When will Aaltonen get his shot?

[Halla]

Now up to 31pts in 47 games in the AHL, and he is +26

Komarov-Aaltonen-Kapanen...just sayin!

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[SprDaVE]

Next season?

 

[Kiwi]

Next season?

He seems like a decent option as the Bozak replacement imo

 

[LeafalCrusader]

He should get a look before we go blowing another 2nd rounder on a 4th line centre IMO.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Problem is his role on the Marlies is entirely different then what he would do if he were on the Leafs.

 

[Kiwi]

Problem is his role on the Marlies is entirely different then what he would do if he were on the Leafs.

Then trade Bozak, if it doesn't work out Marleau can always slot in at 3C for the rest of the season

 

[WTFMAN99]

Then trade Bozak, if it doesn't work out Marleau can always slot in at 3C for the rest of the season

Knock on wood...maybe...if Bozak had been injured this year it would have been a nice opportunity to have seen Aaltonen in that role and to see if he could have filled it interally.

Would have freed us up to move Bozak and then use those assets to get other help.

 

[MR4]

Now up to 31pts in 47 games in the AHL, and he is +26

Komarov-Aaltonen-Kapanen...just sayin!

Wym Komarov-Aaltonen-Kap..... bring up the rest of the Marlies dominant #1 line to play Johnsson-Aalt-Kap and trade out Komarov/Moore/Sosh

 

[Kiwi]

Knock on wood...maybe...if Bozak had been injured this year it would have been a nice opportunity to have seen Aaltonen in that role and to see if he could have filled it interally.

Would have freed us up to move Bozak and then use those assets to get other help.

Moving Bozak to get assets to try to upgrade the defense now or at the draft would be a decent idea, we have two potential replacements in Aaltonen and Marleau in house so it's worth the risk because we're not winning **** with the D the way it is

 

[WTFMAN99]

Moving Bozak to get assets to try to upgrade the defense now or at the draft would be a decent idea, we have two potential replacements in Aaltonen and Marleau in house so it's worth the risk because we're not winning **** with the D the way it is

Don't think they are going to want to mess with that top 6 at this point so Nylander and Marleau our options off the NHL roster to go to 3C aren't really an option.

Aaltonen is basically it at this point for 3C and it's pretty late in the season to experiment with that unless Bozak gets injured.

 

[Kiwi]

Don't think they are going to want to mess with that top 6 at this point so Nylander and Marleau our options off the NHL roster to go to 3C aren't really an option.

Aaltonen is basically it at this point for 3C and it's pretty late in the season to experiment with that unless Bozak gets injured.

If you can get enough assets together with a Bozak trade and add that to what we've got now we have the ability to try to sort out the backend

A defensive upgrade is more important than the risk of Aaltonen not working out on a sheltered 3rd line that's playing 10-14 minutes a night imo

We should roll the dice because what we've got now isn't good enough

 

[rent free]

Then trade Bozak, if it doesn't work out Marleau can always slot in at 3C for the rest of the season

We're not trading bozak to have a guy who's never played in the NHL before to be out 3C. We are trying to win. Why the hell would we do that?

 

[Phion Keneuf]

Johnson-Aaltonen-Kapanen

 

[Kiwi]

We're not trading bozak to have a guy who's never played in the NHL before to be out 3C. We are trying to win. Why the hell would we do that?

Because your not winning **** with that blueline no matter how much people around here want to believe in miracles

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

we should be trying out Johnsson - Aaltonen - Kapanen at the NHL level. if you want a 4th line that's a real threat to score and impact the game, that'll do it

 

[Boutette]

Problem is his role on the Marlies is entirely different then what he would do if he were on the Leafs.

Exactly how different would it be if he and Johnsson replaced Bozak and JVR? They'd go from first line offensive line and PP to sheltered offensive line and PP? All that really needs to be done is to move out the UFAs this year or let them go for next year and slot these two in their stead.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Exactly how different would it be if he and Johnsson replaced Bozak and JVR? They'd go from first line offensive line and PP to sheltered offensive line and PP? All that really needs to be done is to move out the UFAs this year or let them go for next year and slot these two in their stead.

He's probably getting 17-19 minutes and 1st unit PP time on the Marlies right?

On the Leafs, JVR is getting around 10 minutes of ice time a night and Aaltonen wouldn't get 1st unit PP time, if any at all. So Aaltonen could expect 8-12 minutes a night TOI.

 

[BoredBrandonPridham]

Then trade Bozak, if it doesn't work out Marleau can always slot in at 3C for the rest of the season

Because the goal is to get better, not worse.

 

[Boutette]

He's probably getting 17-19 minutes and 1st unit PP time on the Marlies right?

On the Leafs, JVR is getting around 10 minutes of ice time a night and Aaltonen wouldn't get 1st unit PP time, if any at all. So Aaltonen could expect 8-12 minutes a night TOI.

Well, he wouldn't actually be replacing JVR, he'd be replacing Bozak. And his usage would be dependent on being as useless defensively and in helping protect leads as Bozak is. A #2 on the Marlies +26 suggests that he's kinda a little more defensively interested than our current #3 center.

Now of course, promoting Aaltonen means we'll have to find a replacement Aaltonen for the Marlies, but if you can find one, you can find another.

 

[thewave]

He seems like a decent option as the Bozak replacement imo

The biggest problem I can see is the coaches reluctance to give kids a fair shot. Goat was better than Moore, had a bad game and that was it. Sometimes he tries guys on a line for 2 shifts, talk about sample size. He is just uncomfortable with kids period. Nylander can be skating around PPG, not as good as Bozak though. We are thin at C, we need a good C developing but win now and all.

There is being cautious and then there is Babcock.

 

[Macallan18]

Pretty sure Bobcat has 6 years left on his contract after this one, so with no renewal, Aaltonen gets a shot in 2024?
Just kidding.
Maybe as soon as next year? I don't see Nylander going to centre next year. That leaves Matthews and Kadri signed as centres. So, do we re-sign Bozak on a short term friendly contract? If not, maybe that is where he gets his shot. If we do, then Aaltonen may be waiting a while, as I don't think he fits Bobcat's idea of a fourth line centre.

 

[Boutette]

The biggest problem I can see is the coaches reluctance to give kids a fair shot.

There is being cautious and then there is Babcock.

Then why is Kapanen playing instead of Martin? Why has Komarov been moved down to the 4th line?

 

[Boutette]

I don't think he fits Bobcat's idea of a fourth line centre.

Maybe not, But do you really think Moore Bobcat's idea of a fourth line centre either? I do recall him specifically stated during preseason that he liked Aaltonen a lot. With promotions next year likely including Aalt & Johnsson who have seriously ramped up their game, I can see the 3rd/4th lines potentially being interchangeably dangerous offensively while also being defensively conscious. Could make for a very interesting team dynamic.

 

[taurine330]

Then why is Kapanen playing instead of Martin? Why has Komarov been moved down to the 4th line?

Last time I checked Komarov was on the fourth line.

 

[thewave]

Then why is Kapanen playing instead of Martin? Why has Komarov been moved down to the 3rd line?

Let's be honest. Is Kapanen being used right or is he being jerked around. He had 5 pts in 17 games. They had to use Kapanen, like force of hand, had to for optics at this point. This year should be Lou's year to stock the cupboards or consolidate UFA into picks > Super asset acquisition.

These kids need shots in their proper spots before they all start asking trades. Komarov is done. Polak is done, Bozak has miles left but is done here, JVR should be done here for the season at least.