Prospect Info: Jeremy Bracco - RW - Kitchener Rangers

[taurine330]

Bracco is Marner lite minus D play, Kapanen is something we do not have on our roster. Kapanen is 6'1" and the fastest player in the leafs org very good defensively. Kaps speed is comparable with McDavid and he can stick handle with that speed too (not to mcdavids level obviously, before all the kap>Mcdavid derps come out) it would have to be a spectacular d prospect/young roster player to move kap now. Bracco I would trade in a heartbeat we have 3 other Braccos (timashov, Johnnsson, brooks) no other kaps

Well said. I concur.

 

[93LEAFS]

Well said. I concur.

Bracco's similarity with Marner is sometimes overstated. The vision, shot and hands are similar, but Bracco hides from contact. He will drive Babcock absolutely insane if he Babs thinks Willy doesn't compete. I'd love for Bracco to become a great offensive winger for us, but with our coach, I'm not sure if I see a good match. He will really have to up his intensity and willingness to take a hit and dish a hit.

Kapanen, I have high hopes for. I think he could be a deadly forechecker with the tools to be a 25 to 30 goal scorer and third wheel on a high-end line. I'd love to see him on the LW (He's a right shot, but he has a great one timer to receive passes on his off wing) of Matthews and Marner if he can improve his board play and willingness to muck it up down there. His speed is absolutely explosive and could stretch the ice for Marner and Matthews on breakouts. If we are out of playoff contention by the TDL, as I have stated multiple times, I hope Bozak is flipped for a pick and a deadweight forward that can meet expansion requirements (and depending on how bad that person is, another prospect). Willy is then moved to Center and Kapanen is brought up.

 

[Bullseye]

Why does Nashville do it? Do they have that many D that they look to get a couple B level prospect forwards?

What we really need in this team is an anchor for the blueline. When you look at the Marlies, it seems like we got more Gardiner-ish types coming up. That's great, but we need a true shutdown D that can play against top lines. I don't see Kap and Brac getting that done.

Legit question. I think Nashville needs to restock their system with top tier forward prospects. They have a lot of money tied up in defence now and Dante Fabbro now in their system.

They can afford positionally to turn one of the d-men into skilled forward prospects/players. Kapanen is about as close to an NHL top 3/6 forward as a team may be willing to part with.

Win/win for both teams. Kapanen plus plus for a very solid guy like Ellis.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

Bracco is Marner lite minus D play, Kapanen is something we do not have on our roster. Kapanen is 6'1" and the fastest player in the leafs org very good defensively. Kaps speed is comparable with McDavid and he can stick handle with that speed too (not to mcdavids level obviously, before all the kap>Mcdavid derps come out) it would have to be a spectacular d prospect/young roster player to move kap now. Bracco I would trade in a heartbeat we have 3 other Braccos (timashov, Johnnsson, brooks) no other kaps

Marner will go to the net, Bracco is pretty much a perimeter player. Marner has a great, constant motor, Bracco does not. Marner is aggressive on the fore check and back checking to strip players of the puck, Bracco is not.Those are a couple other differences that separate the two.

 

[Donato]

Marner will go to the net, Bracco is pretty much a perimeter player. Marner has a great, constant motor, Bracco does not. Marner is aggressive on the fore check and back checking to strip players of the puck, Bracco is not.Those are a couple other differences that separate the two.

to be fair, watching marner in junior a lot because of a family member playing for london, he took a lot of shifts off believe it or not despite putting up all his points. Dvorak and chucky were guilty of that too.

 

[FriendlyGiant]

Marner will go to the net, Bracco is pretty much a perimeter player. Marner has a great, constant motor, Bracco does not. Marner is aggressive on the fore check and back checking to strip players of the puck, Bracco is not.Those are a couple other differences that separate the two.

I agree with all of this. As much as Bracco has improved since last year, I still have some doubts. An earlier poster suggested that Nashville would be a natural trading partner (with them needing scoring prospects and having a surplus of defense prospects). If Bracco's stock is at a high, I'm wondering if a Bracco for Dante Fabbro trade would be a good trade.

 

[hotpaws]

I agree with all of this. As much as Bracco has improved since last year, I still have some doubts. An earlier poster suggested that Nashville would be a natural trading partner (with them needing scoring prospects and having a surplus of defense prospects). If Bracco's stock is at a high, I'm wondering if a Bracco for Dante Fabbro trade would be a good trade.

for us that would be a great deal , Nash would hang up the phone

 

[Walshy7]

Marner will go to the net, Bracco is pretty much a perimeter player. Marner has a great, constant motor, Bracco does not. Marner is aggressive on the fore check and back checking to strip players of the puck, Bracco is not.Those are a couple other differences that separate the two.

my point was Bracco is a player we can trade and have 2,3,4 payers who play similar, the Marner quote was like we have marner and these other guys bracco is an extra piece to trade. Not that o think bracco is close to marner

