Grading Leafs 2019 Draft

[BrainyBomber]

I know what was posted .

I'll try and simplify it for you.

1. IMO, it's too early to anoint 2019 some great success or failure for that matter.
2. Lou Lam has nothing to do with Dubas who should stand on him own merit.

Somehow this drove you to the conclusion that 'he should be fired already'.

Right so you don't you refute that you have never given Dubas any credit for anything. One would logically conclude that you want him fired then.

 

[ACC1224]

Right so you don't you refute that you have never given Dubas any credit for anything. One would logically conclude that you want him fired then.

I ignored that because it's not true and had nothing to do with my post.
No idea why you'd pretend to recall every one of my posts.
Seems pretty odd.

 

[BrainyBomber]

I ignored that because it's not true and had nothing to do with my post.
No idea why you'd pretend to recall every one of my posts.
Seems pretty odd.

If you say so but I've just never seen you ever give Dubas any credit even though you post all the time.
Seems pretty odd.

It is relevant because it would affect why you are so dismissive of a good evaluation of our last draft.

If you do claim impartiality then can you say anything positive about Dubas now?

 

[ACC1224]

If you say so but I've just never seen you ever give Dubas any credit even though you post all the time.
Seems pretty odd.

It is relevant because it would affect why you are so dismissive of a good evaluation of our last draft.

If you do claim impartiality then can you say anything positive about Dubas now?

I'm dismissive of every draft evaluation before the 1st year is complete.
Mike from Buffalo is not someone I would look to for player evaluation which is another reason to be dismissive of it.

Sandin looks like a good pick from his draft year.
Campbell trade, while long overdue was a good one.
I like Muzzin.

In your haste to defend all things Dubas, real or imagined, you probably overlooked the fact that I haven't been critical of Dubas in this thread.

 

[Menzinger]

Early days still, but few folks should have much to complain about so far

Robertson is tracking to be one of the teams best 2nd round picks in a decade +

 

[kb]

This pandemic has saved the embarassment Lou was about to have on the Isles. They were in callapse mode.

Absolute freefall.

 

[Gabriel426]

Still early but just having Robertson is a huge win already. I read somewhere Robertson only made the draft last yr by a few days and if he is the draft this year, he will be top 5

 

[kb]

overall a F
Needs major improvement.

lol

Speaking of needing major improvement....

 

[Mr Hockey]

Will let you know in 3 or 4 years, Robertson kid looks like a gem

 

[Kiwi]

Early days still, but few folks should have much to complain about so far

Robertson is tracking to be one of the teams best 2nd round picks in a decade +

Some of those mid round picks are tracking really nicely as well, based on the picks we had available I think the recent draft is about the best you could hope for a year on if your being realistic

 

[BrainyBomber]

Led by Robertson, reasons for optimism emanate from Leafs' draft class of 2019
Toronto Sun
Terry Koshan
March 26, 2020

As it turned out, that the Maple Leafs didn’t have a first-round pick in the National Hockey League draft last year didn’t matter much.

The Leafs departed Vancouver last June with a six-pack of prospects, each giving John Lilley, the club’s director of amateur scouting, a sense of optimism.

The three forwards and three defencemen chosen by the Leafs progressed by varying degrees during the 2019-20 season, though no one could have predicted what Nick Robertson accomplished with the Peterborough Petes, scoring 55 goals to lead the Canadian Hockey League, while seemingly putting himself in contention for a job with the Leafs once training camp for the next season begins.

Had NHL clubs been given an inkling of what Robertson was going to do, there’s no way he would have slipped to deep in the second round, where the Leafs made him their first pick in the draft with the 53rd selection.

We know now that players in junior hockey and at the collegiate level are done for this season because of the coronavirus pandemic. With that in mind, we asked Lilley to give a synopsis on each of the Leafs’ six picks of a year ago and how each performed this past winter.

“It’s a long road, but they all have a chance to be NHL players, which is all you can ask for after one year,” Lilley said. “We’re happy with the class.”

Nick Robertson, forward, Peterborough Petes, OHL
In brief: Robertson, the owner of an NHL-ready shot and deceptiveness, among other attributes, would have topped 60 goals and likely more had he not missed a month with a broken finger. He had 86 points in 46 games.

