Prospect Info: Marlies and Prospects Discussion - 2018/19 Edition II

[saltming]

Same problems as last season Salt

Hainsey is old and not top pair quality, Zaitsev is terrible in most statistical categories you'd wish to mention, unless Dermott or Ozhiganov can move up to the top 4 or we trade for a top 4 were going to continue to have the exact same issues

The issues I'm referring to is the structure of the defense. Last year they looked lost in the d zone but this year they are already more cohesive than last year. That's promising.

 

[Kiwi]

The issues I'm referring to is the structure of the defense. Last year they looked lost in the d zone but this year they are already more cohesive than last year. That's promising.

There still a bit "chicken with the head cut off" inside there own zone, they aren't getting hemmed in as much recently but that type of stuff can fluctuate

 

[saltming]

There still a bit "chicken with the head cut off" inside there own zone, they aren't getting hemmed in as much recently but that type of stuff can fluctuate

Of course there will be fluctuation but generally speaking much better overall

 

[Kiwi]

Of course there will be fluctuation but generally speaking much better overall

We're playing less "high event" hockey which probably explains our lack of scoring recently but we've still got defensive issues

Rielly and Gardiner need better partners

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

We still give up to many high danger chances and the Gardiner Zaitsev pairing hasn't been good enough for the amount of minutes they play

Unless Zaitsev starts to break even were going to struggle defensively

Leafs are much improved defensively. Last year they were 5th worst in xGA/60, this year they are 12th best so far

 

[7even]

Dzierkals doesn't need one anyways. Joshua probably not, but an AHL deal is going to be on the table for sure I would think. Or maybe he's dealt like Nolan Vesey was. He is a better version of Vesey after all (and can play center).

McGregor and Gordeev are on the fence. Could teeter towards an ELC or into the "close but not enough" tier that Desrocher, Middleton, Mattinen, Walker and Korostelev found themselves in.

I don't think McGregor does any one thing well enough to get a contract. Gordeev actually has some rare athletic gifts in his size and skating. Maybe that's worth investing something in.

 

[Mr Hockey]

We're playing less "high event" hockey which probably explains our lack of scoring recently but we've still got defensive issues

Rielly and Gardiner need better partners

Rielly seems to be having a pretty good season, i could be wrong or maybe you?

 

[Leafs at Knight]

Don't want to be that guy, but this is the prospect thread people.

 

[saltming]

We're playing less "high event" hockey which probably explains our lack of scoring recently but we've still got defensive issues

Rielly and Gardiner need better partners

I'm not talking about the parts but the way they are playing the system: much improved

 

[Kiwi]

Leafs are much improved defensively. Last year they were 5th worst in xGA/60, this year they are 12th best so far

It's improved certainly, there's still personel issues and when we restrict the other team like we have recently we struggle to score ourselves, our sh% sucks over that period I'll admit, the 4th line is also waaaay better defensively which helps

Rielly seems to be having a pretty good season, i could be wrong or maybe you?

Rielly is great, that doesn't make his partner the same thing however

I'm not talking about the parts but the way they are playing the system: much improved

The system? We still fire those long stretch passes a lot and Zaitsev/Hainsey struggleto get the puck out of our own zone with control

Don't want to be that guy, but this is the prospect thread people.

We may have got a little sidetracked

 

[Mr Hockey]

It's improved certainly, there's still personel issues and when we restrict the other team like we have recently we struggle to score ourselves, our sh% sucks over that period I'll admit, the 4th line is also waaaay better defensively which helps



Rielly is great, that doesn't make his partner the same thing however



The system? We still fire those long stretch passes a lot and Zaitsev/Hainsey struggleto get the puck out of our own zone with control

Hainsey and Zaitsev are playing good hockey, Rielly is playing great hockey ... I see you have replaced Polak with Zaitsev, it will be another long season of ranting from you lol

 

[lifelonghockeyfan]

Not saying they are going to NHL ready next year, but the Leafs really hoping there are ELC replacements for Gardiner and Hainsey in 2019/20. If they have go the NHL veteran route, the cap might dictate a Leaf forwards is traded.

