Prospect Info: How can any prospect break into our top 6 now?

[Lebanese Leaf]

With Bozak, JVR, Lupul, Clarkson locked in long term, and likely Kessel and Kadri to follow, how can any prospect break into our top 6 in the next 5 years?

We have so much money invested here, that it leaves me wondering what's gonna happen with guys like Colborne, Gauthier, Biggs, Leivo, Ashton, etc. trying to break in to the top 6 in the coming years?

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[TMLife*]

Just cause we signed them long term doesn't mean they stay long term.

If someone proves they're ready for a larger role than we make room for them. Simple.

 

[Duffman955]

This would be a problem if we had top 6 prospects ready to make the jump.

 

[Stephen]

What likely happens is these prospects break in on the bottom six, and start to put pressure on the top sixers, while we profit on their ELCs.

 

[Mess]

With Bozak, JVR, Lupul, Clarkson locked in long term, and likely Kessel and Kadri to follow, how can any prospect break into our top 6 in the next 5 years?

We have so much money invested here, that it leaves me wondering what's gonna happen with guys like Colborne, Gauthier, Biggs, Leivo, Ashton, etc. trying to break in to the top 6 in the coming years?

Leafs don't have any prospects that project as top 6 forwards in the system.

Better suited for bottom 6 roles based on skill set.

 

[Schenn]

We have no top 6 potential prospects...

 

[TootooTrain]

Competition is a good thing. Not bringing them up before they're ready. Carlyle's MO is bringing them up slowly and plugging them in low pressure situations like the 3rd and 4th lines anyway where there are spots available. Did that with Getzlaf and Perry, and with Colborne this past year.

 

[Fabs]

Same way they break into the top 6 on other teams. Besides we don't have any forward prospects even close to making it.

 

[Razz]

I would hope that they can't. If we have prospects in our top 6, it probably means we're a lottery team.

 

[pucci2001]

With Bozak, JVR, Lupul, Clarkson locked in long term, and likely Kessel and Kadri to follow, how can any prospect break into our top 6 in the next 5 years?

We have so much money invested here, that it leaves me wondering what's gonna happen with guys like Colborne, Gauthier, Biggs, Leivo, Ashton, etc. trying to break in to the top 6 in the coming years?

Gauthier is the only one with a glimmer of hope to break into the top 6. However it can happen. I don't see Clarkson finishing that long term deal in a leaf jersey, we could make a move involving a few pieces to change it up however I like the idea that we have a top quality top 6 now save for missing a true #1 Center. Why are you concerned with prospects competing for the top 6? I would be perfectly fine having 3 scoring lines like chicago was running this year, like teams used to in the 90s.

 

[LeafOfBread]

This would be a problem if we had top 6 prospects ready to make the jump.

Pretty much.

We don't really have any great offensive players ready to step in.

 

[The Caveman]

Trade one of them for a good player that we need? if we are lucky enough to have a prospect that is good enough to bump one of our present top 6, then that is an enviable position to be in.

 

[Brewsky]

This would be a problem if we had top 6 prospects ready to make the jump.

Boom, this isn't a Kadri situation, Colborne has not grabbed that iron ring and ran with it, neither has Ross/Biggs/McKegg etc.

On defence? We may have another story, Rielly seems ready after another strong training camp I'd say. Just no more Kostka

Phaneuf
Rielly
Gardiner
Gunnarsson
Fraser
Franson
Liles

With that lineup, it does look like MoRiles will be waiting another year, with Holzer being used on the come up for injuries.

 

[Joey Hoser]

Uhh... how about those prospects become top 6 AHLers before we worry about that?

 

[Intact]

Guys our top 6 is too good for my liking, we should of left some room for our extremely mediocre prospects

 

[CG14]

Bozak in our top six is an absolute embarrassment. 5 YRS..? just ridiculous

 

[I Believe]

That's a pretty good problem to have

 

[Brock Radunske]

Well, it's fine for 2 reasons.

1. We don't really have any top-6 prospects besides a few long shots (Biggs, Ashton, Leivo, Colborne)
2. We didn't sign any top 3 players today, just 10 million worth of 3rd liners.

 

[Neil Hamburger]

With the way Carlyle likes to match and switch his lines around, he will slide guys like Clarkson up and down the line-up, and if a young gun takes a top-6 role and runs with it (like Kadri did last year) he'll earn a job.

 

[Ace88*]

Guys our top 6 is too good for my liking, we should of left some room for our extremely mediocre prospects

Lol this. We win games with our roster players not our prospects. Besides, only Leivo, colborne, and maybe gauthier have any remote chance at top 6 roles. even then it is a lo.g shot for all of them.

 

[NoTouchIcing]

Just cause we signed them long term doesn't mean they stay long term.

If someone proves they're ready for a larger role than we make room for them. Simple.

This would be a problem if we had top 6 prospects ready to make the jump.

I agree on both points. Fight for your job, it's plainly simple.
At the current point, we don't really have anyone worthy of making that fight worthwhile.

 

[Orbital]

This would be a problem if we had top 6 prospects ready to make the jump.

Yes indeed,sir!

 

[JacobimMugatu]

I would hope that they can't. If we have prospects in our top 6, it probably means we're a lottery team.

Noooooope. Scoring line prospects make it through being brought up into scoring lines.
Saad didn't look bad playing on the Toews line and Chicago isn't exactly a lottery team

 

[jmart21]

This would be a problem if we had top 6 prospects ready to make the jump.

This.

If they actually deserve a spot and have outplayed mee veteran players, they'll be in the lineup. This is one thing Burke/RW were hesitant at (LACK, Kadri etc) but Nonis/RC seem to have done well with.

 

[GameOverLeafsWin]

There is a 3rd line left wing open. ???? - Bolland - Kulimen edited; sorry wrote clarkson when I meant bolland.