Lilley: “One of the reasons we had him very high on our list and were fortunate to get him at 53 was the type of person he is and the character and drive and will to exceed he has, and that’s something that really stood out. Everyone knew he could produce offence. He put the work in to become better defensively and really became good at stripping pucks. He put the work in to become more of a complete player. When you play like that, you tend to have the puck more. Certainly, we expected he would have a spike in his production, but he exceeded our expectations with that type of goal scoring.”

Mikko Kokkonen, defence, Jukurit, Liiga
In brief: Kokkonen, taken 84th, had 10 points in 39 games and played for Finland at the world junior, scoring twice in seven games. Missed some time to start the season because of injury.

Lilley: “As a 19-year-old playing in the Finnish pro league, it’s tough to earn your minutes and when you don’t start the season on time, you’re a little bit behind, but I think he caught up and think he had a good year overall. He’s not going to wow you with flashy plays, but he is efficient. Staying healthy and getting a full season in the pro league and earning minutes with men next season will be the goal for him.”

Mikhail Abramov, forward, Victoriaville, QMJHL
In brief: After the Leafs chose him 115th, Abramov excelled, putting up 76 points, including 35 goals, in 63 games to finish 15th in QMJHL scoring. The Leafs signed Abramov to a three-year entry-level contact on March 10.

Lilley: “He was a leader on that team on the ice, another guy who saw his confidence grow as the year went on. He improved too with his overall game. I thought he got better playing away from the puck and with his defensive responsibilities. A good year.”

Nick Abruzzese, forward, Harvard, NCAA
In brief: Taken 124th, Abruzzese had 14 goals and 30 assists in 31 games, his 44 points leading the ECAC and tying him for second overall in NCAA scoring. Named ECAC rookie of the year.

Lilley: “Very happy … we thought highly of him, but he has exceeded all expectations, especially statistically. He went through a couple of drafts, he was overlooked a little bit. But he is driven, he is smart and he is competitive and that really showed. We’re really excited about his season and his development.”

Mike Koster, defence, Tri-City, USHL
In brief: Picked 146th, Koster had 18 points (three goals and 15 assists) in 37 games after making full transition to USHL from high school hockey. Start slowed by ankle injury. Slated to attend University of Minnesota next season.

Lilley: “He had a good season in the USHL. It is a jump with the everyday grind from high school hockey with the everyday grind. He had a good year, moved pucks well, played on the power play, thought he was solid.”

Kalle Loponen, defence, Sudbury, OHL
In brief: The last Leafs pick, taken 204th, Loponen decided to play in the OHL rather than with Karpat of the Liiga in Finland. Had 24 points (six goals and 18 assists) in 56 games with the Wolves.

Lilley: “Give him credit — they have a good system in Finland and he chose to come over to Ontario. That’s a big step. Right there, you know he wants to be a hockey player and he wants to come to North America and learn. It took him some time to get adjusted to the smaller rink, but over the course of the year he steadily improved and earned a few more minutes as the season went on.”

https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/led-by-robertson-reasons-for-optimism-emanate-from-leafs-draft-class-of-2019

 

[deletethis]

3 quality skill forward prospects, 1 of which has top of the draft table finish
2 Finnish defensemen not doing particularly well
1 indeterminate pre-NCAA defenseman who skates well

Not a fan of the Kokkonen prospect in particular. His skating looks way off pro level.

 

[ULF_55]

Early days but despite no 1st rounder Dubas certainly looks to have made a bumper haul in last years draft:

First Maple Leafs 2019 Draft Pick: Nick Robertson
In short (no pun intended for the under-sized Maple Leafs prospect), Robertson had big goal numbers and small game numbers. Grade A.

Second Maple Leafs 2019 Draft Pick: Mikko Kokkonen
In short, Kokkonen’s scoring and overall game have been improving because he’s young and playing at a high level in Finland. Grade B+.

Third Maple Leafs 2019 Draft Pick: Mikhail Abramov
In short, Abramov might not have the overall skills of a first-round draft pick, but he has enough vision and hockey sense that the Maple Leafs were willing to sign on the dotted line. Obviously, they believe he has a chance to play in the NHL. Grade A-.

