Very, very impressive numbers, anyone comment on he's been playing besides the stats?
He has been his usual self- very good. I think best all around defender in the league. But certainly top 3.
And I think he doesn't get enough credit for throwing the body around especially come playoffs where he wisely knows how to raise his game. Although undersized in the height department he is all muscle. Under 6 foot but a steady 210lbs of strength. I think he will be able to handle the NHL rigors once he gets older and size shouldn't be a concern with him in my view. Wouldn't be a stretch to say he's in the best shape of any player on the team
I caught a few Erie games on SN Friday night hockey and was suprised with how physical he was, in the London game especially. He didn't throw the body around too much in WJC, and he's never described that way here on the forms, but seems like he definitely has that capability.
Seems like he's definitely a step ahead at least of where Percy and Finn were in their draft +1 years, and we all had pretty high hopes for them. Seems like projecting him as having two-way top 4 capabilities wouldn't be a stretch.
All the more encouraging is the fact that he's found another level so far in these playoffs.
I'm hoping Erie gets to round 3 vs Kitchener or London and likely televised games where you all can watch and I can watch the road games. When he wants to be he can be physical. You don't really need to be every single game in ohl regular season but come playoffs it's what separates teams. Dermott was that guy last year and a year older now I expect more. But Saginaw was an easy opponent, if they face better teams he will need to bring that physical presence that I know he has. I think he certainly has tools to be an all around 3-4 defender in NHL. Likely AHL next year which will be good growing step for him to gauge his future better
Yeah, it would be nice to catch a couple Erie games.
I personally have his ceiling a touch ahead of Rinat Valiev. Their draft +1 years were pretty similar. The have similar build and style of play. Valiev has handled himself quite well is his 1st pro season, so hopefully Dermott has a smooth transition next year.
Leivo-Arcobello-Hyman
Soshnikov-Nylander-Brown
Kapanen-Leipsic-Frattin
Carrick-Gauthier-Smith
Brennan-Campbell
Loov-Valiev
Percy-Holl
Sparks
Bibeau
--
How close am I with a roster, probably forgot someone.
Connor Carrick, Tobias Lindberg .. Also not sure which Smith you have on there, but there is Ben and Colin - actually wait, is Ben Smith eligible for the playoffs?
Leivo - Nylander - Hyman
Soshnikov - Arcobello - Brown
Kapanen - C. Smith - Leipsic
Lindberg - Gauthier - S. Carrick
Brennan - C. Carrick
Valiev - Campbell
Percy - Loov
Sparks
Bibeau
Loaded line up .. Many prospects
Leivo - Nylander - Hyman
Soshnikov - Arcobello - Brown
Kapanen - C. Smith - Leipsic
Lindberg - Gauthier - S. Carrick
Brennan - C. Carrick
Valiev - Campbell
Percy - Loov
Sparks
Bibeau
Loaded line up .. Many prospects
Lindberg looks like he could be a very good middle 6 winger.
Every single player with the exception of C.Smith, S. Carrick and A. Bibeau have player games with the leafs this year.
I don't think Ben Smith has ever been on the Marlies roster. Even if he was, I kinda doubt they would bump out a prospect for him.
The Toronto Maple Leafs announced Monday that the club has recalled forwards William Nylander, Kasperi Kapanen, Nikita Soshnikov, Zack Hyman, and Ben Smith from the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League (AHL). In addition, forwards Mark Arcobello, Brendan Leipsic and Josh Leivo were loaned to the Marlies.
I thought Soshnikov-Gauthier-Lindberg would have been a good future 3rd line. Maybe Hyman is in there somewhere too.
We've got a lot of good middle six wingers coming up so he's got to stand out. He's definitely doing that right now as a 20 year old rookie with less than two years of North American exposure.
The new Finnish goalie the Marlies got looked pretty decent tonight vs the crunch. Drouin goes back and forth from being the best player on the ice to coughing up the puck like a rookie scrub.