 

[highslot]

Bracco is Marner lite minus D play, Kapanen is something we do not have on our roster. Kapanen is 6'1" and the fastest player in the leafs org very good defensively. Kaps speed is comparable with McDavid and he can stick handle with that speed too (not to mcdavids level obviously, before all the kap>Mcdavid derps come out) it would have to be a spectacular d prospect/young roster player to move kap now. Bracco I would trade in a heartbeat we have 3 other Braccos (timashov, Johnnsson, brooks) no other kaps

i disagree.

while kapanen is clearly more valuable at this point for the points you mentioned,
bracco is not only hitting marner like levels, but is the best playmaker in the ohl imo. he's not the equivalent of timashov, johnnson, brooks, just because he has they have done well in junior. his creativity and adjustments seem greater.

i would trade timashov, johnnson and brooks in a heartbeat; at center we have matthews and nylander coming up, kadri and marner if needed. gauthier is there and possibly toninato. timashov and johnnson may crack a top nine, but they may make second line at best. bracco has a higher chance of busting BUT has first line vision imo. he reminds me of a cross between marner and wellwood who would work hard.

 

[Walshy7]

i disagree.

while kapanen is clearly more valuable at this point for the points you mentioned,
bracco is not only hitting marner like levels, but is the best playmaker in the ohl imo. he's not the equivalent of timashov, johnnson, brooks, just because he has they have done well in junior. his creativity and adjustments seem greater.

i would trade timashov, johnnson and brooks in a heartbeat; at center we have matthews and nylander coming up, kadri and marner if needed. gauthier is there and possibly toninato. timashov and johnnson may crack a top nine, but they may make second line at best. bracco has a higher chance of busting BUT has first line vision imo. he reminds me of a cross between marner and wellwood who would work hard.

I wasn't ranking those guys just using them as an example of similar players, trade who ever you like out of them just keep kapanen he is going to be really good.

Just a small note Marner was doing this while being good defensively and even PK duties, Bracco is scared to cross the blueline in his own end he is horrendous defensively babcock will never play him anyway

 

[highslot]

i have no doubt that babcock would rather play hyman or a grinder over bracco, so you could be right that he never makes it. the key to him making the nhl would be if bracco develops an explosive first step and also plays defensively responsibly in his own end.
fortunately, the last two can be developed unlike offensive creativity.

i can say he's developed the consistency so far in offense. so only two checkmarks to go...

 

[Tarmore]

I have not watched Bracco play but he wouldn't be the first player to not have any type of defensive game in junior only to spend a season or two in the A learning one.

There is still hope.

 

[Funk21]

Legit question. I think Nashville needs to restock their system with top tier forward prospects. They have a lot of money tied up in defence now and Dante Fabbro now in their system.

They can afford positionally to turn one of the d-men into skilled forward prospects/players. Kapanen is about as close to an NHL top 3/6 forward as a team may be willing to part with.

Win/win for both teams. Kapanen plus plus for a very solid guy like Ellis.

Sorry but as a leafs fan I have zero interest in Ellis, unless we can trade a bunch of assets to get a potential top 4 maybe number two with size and defensive accumen Around 22-24 I'm not interested.

Ellis in my opinion is a PP specialist who doesn't have size and is sheltered.

 

[lifelonghockeyfan]

If "hometown" means anything, lets's hope the Isles think Bracco is an NHLer. Without expansion protection lists finalized, maybe Hamonic might be the "4" Dman on the Isles. Love to see the Leafs get Hamonic, and the Leafs do have prospects to trade if the Isles rebuild.

Kapanen, 20 year old snipers you don't trade. Leafs have the potential of of some really balanced high scoring lines. And lots of guys of the PP....Nylander, Marner, Matthews, Kapanen. Throw in big bodies, could be a constant top 5 in PP efficiency.

If only the Dman could hit the net with the puck.

 

[Johny Drama]

I have not watched Bracco play but he wouldn't be the first player to not have any type of defensive game in junior only to spend a season or two in the A learning one.

There is still hope.

The good news is that the defensive side of the game is easier to learn than teaching creativity.

Bracco obviously has holes in his game and that's why we were able to get him with the last pick in the 2nd round.

 

[LeafChief]

If "hometown" means anything, lets's hope the Isles think Bracco is an NHLer. Without expansion protection lists finalized, maybe Hamonic might be the "4" Dman on the Isles. Love to see the Leafs get Hamonic, and the Leafs do have prospects to trade if the Isles rebuild.

Kapanen, 20 year old snipers you don't trade. Leafs have the potential of of some really balanced high scoring lines. And lots of guys of the PP....Nylander, Marner, Matthews, Kapanen. Throw in big bodies, could be a constant top 5 in PP efficiency.

