Prospect Info: Discussion: Prospects and Marlies Thread ‎VII

[67Cup]

I am going to rate prospects slightly differently, not just by tiers but by categories. I am not including all possible prospects, just the top handful, at most, in each group.

Overall Top Tier
The best in each major category... The envelope please!
Kapanen. Number one forward by far and clearly number one prospect overall. But I think for that reason he is also the prospect other GM's will press hardest for in potential trades.
Nielsen, NHL size and offensive touch, probably top blueline prospect though I don't know how management compares him to Dermott.
Woll, top goalie prospect, performing very well as a true freshman in the NCAA

Top Minor Pro Prospects

Offensive Wingers
Brendan Leipsic. Though Leipsic belongs in this category because of his scoring rank, he may be the top prospect in this category because he looks like he doesn't need to be in the top six to contribute in the NHL
Andreas Johnsson. I put him here because of his Euro career. It may take a while with the Marlies before he can be assessed at all accurately.
Kerry Rychel and Tobias Lindberg are in direct competition for the big winger with some grit role that the Leafs may need to fill. I haven't seen enough of them to distinguish between them. If Leivo ends up as a regular, their path to employment with the Leafs gets more complicated
Dmitro Timashov. On here because he looked so dangerous as a junior more than because of his performance with the Marlies so far

Defensive Forward
This category matters to Mike Babcock. See Ben Smith
Frederik Gauthier. Yes, the Goat is a top player in this category and will supplant Smith a PK and defensive specialist sometime in the next year, IMO. He has a better chance of being an NHL regular than many others on this list.

Defense
Travis Dermott. A few years ago we would be pretty excited about Dermott as a prospect. Now, he is down the list a bit. But honestly, what more could be reasonably expected of an early second rounder in his first pro year?
Rinat Valiev. To me, he passes the eyeball test as a combination of skating, size, strength and even positioning.
Viktor Loov. There are lots of players of his type, good AHLers who, with a little luck could perform at the bottom six level in the NHL. They need a little luck to get the extended opportunity to prove they can do the latter. Will Loov get that luck? And, if so, will it be with the Leafs?

Junior
Martins Dzierkals. I put him number one here for the same reason I put Leipsic as number one in his category. He doesn't need to be in the top six to contribute.
Jeremy Bracco. He is performing very well with Kitchener but is in tough in the organization because of the number of other young offensively skilled wingers with the Leafs or in the pipeline. I could see him sweetening a trade for, say, a defenseman.
Adam Brooks. He is performing very well in junior, albeit as an overager, and, besides, how many centers who are good on the PK but also display offensive skill are there in the system?

NCAA
Woll is not only the best goaltender in the system, he is the best Leaf college prospect. But there is also
J. D. Greenaway. I think Greenaway has the best combination of tools in the system among defensemen, size, skating, hands etc. Will he show he has the toolbox.

Europe
Yegor Korshkov and Carl Grundstrom. As with Rychel and Lindberg, I haven't seen enough to distinguish between them, but their numbers certainly look impressive for young players, so far this year.

 

[Bullseye]

I am going to rate prospects slightly differently, not just by tiers but by categories. I am not including all possible prospects, just the top handful, at most, in each group.

Overall Top Tier
The best in each major category... The envelope please!
Kapanen. Number one forward by far and clearly number one prospect overall. But I think for that reason he is also the prospect other GM's will press hardest for in potential trades.
Nielsen, NHL size and offensive touch, probably top blueline prospect though I don't know how management compares him to Dermott.
Woll, top goalie prospect, performing very well as a true freshman in the NCAA

Top Minor Pro Prospects

Offensive Wingers
Brendan Leipsic. Though Leipsic belongs in this category because of his scoring rank, he may be the top prospect in this category because he looks like he doesn't need to be in the top six to contribute in the NHL
Andreas Johnsson. I put him here because of his Euro career. It may take a while with the Marlies before he can be assessed at all accurately.
Kerry Rychel and Tobias Lindberg are in direct competition for the big winger with some grit role that the Leafs may need to fill. I haven't seen enough of them to distinguish between them. If Leivo ends up as a regular, their path to employment with the Leafs gets more complicated
Dmitro Timashov. On here because he looked so dangerous as a junior more than because of his performance with the Marlies so far

