6 player, but he can still be valuable as a tough 2 way guy. I am still rooting for him to come through.

 

[leafs in five]

What makes it worse is that Tatar was a star on the International stage.

At the WJC U20 for Slovakia in 2009 in 7 games he put up 7-4-11 points and was the talk of the tournament.

You would have to be living under a rock or in a cave not to know who this guy was leading into his draft year, particularly your scouts and GM.

yeah, i lived in Ottawa at the time of that tournament. i feel like Tatar dropping to 60th was a case of overthinking, a knee jerk reaction to the hype that surrounded his WJC performance. but anyone who watched that year knew he was a dynamite player. he should have been a first round picks. or one of the Leafs' second round picks....

 

[BertCorbeau]

I am a big Biggs booster when he was drafted, I thought he was a safe 3rd liner with his skating and shot, that could play it tough.

My hope was he would be able to be a top 6 player, on the highside. And these players are rare, so I can see why the Leafs moved to get him. Not going to criticize this.

Time for him to start atleast looking like a 3rd line player. Pretty sure he is not a top 6 player, but he can still be valuable as a tough 2 way guy. I am still rooting for him to come through.

I'm hoping for the same - big strides over the summer and into next season with the Marlies

Be interesting to see if he can be a factor for the Marlies in the playoffs - would certainly give me some confidence in him if he can be a solid contributor on the ice in a Calder Cup run

 

[Mess]

The Leafs have a pretty tragic history of drafting in general. Europeans especially fit into this category.

Looking back at this draft, the Leafs clearly were going for a certain type of player, and I think most people would agree that type of player did not correlate to BPA.

Percy, Sparks and Leivo were good picks however, so you can't be overly upset.

The GM admitted that they were looking for size and skill and truculence and focused on NA players.

Biggs is another example of the Leafs passing on better offensive players to draft size and toughness.

 

[Gallagbi]

The GM admitted that they were looking for size and skill and truculence and focused on NA players.

Biggs is another example of the Leafs passing on better offensive players to draft size and toughness.

I think all GM's are looking for big, mean, skilled players, no?

What would Percy be an example of? A "heady" defenseman who isn't too big, isn't very tough and isn't overly skilled.

I think the Leafs said they had him rated higher than Biggs as well.

 

[Ricky Bobby]

Not a chance Biggs should be lined up to get a spot with the Leafs out of camp.

He could earn a call up next season from having the two way contracts but even that is debateable because there are other prospects ahead of him on the depth chart who always have 2-way deals.

To the OP, Biggs might be tough but he isn't Colton Orr tough so he can't fill that heavyweight enforcer role.

Biggs needs to see significant minutes and opportunities in the AHL at this point in his development. Not be pigeon holed at the NHL level playing less than 10 minute a game. If we're very fortunate one day Biggs could develop into a decent 3rd liner like a Kyle Clifford.

 

[Hotlanta]

And Biggs based on what I've read Biggs seems to have improved as the season progressed .. Finding his way to the scoresheet more frequently, hopefully another couple seasons in the AHL allows him to improve his offensive output .. I still like Biggs potential to be a very good third liner that the Leafs will need, a Chris Neil type

Ross has been nothing short of a disappointment though .. Just doesn't seem cut out for the pro game



Ryan's actually done well in a bottom 6 role this season .. Hasn't had a great pro career to date but he seems to have turned it around (and has been playing centre too) .. Could still be a quality 4th liner one day

I agree with everything you say. People forget he is 20 years old playing on the 4th line learning to play a strong defensive game. I am rather impressed he even has 7 goals this season. I believe next season Smith/Carrick, Brown/Broll, Biggs line will be our second line, assuming a couple of Leivo, D'amigo, Ashton & Holland make the Leafs.

Ross has been a bust, its not a learning curve issue but a lack of compete, which is needed for an undersized edgy player.

Ryan is a stud on the PK, and a heart and soul player. He was drafted in the second round for his defensive game, not his offensive game. I still believe he could become a good 4th liner or a depth forward in the NHL.

I see the Marlies looking like this next year:

Leivo - McKegg - Abbott
Biggs - Smith - Brown
Broll - Carrick - Ryan
Ross/M.Rupert - R.Rupert - Devane

Abbott & Kozun may not be resigned though and Johnson or Hartikainen may come over and push Biggs down the lineup.

 

[Durkin67]

Not a chance Biggs should be lined up to get a spot with the Leafs out of camp.

He could earn a call up next season from having the two way contracts but even that is debateable because there are other prospects ahead of him on the depth chart who always have 2-way deals.

To the OP, Biggs might be tough but he isn't Colton Orr tough so he can't fill that heavyweight enforcer role.

Biggs needs to see significant minutes and opportunities in the AHL at this point in his development. Not be pigeon holed at the NHL level playing less than 10 minute a game. If we're very fortunate one day Biggs could develop into a decent 3rd liner like a Kyle Clifford.

I actually don't mind the Clifford comparison, however I think Biggs will ultimately prove to be a lot tougher than you suggest.

 

[kilgro]

KyleTheReporter is a pretty good guy to follow for coverage of the Marlies and he just wrote an article the other day with a couple good quotes on Biggs from Spott.

Prospect Tyler Biggs was the beneficiary of a lineup shuffle on Sunday and gave the Marlies a 4-3 lead against the Heat with his seventh goal of the season.

Predominantly used by Spott as a fourth liner and penalty killer, an injury to Spencer Abbott opened up a spot on the right wing for Biggs to move up and play alongside Josh Leivo and centre Trevor Smith.

The 2011 first-round pick has battled through his first full year in the AHL, missing games with an injury as well as time as a healthy scratch.

According to Spott, however, it hasn’t been for a lack of effort and more time is needed before understanding his true value to the future of the organization.

“He’s doing everything he can to play for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the future,†said Spott.

“He’s going in the right direction. I’ve talked to our management staff (and) it’s patience, that’s what this organization is doing. They’re staying patient with the young prospects and will see where they are two or three years from now.â€

Despite being drafted so high, Biggs has been projected by Leaf management as a bottom-six “energy guy†who can contribute on the penalty kill. Most nights that he’s been in the lineup he has played with Jerred Smithson and a rotating left-winger.

In 53 games with the Marlies the 21-year-old has seven goals and nine points.

That's about it on Biggs but he there's a few other good tidbits in the article. anyways, here's the full article
http://kylethereporter.com/2014/04/...s-goalies-doing-shuffle-until-further-notice/