Andreas Borgman - Thriving and developing w/upside.

[Duke16]

I would trade Nielsen while he might have decent value. Good offensive guy in the AHL, but struggles to defend and doesn't skate well down there. I don't see much of his game positively transitioning to the NHL.

Everyone on our NHL Roster is obviously ahead and: Dermott, Liljegren, Rosen and Rasanen should be viewed as better prospects. Even Valiev should re-surpass him on the depth chart if he is healthy this season.

 

[thewave]

I think we have 3 beauts in liljegren borgman dermott, who all look like likely top 4 guys to me. Add them to mo/jake/zaits and we're stacked for years imo.

I also think rosen and valiev are serviceable depth guys going forward.

Nielsen looks to me like a PP specialist.

Beyond that, Rasanen is the only one that sticks out to me as a potential impact guy.

I view the pool exactly the same to the letter. Nielsen is AHL with those feet.

 

[Silver91]

I think you are right but maybe a trade sooner would be better than later. Not sure what a package with him would get but the ponger he doesn't make the team I would think his value drops

I totally agree, I would move him today in a package to upgrade Bozak (hot take? maybe, but something needs to be done). I just don't know how willing management is to move him when his value isn't very high. He was a project pick when we took him, and might have had some value after his D+1 season, probably even halfway through last year, but he's been trending down since the mid-point of last season, and his skating hasn't improved much.

At this point it's a case of how long do you hold onto the declining asset when it never really had a whole bunch of value to anyone but you in the first place?

 

[Eye of Ra]

Thread has not been updated since Oct. How did he play in Nov?

 

[Mr Hockey]

He is playing better every game, lots of potential to be a good top 4 NHL dman.

 

[Not My Tempo]

Yea I feel he’s really getting more and more confident lately

 

[lifelonghockeyfan]

Talking 2019/20, would expect Gardiner to gone via UFAS. Reilly, Borgman, Dermot, could very well be the LHD. Borgman doing well adjusting to North American rinks, his teammates and his opposition. Once he learns and gets more confidence in his positioning, he could a long term solid NHLer.

 

[Randy Randerson]

Borgman definitely has some talent. In a sort of Gardiner-esque fashion he makes lots of little, seemingly easily fixable mistakes that make you sort of scratch your head after watching him carry the puck cleanly out of his own end and across the offensive blueline with nice hands and a calm demeanor. He's been a bit of an enigma to me that way, but hopeful that he's able to clean up those little errors and keep the good stuff. I don't see any reason to disqualify him as a potential replacement for Gardiner as a 2nd pairing defenseman with the rest of this season and another full one before that happens

 

[Ratboy]

He's a great addition to the D core, he's tough (even fought in one of his first games, I'm sure it wasn't something he did much of in Sweden), strong, has a shot (that snipe in St Louis was a beauty), and seems to be getting better as the season goes on.

Some were saying he needed time in the AHL, I don't think he does at all. He's right at home where he is, and brings much needed grit to our D core.

Great pickup.

 

[bobermay]

He's a great addition to the D core, he's tough (even fought in one of his first games, I'm sure it wasn't something he did much of in Sweden), strong, has a shot (that snipe in St Louis was a beauty), and seems to be getting better as the season goes on.

Some were saying he needed time in the AHL, I don't think he does at all. He's right at home where he is, and brings much needed grit to our D core.

Great pickup.

I agree... We just need a better defender to pair him with.

 

[hullsy47]

I like the fact he has the confidence to even make a zone entry like that. Most rookie D would just get to the redline and dump it in.
Thats what I've noticed. He will make some mistakes just by being new to the league and having to adjust but he seems extremely poised. You can really see that this guy played in a great league before coming here.

rookie of the year in Sweden ,what a steal

 

[Ziggdiezan]

The big question is will he be able to handle harder competition and zone starts as right now he is pretty sheltered.
However looks like he could end up a 2nd pairing guy in the future so he is a steal

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

He is coming into his own despite being paired with a boat anchor.