Defensive Forward
This category matters to Mike Babcock. See Ben Smith
Frederik Gauthier. Yes, the Goat is a top player in this category and will supplant Smith a PK and defensive specialist sometime in the next year, IMO. He has a better chance of being an NHL regular than many others on this list.

Defense
Travis Dermott. A few years ago we would be pretty excited about Dermott as a prospect. Now, he is down the list a bit. But honestly, what more could be reasonably expected of an early second rounder in his first pro year?
Rinat Valiev. To me, he passes the eyeball test as a combination of skating, size, strength and even positioning.
Viktor Loov. There are lots of players of his type, good AHLers who, with a little luck could perform at the bottom six level in the NHL. They need a little luck to get the extended opportunity to prove they can do the latter. Will Loov get that luck? And, if so, will it be with the Leafs?

Junior
Martins Dzierkals. I put him number one here for the same reason I put Leipsic as number one in his category. He doesn't need to be in the top six to contribute.
Jeremy Bracco. He is performing very well with Kitchener but is in tough in the organization because of the number of other young offensively skilled wingers with the Leafs or in the pipeline. I could see him sweetening a trade for, say, a defenseman.
Adam Brooks. He is performing very well in junior, albeit as an overager, and, besides, how many centers who are good on the PK but also display offensive skill are there in the system?

NCAA
Woll is not only the best goaltender in the system, he is the best Leaf college prospect. But there is also
J. D. Greenaway. I think Greenaway has the best combination of tools in the system among defensemen, size, skating, hands etc. Will he show he has the toolbox.

Europe
Yegor Korshkov and Carl Grundstrom. As with Rychel and Lindberg, I haven't seen enough to distinguish between them, but their numbers certainly look impressive for young players, so far this year.

Excellent work here. I enjoyed reading all this and I don't have any major challenges to your list. The most controversial for Leaf fans is Gauthier but I think you nailed it - he has all the things that Babcock loves - defensive acumen - a love playing a team winning rather personal stat game. You know who's going on the ice with 2 minutes left and not coming off in Babcock's future - Freddy The Goat.

 

[Walshy7]

I am going to rate prospects slightly differently, not just by tiers but by categories. I am not including all possible prospects, just the top handful, at most, in each group.

Overall Top Tier
The best in each major category... The envelope please!
Kapanen. Number one forward by far and clearly number one prospect overall. But I think for that reason he is also the prospect other GM's will press hardest for in potential trades.
Nielsen, NHL size and offensive touch, probably top blueline prospect though I don't know how management compares him to Dermott.
Woll, top goalie prospect, performing very well as a true freshman in the NCAA

Top Minor Pro Prospects

Offensive Wingers
Brendan Leipsic. Though Leipsic belongs in this category because of his scoring rank, he may be the top prospect in this category because he looks like he doesn't need to be in the top six to contribute in the NHL
Andreas Johnsson. I put him here because of his Euro career. It may take a while with the Marlies before he can be assessed at all accurately.
Kerry Rychel and Tobias Lindberg are in direct competition for the big winger with some grit role that the Leafs may need to fill. I haven't seen enough of them to distinguish between them. If Leivo ends up as a regular, their path to employment with the Leafs gets more complicated
Dmitro Timashov. On here because he looked so dangerous as a junior more than because of his performance with the Marlies so far

Defensive Forward
This category matters to Mike Babcock. See Ben Smith
Frederik Gauthier. Yes, the Goat is a top player in this category and will supplant Smith a PK and defensive specialist sometime in the next year, IMO. He has a better chance of being an NHL regular than many others on this list.

