stickty111
Registered User
- Jan 23, 2017
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Confirmed with Link: Leafs sign Nick Abruzzese to a two-year ELC
- Thread starter SprDaVE
- Start date
riffle
Registered User
I like that Keefe spent some time on ZZ Top without being specifically asked about him. He can pass it for sure and looks to be a good decision-maker. Seems allergic to shooting it and doesn't keep it on his stick very long always looking to get it somewhere else. He also can't wait to get off the ice. Not the kind of guy to milk his shift.
To me, it looks like he doesn't feel like he belongs, yet. Hopefully, the comfort and confidence isn't too far behind for him. Guy needs to play with someone who can score like centering 88.
Teeder Keon
Defeat does not rest lightly on their shoulders
After watching these clips , I’m more impressed than I originally thought .
Very nice little plays and intelligence and quickness .
Thank you for that …
I think Nick is just adapting to the speed of the game. There is little room at this level to make plays when you don't have the speed or strength to burn guys. Sheldon said it perfectly with his quote yesterday. His IQ is making up for his lack of speed. I really think this little end of year stint is going to do him wonders. He knows what the benchmark is now. He'll get an entire offseason to train and there will be no anxiety or guessing on what is going to be expected of him at camp next year.
I think he has looked more and more comfortable with each passing game, but he will need to do more offensively in the long run to make the NHL. Which I suspect he will.
The Blueprint
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- Dec 4, 2018
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Really liked his game last night. You can tell he's got a good mind for the game. Quick decision making, gets open for passes, no long shifts, defensively aware.
Definitely needs some seasoning and to work on his foot speed, but he could be a player for us. Middle 6 winger with PP2 potential maybe? A season with the Marlies would be good for him to see where he's at.
Definitely needs some seasoning and to work on his foot speed, but he could be a player for us. Middle 6 winger with PP2 potential maybe? A season with the Marlies would be good for him to see where he's at.
saffronleaf
Registered User
WOW has he done nothing, like a shocking amount of nothing, I know it's a short sample size but there have been games where I haven't even heard his name mentioned until the 3rd period
he's played 6 games and has generated 0 offense, I know there ismore to hockey than offense but 0? 0 offense?
he's not on the PP, he's not on the PK he doesn't score 5 on 5, he doesn't hit, he doesn't fight, he doesn't block shots
he's Josh Leivo when Josh Leivo was a Leaf
I use to call him Josh "do nothing" Levio because he did nothing
this dude has contributed nothing
he can't be in the playoff lineup
he's played 6 games and has generated 0 offense, I know there ismore to hockey than offense but 0? 0 offense?
he's not on the PP, he's not on the PK he doesn't score 5 on 5, he doesn't hit, he doesn't fight, he doesn't block shots
he's Josh Leivo when Josh Leivo was a Leaf
I use to call him Josh "do nothing" Levio because he did nothing
this dude has contributed nothing
he can't be in the playoff lineup
riffle
Registered User
I remember the outcry when Josh Leivo left. Like WTF? He was useless.
riffle
Registered User
I thought he was going vs. Florida, but he is going vs Caps. Gotta play that "heavy" style Abruzzese is known for against those Capitals. Probably have him tracking Wilson all night. The volleyball, not Tom.
HEAVY DUTY
Thanks to denial, I’m immortal.
2 Slick
Registered User
Teeder Keon
Defeat does not rest lightly on their shoulders
Seasoning and a rub and dipped in herbs and spices , slow cooked for years maybe
I know its early , I actually think they are doing him a disservice this early in his career
I don’t know though
Stephen
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Just doesn't seem like it's fair to the player to go from being a mid round pick and coming out of college to being tested on the first line. It's not like Abruzzese is a blue chip first rounder or has a suite of elite athletic gifts he can sort of lean on right out of the gate.
Brown Dog
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- Jun 23, 2007
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Not uncommon to see these college FAs get a game or two as a kind of courtesy, but the amount they're force-feeding Abruzzese into the lineup is odd and not in proportion with his contribution so far. Sure hope he's just a placeholder and that we don't see him in any playoff games.
MoreMogilny
Cap'n
If nothing else the experience is huge for him
Keep in mind the transition for college players who aren’t used to a full season of pro hockey is a bit tougher.
We likely won’t see him play in the playoffs so for him we are looking towards training camp and time with the Marlies next season.
Keep in mind the transition for college players who aren’t used to a full season of pro hockey is a bit tougher.
We likely won’t see him play in the playoffs so for him we are looking towards training camp and time with the Marlies next season.
CabanaBoy5
Registered User
Unless he develops some skill set I haven’t seen yet, he better be in the AHL next year. He’s about as vanilla a prospect as you can get.
Stephen
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Well, the way they promote guys is sort of weird. I don't know how many call ups they have left, but imagine being Alex Steeves, Joey Anderson or Nick Robertson putting in the AHL work at the pro level and then a college kid gets all the looks. Like you're putting the guy at the back of the lineup who is least prepared to the very front of the lineup.
Jimmy Firecracker
Fire Sheldon.
Not ready. Needs development time. Not a bust of course but definitely far too soon to be giving him real minutes.
If it's true that he can't be sent down they're kind of stuck. It's not like they are practicing much these days, so having him just sit there seems pointless. Playing him 10-12 min/game seems reasonable.
Eternal Leaf
Registered User
He obviously needs a full season in the AHL.
A lot of his natural skill is getting muted because he's not up to speed with the NHL game. A proper run in the AHL will let him shine the next time he's up.
I'm guessing they promised him nine games to burn a year off the ELC? That's likely why he's getting games right now.
A lot of his natural skill is getting muted because he's not up to speed with the NHL game. A proper run in the AHL will let him shine the next time he's up.
I'm guessing they promised him nine games to burn a year off the ELC? That's likely why he's getting games right now.
The Podium
Registered User
Pretty sure once the Marlies are done they have unlimited callups.
I’m also pretty sure that the college signing doesn’t count towards the recall limit.
He hasn’t done much, but he’s also not made a bunch of mistakes, either. He’s obviously not ready, but this cameo should serve as a benchmark for him to go into the offseason knowing the kind of work he has to put in
SeaOfBlue
The Passion That Unites Us All
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The Leafs wanted him to get some NHL reps, and he was not eligible to go back and forth. We effectively had to choose, and the NHL was easily the better choice for a prospect of his caliber and age.
He mostly looks like he needs a proper NHL offseason where he can get a little bit faster and stronger. If he does that, then he is capable of being an NHL player next year. If he needs a little bit of time in the AHL to get faster and stronger, then he will get that time, but I highly doubt it will require very long.
Processing the game, which I think was the main thing we wanted to test with an NHL stint, is NHL-caliber and as advertised. Excellent pass on that Spezza goal that was called back.
Next season, he is the same age that Kerfoot was when he first cracked the NHL full-time and they have almost identical profiles. That is my expectation for Abruzzese.