2019 Draft Pick #4: Nick Abruzzese
In short, drafting Nick Abruzzese in the fourth round of the 2019 draft was a win for the Maple Leafs. Grade: A

2019 Draft Pick #5: Michael Koster
In short, it was a season where Koster was injured and didn’t play to past performances. Grade: B

2019 Draft Pick #6: Kalle Loponen
In short, we don’t know enough yet about how Loponen’s game might transition to higher levels. Grade: C

From:
https://thehockeywriters.com/maple-leafs-2019-draft-class-review/
https://thehockeywriters.com/maple-leafs-2019-draft-abruzzese-koster-loponen/

Early days still, but few folks should have much to complain about so far

Robertson is tracking to be one of the teams best 2nd round picks in a decade +

I look at as evaluating the draft, not the player. After a single season it looks like a good result.

Yeah, considering where Robertson was drafted I was wondering if there is no such thing as a A+? Drafting perhaps the best goal scorer where they did is very good, not sure how they could have done better than best?

Like looking at older drafts, Gunnarsson should be an A pick, Gauthier would be a C. Both are NHL players, but when you get one in the 7th. round and one in the 1st. your expectations and evaluations of the draft, is what you're doing not the evaluation of the player. Gunnarsson isn't an A player, but drafting him in the 7th. round is exceptional.

 

[BrainyBomber]

Yes good point the grades should be reflective of where the player was picked.

Overall and so far easily one of the best drafts in the league.

Extremely rare for this franchise.

 

[Menzinger]

I look at as evaluating the draft, not the player. After a single season it looks like a good result.

Yeah, considering where Robertson was drafted I was wondering if there is no such thing as a A+? Drafting perhaps the best goal scorer where they did is very good, not sure how they could have done better than best?

Like looking at older drafts, Gunnarsson should be an A pick, Gauthier would be a C. Both are NHL players, but when you get one in the 7th. round and one in the 1st. your expectations and evaluations of the draft, is what you're doing not the evaluation of the player. Gunnarsson isn't an A player, but drafting him in the 7th. round is exceptional.

I think thats an interesting way of looking at thibgs.

I thought a guy like Bracco was an excellent draft choice to gamble on though he obviously looks like he wont be much of an NHLer. Other guys like Gauthier or Korshkov i really was not fans of even early on as prsopects

 

[The Shadow]

This is incredible. Just shows how important more picks are and also just as if not important to develop them properly. That’s what I think a lot of teams mess up on.

 

[Halla]

You cant blame every mistake KD makes on lou. It doesnt work that way.

KD traded both 1st round picks away and yet, as a team, we regressed.

one of the picks was traded to fix a lou mistake (marleau) and he managed to dump another lou mistake (zaitsev) without giving up a pick.

Dubas more than made up for trading a 1st for muzzin by drafting a guy late 2nd that would be top 15 in a redraft

get off his back dude

 

[Halla]

anyone else think dubas would have taken Debrincat over Korshkov? lol

Dude doesnt undervalue small guys in the least. Robertson has top 10 talent

 

[Rogue Leader]

That usually means you are a contender...if that makes you feel shame you might be more an Ottawa kind of guy....

You know I follow you dude ... but we are a contender to get to the second round of the playoffs ... that's what we contend for from so many years .... so far all those first and seconds (Boyle / turtleneck) haven't helped us ...

 

[BlueBaron]

You know I follow you dude ... but we are a contender to get to the second round of the playoffs ... that's what we contend for from so many years .... so far all those first and seconds (Boyle / turtleneck) haven't helped us ...

What can I say? Hang in there. At least we get the full 7 every time

 

[darrylsittler27]

I want us to stop trading picks away and go back to accumulating them and or prospects. Take that for what you will but the pool is too thin.

 

[Rogue Leader]

What can I say? Hang in there. At least we get the full 7 every time

Yeah ... I have a great feeling we will get them next time! It's just a matter of time to make a deep run (which we deserve!!!).

 

[BlueBaron]

Yeah ... I have a great feeling we will get them next time! It's just a matter of time to make a deep run (which we deserve!!!).

I BeLeaf!

 

[Lil Tuzzi Bert]

Pretty sure Robertson had more than just 50 goals this year and Abramov is 5’11 closer to 6’0 other than that good report