 

[Kiwi]

Hainsey and Zaitsev are playing good hockey, Rielly is playing great hockey ... I see you have replaced Polak with Zaitsev, it will be another long season of ranting from you lol

We need to move this to the Leafs defense thread, then I'll tell you why Zaitsev is not a good top 4 defenseman

 

[LeafChief]

McGregor gives me Piccinich vibes. Maybe an AHL deal?

Gordeev is in a weird spot because his team is so god-awful. Last year he seemed to take great strides in his development. He's an interesting one for sure. I could see it going either way in terms of an ELC.

 

[hockeynorth]

McGregor gives me Piccinich vibes. Maybe an AHL deal?

Gordeev is in a weird spot because his team is so god-awful. Last year he seemed to take great strides in his development. He's an interesting one for sure. I could see it going either way in terms of an ELC.

I'd definitely like to keep both in the system, they both have some really interesting tools.

 

[Pyromaniac]

Pontus Holmberg has had a solid start to his SHL career as a 19 year old center. I would bet he gets an ELC as well.

 

[Prominence]

All of Holmberg’s assists are primary assists. That’s usually a good indication.

 

[Prominence]

McGregor gives me Piccinich vibes. Maybe an AHL deal?

Gordeev is in a weird spot because his team is so god-awful. Last year he seemed to take great strides in his development. He's an interesting one for sure. I could see it going either way in terms of an ELC.

Piccinich actually scored a ppg in his draft+2. Mcgregor struggles to achieve that. Unless mcgregor has advanced defensive game, his chances of even ahl contract are slim.

What is Gordeev’s defensive game like?

 

[The Rainman]

Does anyone know what the Leafs don't like about Borgman's game?

 

[AuraSphere]

Sandin finally credited with that assist he deserved. 3 pts in 2 games

 

[DarkKnight]

Sandin finally credited with that assist he deserved. 3 pts in 2 games

Enter Sandman.

 

[dangomon]

Dzierkals doesn't need one anyways. Joshua probably not, but an AHL deal is going to be on the table for sure I would think. Or maybe he's dealt like Nolan Vesey was. He is a better version of Vesey after all (and can play center).

McGregor and Gordeev are on the fence. Could teeter towards an ELC or into the "close but not enough" tier that Desrocher, Middleton, Mattinen, Walker and Korostelev found themselves in.

To me, Gordeev is a guy who may turn out to be nothing. But if we make the wrong call on him, he could turn into one of those "How on earth did the Leafs pass up this guy" kind of players. He's just so toolsy, but his team is hilariously awful.

 

[deletethis]

I'm still learning to accept that many drafted prospects aren't going to get contracts under this regime. They seem to recognize that handing out ELCs too readily causes logjams. They take chances on players with the idea that the player grows substantially post-draft. If the player doesn't progress, they move on and maybe sign an European free agent in the prospect's place. In the end, Aaltonen, Borgman, Rosen, Lindholm and Soshnikov are a better collection than Middleton, Mattinen, Walker, Vesey, Toninato, etc.

 

[Mr Hockey]

I'm still learning to accept that many drafted prospects aren't going to get contracts under this regime. They seem to recognize that handing out ELCs too readily causes logjams. They take chances on players with the idea that the player grows substantially post-draft. If the player doesn't progress, they move on and maybe sign an European free agent in the prospect's place. In the end, Aaltonen, Borgman, Rosen, Lindholm and Soshnikov are a better collection than Middleton, Mattinen, Walker, Vesey, Toninato, etc.

They are doing what every team does, 1st round pick is a ELC lock and the 2rd is almost a lock and that's about it.

 

[Fogelhund]

Does anyone know what the Leafs don't like about Borgman's game?

It mostly comes down to; he isn't better than Rielly, Gardiner, or Dermott.... He probably isn't even be better than Rosen or Sandin.

He can be a capable 3rd pairing LHD, but the Leafs have too much depth there. I don't know if they are going to trade him, to give him a chance elsewhere, but the value for such a player can't be too high... but what the Leafs get back, has to be enough to cover however he is helping out the Marlies have some success.