Defense
Travis Dermott. A few years ago we would be pretty excited about Dermott as a prospect. Now, he is down the list a bit. But honestly, what more could be reasonably expected of an early second rounder in his first pro year?
Rinat Valiev. To me, he passes the eyeball test as a combination of skating, size, strength and even positioning.
Viktor Loov. There are lots of players of his type, good AHLers who, with a little luck could perform at the bottom six level in the NHL. They need a little luck to get the extended opportunity to prove they can do the latter. Will Loov get that luck? And, if so, will it be with the Leafs?

Junior
Martins Dzierkals. I put him number one here for the same reason I put Leipsic as number one in his category. He doesn't need to be in the top six to contribute.
Jeremy Bracco. He is performing very well with Kitchener but is in tough in the organization because of the number of other young offensively skilled wingers with the Leafs or in the pipeline. I could see him sweetening a trade for, say, a defenseman.
Adam Brooks. He is performing very well in junior, albeit as an overager, and, besides, how many centers who are good on the PK but also display offensive skill are there in the system?

NCAA
Woll is not only the best goaltender in the system, he is the best Leaf college prospect. But there is also
J. D. Greenaway. I think Greenaway has the best combination of tools in the system among defensemen, size, skating, hands etc. Will he show he has the toolbox.

Europe
Yegor Korshkov and Carl Grundstrom. As with Rychel and Lindberg, I haven't seen enough to distinguish between them, but their numbers certainly look impressive for young players, so far this year.

not a nielsen fan? he is playing really well. In the one marlies game i ahve been to (home opener) Nielsen was quite a bit better than Dermott

 

[kk87]

not a nielsen fan? he is playing really well. In the one marlies game i ahve been to (home opener) Nielsen was quite a bit better than Dermott

He has Nielsen in his top tier.

Good breakdown by the way!

 

[Ramboshaw]

Bracco 3G 1A tonight.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Bracco 3G 1A tonight.

Isn't even in the three stars. Decided to give it to Mascherin, who only had 1 G and 2A, then a young guy who had 2G and 2A and a defenseman with 1G and 2A. Bracco with a hat trick probably should have been 1st star... But nah I guess

 

[Battle Lin]

whats with the marlies scheduling, they take a week off then play back to backs, then off for a week then play back to backs

 

[93LEAFS]

whats with the marlies scheduling, they take a week off then play back to backs, then off for a week then play back to backs

That's how the AHL tends to be scheduled. AHL teams tend not to do well on weekday gates

 

[Giuseppe Sallo]

Accurate list. Woll intrigues me... Who scouted him?

Leipsic will prove the doubters just like marner has. Little guys can do it BIG!

 

[taurine330]

Isn't even in the three stars. Decided to give it to Mascherin, who only had 1 G and 2A, then a young guy who had 2G and 2A and a defenseman with 1G and 2A. Bracco with a hat trick probably should have been 1st star... But nah I guess

Man, how many goals they score per game in the OHL?

 

[93LEAFS]

Accurate list. Woll intrigues me... Who scouted him?

Leipsic will prove the doubters just like marner has. Little guys can do it BIG!

Well, he was rotating with Oettinger at the U-18, and both Hunter and Lou were there, so you would think they got viewings. He played for the USNDP, so I would guess most of our top scouts had a viewing, particularly Hunter. My guess would be the key guys on it were our goalie coach (most teams use their goalie coach as a goalie scout) and Lindsay Hofford (Hunter's right-hand man dating back to London). But, I would guess most of our scouts saw him due to the U-18's, and him playing for a top-end program that would be cross checked. We also drafted Greenway, and with the magnitude of talent there and possessing picks, the USNDP required a bunch of viewings due to potential high picks like Clayton Keller, Bellows, etc.

 

[AlienWorkShop]

How has Trevor Moore looked? I thought he was just a Marlies signing, but double-checking he was signed by the Leafs to a 3-year ELC, so he should be thought of as a prospect. 3pts in 8 GP so far.

