Bracco - PPG in the A @ 21 YO

[ACC1224]

How long until we can realistically expect him to be in the lineup?

 

[Fogelhund]

ppg in the AHL as (an old) 21 year is actually not as good as you may think.

Lots of guys have done it, but they don't necessarily end up as high end offensive guys. Simon Gamache, Eric Fehr, Troy Brouwer, Jeremy Williams (!), Cal O'Reilly, Kyle Wilson, Toni Rajala, Emerson Etem, Ryan Spooner, Jordan Weal, Max Reinhart, Vladislav Namestnikov, Andrei Kostitsyn, Adam Mair, Kyle Wellwood, Rob Schremp, Nathan Gerbe, etc.

Doing it *before* the age of 21 is far more impressive.

Of course it is... but then, did you see Bracco's usage last year? How he was handled?

The guy had some serious holes in his game, mostly defensive and some effort at times... so they put handcuffs on him, until that side of his game came around. He played lower down the lineup, and wasn't given much in the way of opportunities.

I'm not saying that he's going to be a star, or anything, but I think he has the opportunity to be a pretty good player, if he keeps working.

 

[Orfieus]

Im not convinced his game will translate to the NHL level. Hope im wrong

I watch the Marlies all the time and I can't shake this feeling as well. He got 3 assists last night but really only made 1 nice play

 

[nsleaf]

Time will tell.
Future: The time you’ll wish you’d done more in the current present.

 

[ACC1224]

I watch the Marlies all the time and I can't shake this feeling as well. He got 3 assists last night but really only made 1 nice play

OP should add a poll.

 

[robertmac43]

Needs more goals, his AHL line looks like that of a top AHL D-Man

Meh he has never been known for scoring. He is the definition of a pass first player

 

[ACC1224]

Meh he has never been known for scoring. He is the definition of a pass first player

Reminds me a bit of Wellwood before he discovered Twinkies.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

I watch the Marlies all the time and I can't shake this feeling as well. He got 3 assists last night but really only made 1 nice play

that happens in the NHL all the time

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Remember when "Marner should shoot more!"

Does he have a shot? I don't mean to be promoted, I mean a NHL caliber shot?

not a good one, but I think he'll be able to use his shot to beat NHL goalies with some consistency. He hardly ever uses it though

 

[robertmac43]

Skip to 7:24, my favourite goal Bracco scored as a Ranger. He is definitely a pass first player but he does actually have a good shot. Just needs to get stronger as he continues to progress.

 

[Man Bear Pig]

I think hes a future PP specialist type. He'll get a crack at the NHL level, just not sure it'll be here. Now may be the time to look at moving him tbh.

 

[ErnieLeafs]

Reminds me a bit of Wellwood before he discovered Twinkies.

Played with Welly growing up. Good comp. so much talent went to waste there.

 

[Spirit of 67]

Im not convinced his game will translate to the NHL level. Hope im wrong

I think he will score just fine at the NHL level. Certainly enough to carve out a career.
It's his compete in one on one battles and all that stuff that Babs loves that will keep him from being a Leaf. He will be dealt at some point in the not too distant future.

 

[robertmac43]

It's his compete in one on one battles and all that stuff that Babs loves that will keep him from being a Leaf. He will be dealt at some point in the not too distant future.

The Rangers GM once said that Bracco is a great hockey player but he is fat and lazy and needs to choose if he is going to be a pro. Obviously that was a while ago and a lot has changed since Junior, but still not what Babs would be wanting to hear.

 

[ryno23]

is Debrincat any different than Bracco? They are both small shifty players. Debrincat numbers were better in the O cause he was playing with McDavid one year then Strome one year. Bracco didn't really play with anyone in Kitchener.

 

[saltming]

I watch the Marlies all the time and I can't shake this feeling as well. He got 3 assists last night but really only made 1 nice play

So you're saying he's sneaky good?

 

[Liminality]

I think he's a very Marner-lite type player but in Bracco's case he might be a top 6 or nothing type of guy. Maybe 3rd line with Kadri if things change.
I'd agree with his trade value being bumped up to a point where he might garner some interest in a package. Can't see him beating out our current wingers for spots unless they price themselves out.

 

[Duke Silver]

Im not convinced his game will translate to the NHL level. Hope im wrong

My thoughts as well. Feels like his trajectory is going to be like Leipsic's: certainly not a player on a Babcock team, but might jump around from team to team, then probably Europe by age 25-26.

 

[GoldenGOOSE]

Pretty awesome to have Bracco, Grundstrom, and Marchment to possibly bring up for the playoffs.


Never seen this kind of depth since I have been following the Leafs.

And bake Liljegren and Sandin a lot please.

 

[Beyonder91]

He is too slow. I've been to many Marlies games and he honestly doesn't stand out. Is decent on the power play though.

 

[Beyonder91]

My thoughts as well. Feels like his trajectory is going to be like Leipsic's: certainly not a player on a Babcock team, but might jump around from team to team, then probably Europe by age 25-26.

Leipsic is a much better skater.

 

[Beyonder91]

is Debrincat any different than Bracco? They are both small shifty players. Debrincat numbers were better in the O cause he was playing with McDavid one year then Strome one year. Bracco didn't really play with anyone in Kitchener.

Debrincat is a natural goal scorer and a better skater. Bracco is a natural playmaker and slower. Completely different players.

 

[aingefan]

Isn’t he buddies with Auston?
Isn’t Auston more of a goal-scoring machine?
This team’s gonna be running three high octane offensive lines for a long time.
I can see a Kadri-Matthews-Bracco line. a JT-Mariner line, and Nylander line with AJ, Kap, Grundstrom, Engvall, Korshkov...whoever.
But there’s gonna have to be some dudes on ELC’s in there...I don’t see why he can’t be one of ‘em.

 

[lifelonghockeyfan]

It looks like he has finally "got it" at the AHL. Now if/when he graduates to the NHL will he "get it". We'll see, the NHL is so much superior to the AHL in talent level. But good for him, there is hope he's going to be an NHLEr.

 

[CarterD]

I feel like Bracco will never catch on with the Leafs. That's not a shot at him - I think he'll be a solid 3rd liner/PP in the NHL but I just don't think it will be with the Leafs.

He's a good enough prospect to help you either trade a bad contract (Zaits) or help you bring in a highend rosyer player (with other parts obv)