If only the Dman could hit the net with the puck.

Bracco does not equal Hamonic (and I love Bracco).

 

[Menzinger]

I have not watched Bracco play but he wouldn't be the first player to not have any type of defensive game in junior only to spend a season or two in the A learning one.

There is still hope.

Below average defensive players can be made to look at least average with the right coaching/development and when paired with the right on ice usage.

Can't teach the type of offensive skills he has

 

[SEER]

He's almost at *2PPG..!

Jeremy Bracco
Right Wing -- shoots R
Born Mar 17 1997 -- Freeport, NY
19 yrs. ago
Height 5.10 -- Weight 190

RECENT STATS:

2015-16 - Boston College - H-East - NCAA
5 Games... 0 Goals... 3 Assists... 3 Points... +3
-------------------------------------------------------------
2015-16 - Kitchener Rangers - OHL
49 Games... 21 Goals... 43 Assists... 64 Points... +15 *PPG+
-------------------------------------------------------------
2016 OHL PLAYOFFS
9 Games... 3 Goals... 11 Assists... 14 Points... +/- 0 *PPG+
-------------------------------------------------------------
*2016-17 - Kitchener Rangers - OHL
27 Games... 17 Goals... 34 Assists... 51 Points... +15 *PPG+

Blue Dream: Jeremy Bracco Extended 2015-16 & 2016-17 Highlights - TML (HD)


​

 

[ponder]

He has skill, but I don't think it's high end enough to make up for his small size and softness at the NHL level. Don't see the Marner comparisons, seems closer to a poor man's Sam Gagner to me. He has a chance to be an NHLer, but I personally think he's a bit of a longshot to have a long NHL career. There are quite a few Leafs prospects that I'm more excited about - guys like Kapanen, Dermott, Nielsen and Gauthier, who I all see as very likely to be full time NHLers. For me Bracco is in the next tier down, with guys like Timashov, Dzierkals, Leivo, Lindberg, Leipsic, Andreas Johnson, Valiev and Loov, guys who might make it, but more likely won't.

 

[Holymakinaw]

He has skill, but I don't think it's high end enough to make up for his small size and softness at the NHL level. Don't see the Marner comparisons, seems closer to a poor man's Sam Gagner to me. He has a chance to be an NHLer, but I personally think he's a bit of a longshot to have a long NHL career. There are quite a few Leafs prospects that I'm more excited about - guys like Kapanen, Dermott, Nielsen and Gauthier, who I all see as very likely to be full time NHLers. For me Bracco is in the next tier down, with guys like Timashov, Dzierkals, Leivo, Lindberg, Leipsic, Andreas Johnson, Valiev and Loov, guys who might make it, but more likely won't.

Is he really THAT small though? He's 5'10" and 190lbs now. He'll have to get tougher for sure, but that's big enough for the NHL.

http://ontariohockeyleague.com/players/7254

 

[Menzinger]

I've got him in the same level as guys like Kapanen/Dermott, essentially the tier of guys just below the blue chips. Have high hopes for him.

 

[Daisy Jane]

I've got him in the same level as guys like Kapanen/Dermott, essentially the tier of guys just below the blue chips. Have high hopes for him.

and we don't even need to sign him right away. because he went to college (though he's in Kitchener now) he's classified as a USA/College prospect. though, Bob thinks the Leafs will ink him to something ths year.

 

[Menzinger]

and we don't even need to sign him right away. because he went to college (though he's in Kitchener now) he's classified as a USA/College prospect. though, Bob thinks the Leafs will ink him to something ths year.

Yep.

Though considering he made an appearance at a Leafs practice at some point this year I suspect Bob may be onto something

 

[Sonny21]

Bracco's similarity with Marner is sometimes overstated. The vision, shot and hands are similar, but Bracco hides from contact. He will drive Babcock absolutely insane if he Babs thinks Willy doesn't compete. I'd love for Bracco to become a great offensive winger for us, but with our coach, I'm not sure if I see a good match. He will really have to up his intensity and willingness to take a hit and dish a hit.

Kapanen, I have high hopes for. I think he could be a deadly forechecker with the tools to be a 25 to 30 goal scorer and third wheel on a high-end line. I'd love to see him on the LW (He's a right shot, but he has a great one timer to receive passes on his off wing) of Matthews and Marner if he can improve his board play and willingness to muck it up down there. His speed is absolutely explosive and could stretch the ice for Marner and Matthews on breakouts.

Agreed. I really hope he continues to work on his consistency, as that has been his biggest negative. If he can also improve his board play and willing to mock it up in dirty areas as you said, that would be fantastic.

Also agree with Marner comparisons (Bracco), don't really see it other then vision/passing.

 

[Caesium]

I am pretty sure that Bracco will be signed and will play in the AHL next season. I expect him to spend two seasons in the A before he gets a sniff in the NHL.