 

[Walshy7]

He has Nielsen in his top tier.

Good breakdown by the way!

Haha you wouldn't believe how many times I read it thinking "how can he forget Nielsen" at least 4 times. Turns out I can't read.

Also agree great write up

 

[RyanOhReally]

How has Trevor Moore looked? I thought he was just a Marlies signing, but double-checking he was signed by the Leafs to a 3-year ELC, so he should be thought of as a prospect. 3pts in 8 GP so far.

He's been alright from what I've seen. Kind of stuck on the bottom 6 when he gets in and I believe they have him on the wing as well. I think he's a player who will take this year to adjust to the pro game and then really start rolling next year when top 6 spots are open to grab. I'd really like to see him with Bracco on his wing next year.

 

[Johny Drama]

Dzierkals is a lot sexier a prospect than Connor Brown.

He's produced nicely and is a much better skater than Brown is. Connor Brown may end up having a much better junior career than Dzierkals but that doesn't mean he's the better prospect. Dzierkals is on pace for an almost identical 19 year old season as David Krejci. Brown's numbers as a 19 year old were significantly better than Krejci but I don't think anyone expects him to be nearly as good as Krejci. Dzierkals could easily be up there with Kapanen, in terms of potential. He's just a more complete package as a prospect.

Disagree. Brown has produced at every level he has played but generally takes a bit of time to figure it out. I actually thought he would be on the Marlies this year, but seems to be getting better and better every game. I like Dzerkals a lot, but Brown is pretty under-rated and already looks like a top 6 forward IMO.

 

[zeke]

Brown was a far better prospect than dzierkas is. Much better producer, much more complete game.

Dzierkals doesn't even look like a legit prospect at this point. He's a one dimensional skill player who doesn't put up enough points to project nhl success from.

 

[Johny Drama]

Brown was a far better prospect than dzierkas is. Much better producer, much more complete game.

Dzierkals doesn't even look like a legit prospect at this point. He's a one dimensional skill player who doesn't put up enough points to project nhl success from.

I guess that's it then....Dzerkals will never amount to much...LOL

 

[zeke]

we have to be realistic.

we have a crapton of good prospects. but dzierkals isn't one of them.

 

[Walshy7]

we have to be realistic.

we have a crapton of good prospects. but dzierkals isn't one of them.

dzierkals is a very good prospect he is not just a scoring winger he is pretty physical and pretty good defensively. I would say all our wing prospects in junior have the same chance to succeed whether they are 2ppg (bracco) or closer to 1ppg.

 

[RyanOhReally]

Dzierkals reminds me of a Kadri-lite. He has a lot of tools. He really is a treat to watch. Anyone who doesn't think he's a good prospect just hasn't seen him play.

 

[zeke]

oh i've seen his sexy moves.

that doesn't make him a prospect, though.

 

[kk87]

oh i've seen his sexy moves.

that doesn't make him a prospect, though.

Nope. The fact that we drafted him two years ago and currently have him in our system makes him a prospect

 

[Stringer Bell]

oh i've seen his sexy moves.

that doesn't make him a prospect, though.

He's actually a good prospect. People here aren't talking about his sexy moves. They're talking about his overall game. He plays a very NHL transferable game, plays both ends of the rink, goes to the corners, etc. Points aren't everything. They're not nothing either. He's not two points per game but he's not Tyler Biggs either. Points don't tell the whole story here. McKegg scoring 50 goals in 66 games post draft didn't make him a great prospect. Points matter, but they're not everything. And he IS scoring points.

I usually agree with you but don't pretend like you've watched him when you haven't. It's embarrassing.

 

[zeke]

mckegg was a better prospect.

 

[Stringer Bell]

mckegg was a better prospect.

All right. Agree to disagree there. I always had high hopes for McKegg but I vividly recall very few scouts seeing much in him. How many draft eligible players who put up 37 goals and 85 points go in the 3rd round?