 

[1specter]

Hoping he gets more PK minutes going forward to take the load off Hainsey and Zaitsev

 

[mulefarm]

Will be good 5-6. Hopefully can PK.

 

[Polaris1010]

Borgman will be a top 4 defenseman in this league. No doubt about it.

He has all the skills. He's faster than advertised. He plays good defense - taking the man, getting the puck out of the zone ie out of danger. He reads the play well and makes his play.

Remember Carrick? Remember that goal in Florida that came from behind the net. Borgman had his man pinned, some big guy. Puck is loose. Carrick, one step too late in reacting, and the other team gets a lucky goal. After that, Carrick has not been in the another game since that moment.

That happens to Carrick too often. The other team does not earn it. Against Borgman, the other earns that goal.

Actually, it happens to Gardiner a lot too, but the other team has to be on top of the Leafs full press in the zone. Sometimes Gardiner makes a very good play to get it out. Sometimes what Gardiner did on the play in exact same circumstances, everyone wants his head and his ass outta here.

Makes for interesting post game comments. Heh.

 

[MJ65]

Need some more grooming, he is going to be a fixture on this squad for a while

 

[thewave]

The upside keeps becoming more and more apparent. When I first posted the thread, I thought he was worthy of conversation but was not sold. Like a good rookie will do, he is selling himself now and if we could just get Polak off his line again.

Like him, called him on the team in camp. Willing to call him on the team next season.

 

[fahad203]

The upside keeps becoming more and more apparent. When I first posted the thread, I thought he was worthy of conversation but was not sold. Like a good rookie will do, he is selling himself now and if we could just get Polak off his line again.

Like him, called him on the team in camp. Willing to call him on the team next season.

Ray Ferraro compared him to Darious Kasparatis. To me he's a gem. He does need a season or two to get acquainted. Maybe he can trim down a bit, lose 5-8 pounds to gain more mobility and agility

 

[Coachcorner]

Borgman Cyborg Bladerunner 2050 learning from the best. He blessed by the best.
Borgman and Polak skating together is like the sweetest thang on my eyes. They doin it big time. Other teams are scared and sacrificed. Polak teaches Borgman real hard. He blessing that thang with the best of them.

 

[BlueForever75]

Borgman has impressed a lot. While he is still learning, I can only see him get better. Funny thing is that Rosen was the one that was being advertised as the dark horse entering training camp. He was supposed to be the better of the two. If this is what Borgman looks like, is it a stretch to say that Rosen is just taking longer to get used to the North American game but he will be better then Borgman???

I can see Borgman being a main stay on the Leafs blueline as Zaitsev has turned into. But I am excited to see what Rosen turns into. All accounts have him playing a solid game down with the Marlies.

2 great pickups for sure. Will be interesting to see how things transpire.

 

[Tak7]

Two big adjustments I've noticed with his game - both are minor, but have really helped him:

1 - His head is up a lot more now, before he makes any play.

2 - He's holding onto the puck a fraction longer, to make a play.

Earlier it was head-down, fire the puck like a grenade, and it was causing all sorts of problems.

 

[hullsy47]

I would trade Nielsen while he might have decent value. Good offensive guy in the AHL, but struggles to defend and doesn't skate well down there. I don't see much of his game positively transitioning to the NHL.

Everyone on our NHL Roster is obviously ahead and: Dermott, Liljegren, Rosen and Rasanen should be viewed as better prospects. Even Valiev should re-surpass him on the depth chart if he is healthy this season.

neilson isn't very good ...looks like an AHL veteran to me

 

[firstemperor]

He's getting better every game but he gets overwhelmed at times exiting the zone. He takes an extra second at times to make a decision and it leads to zone time going the other way usually....or he'll make a brutal mistake (usually once a game...a giveaway or two).

He has the tools, he just needs to simplify his game more.....he's been doing a good job entering the opposition's blue line with speed lately or making the simple dump in. I'm ok with us treating him as a project D-man on the bottom pairing.

 

[thewave]

Borgman just keeps getting better and better. The team is crap tonight but Borgman looks pretty good.