Player who won't make big club, but you're most excited about

[ottomaddox]

Who will make the team over them?

Doubtful they will be cut. I am not a fan of either player. It drives me crazy that they play like they've been guaranteed a spot on the team.

 

[drewjenks]

SDA is already Marner lite. He gonna be crazy good in 2-3 years.

"SDA is already Marner lite"

NAME	DRAFT	PRE-DRAFT SEASON​	GAMES PLAYED	GOALS	ASSISTS	POINTS	POINTS PER-GAME​
Marner	2015​	2014-15 | OHL​	70​	53​	89​	142​	2.03​
SDA	2018​	2017-18 | OHL​	68​	12​	39​	51​	0.75​

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

SDA is a LONG way from Marner comparisons...

I'm not saying it can't be done - but Marners OHL stats are better than most 1st overall picks.

 

[drewjenks]

Doubtful they will be cut. I am not a fan of either player. It drives me crazy that they play like they've been guaranteed a spot on the team.

Is that how they've looked in the pre-season?

Why aren't you a fan of them?

 

[Man Bear Pig]

Really liking Engvall since he came over. He's definitely the biggest under-the-radar prospect for me. Crazy that they managed to get him and Johnsson in the 7th round.

 

[Apotheosis]

I think it's kind of scary to think that a team that has Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Tavares, Rielly, Kadri, Dermott, while supplanting that with Johnsson and Kapanen also has great pieces like SDA (high potential), Sandin, Liljegren AND Grundstrom just waiting in the wings.

 

[MattySnipes]

"SDA is already Marner lite"

NAME	DRAFT	PRE-DRAFT SEASON​	GAMES PLAYED	GOALS	ASSISTS	POINTS	POINTS PER-GAME​
Marner	2015​	2014-15 | OHL​	70​	53​	89​	142​	2.03​
SDA	2018​	2017-18 | OHL​	68​	12​	39​	51​	0.75​

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

SDA is a LONG way from Marner comparisons...

I'm not saying it can't be done - but Marners OHL stats are better than most 1st overall picks.

Highly doubt the comparison is about stats. SDA has a tremendous ability at being shifty in tight spaces, elite vision, and considers himself strictly a playmaking centreman. He's all skill which is what Shanahan/Dubas and the Maple Leafs build around.

He moves like a Marner-lite on the ice and his boyish looks only strengthen the comparison. We all hope for the best for SDA. Seems like a great kid who loves the game and is committed to getting better by getting stronger and developing his shot as well.

He knows he has time and all the tools at his helm to make the NHL. Time will tell. We got so many great young kids, what a time to be a Toronto Maple Leafs fan.

 

[bluumax]

I really like SDA, he seems very intelligent on the puck and makes very intelligent simple plays- I cant say i saw the whole "Mitch-Lite" thing, I think SDA will generate offense in a different way- his decisions and plays don't seem to generate offense directly (eg, hes not making a through the legs saucer pass for the tap in) instead its like he puts the line in position ready to make the play.
I don't know if that makes any sense, its just the impression I got.

 

[Leafsman]

It was very unfortunate Marchment was injured because I think he would've impressed. Doubt he would've made the team straight out of camp but he would have made an impression

 

[Mugzy97]

Grundstrum
Sandin
Liljegren

I dont think Liljegren will make his debut in a Leafs uniform though. My gut says trade, as early as next offseason for a bigger Piece

Trading our best prospect at our biggest position of need a season before he might be ready to come up seems like the worst idea of all time.

 

[Macallan18]

Sandman and Lily.
The future on the back end.

 

[SprDaVE]

Definitely SDA. So much untapped potential there. He looks like he's in the middle of puberty, which means more growth. I'm really looking forward to his CHL season.

 

[deletethis]

It was very unfortunate Marchment was injured because I think he would've impressed. Doubt he would've made the team straight out of camp but he would have made an impression

Getting injured is now looking like a trend for Marchment. He has to be a robust player to have any chance to graduate to the NHL level. It's too bad because he has some attributes that it would nice to have available against certain opponents.

 

[deletethis]

I think it's kind of scary to think that a team that has Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Tavares, Rielly, Kadri, Dermott, while supplanting that with Johnsson and Kapanen also has great pieces like SDA (high potential), Sandin, Liljegren AND Grundstrom just waiting in the wings.

It isn't scary to this fan, it's reassuring for the time when some of the better talent gets priced out of town in the reality of a salary cap world.

 

[ottomaddox]

I think it's kind of scary to think that a team that has Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Tavares, Rielly, Kadri, Dermott, while supplanting that with Johnsson and Kapanen also has great pieces like SDA (high potential), Sandin, Liljegren AND Grundstrom just waiting in the wings.

I wouldn't put Kapanen and Grundstrom in the "kind of scary" catagory. I don't know what happened to Johnsson, but he's not really all that impactful yet in pre-season.

 

[613Leafer]

Sandin - looks like he has top pairing potential as a steadier defensive presence. More of a Stralman type than an offensive Shattenkirk type, which is exactly what we need.

Liljegren - probably has a higher offensive ceiling than Sandin, but isn't as polished in his decision making. I think the whole year in the AHL would be good for him.

Grundstrom - Good mix of skill/size, which we largely lack on the wing up front.

Gordeev - He can skate very well for his size. Hasn't pulled it together, but the pieces seem to be there to become an NHLer. Getting a 6'6 NHL defenceman that can skate would add a dimension we don't have back there.

SDA - obviously very skilled and also very young for his draft class. I'm hoping for a big year from him.

Durzi - RHD that's generally pretty solid all-around, and put up some very very good offensive numbers last year.

 

[Apotheosis]

I wouldn't put Kapanen and Grundstrom in the "kind of scary" catagory. I don't know what happened to Johnsson, but he's not really all that impactful yet in pre-season.

I am chalking it up purely to pre-season. We have seen how they play in the playoffs. I am certain than during the start of the regular season, they will come out guns ablazing. I do agree that Grundstrom does need a bit more development, hence why I think he makes the team next year, but he's literally in the perfect mould for either Matthews or Tavares line. Good skater, grinding down low, good vision and good finishing. He could either fit in as a secondary skilled grinder with Matthews, or a skilled grinder to get Tavares and Marner the puck. Either way, there's lots of options now.

It isn't scary to this fan, it's reassuring for the time when some of the better talent gets priced out of town in the reality of a salary cap world.

I mean, it's pretty obvious no matter what happens (unless we get the big three on ridiculously good contracts and the cap goes up to 90 a lot faster than assumed) that there will be some lost talent. That's why the next two seasons are so important for the overall window. Go in with all this talent on ELC's (and supported by Tavares) and then there will be a loss of certain guys who will then have to be replaced by cheaper ELC guys like AJ, Kapanen, Grundstrom, Liljegren etc. It's a cycle.

 

[Ricky Bobby]

"SDA is already Marner lite"

NAME	DRAFT	PRE-DRAFT SEASON​	GAMES PLAYED	GOALS	ASSISTS	POINTS	POINTS PER-GAME​
Marner	2015​	2014-15 | OHL​	70​	53​	89​	142​	2.03​
SDA	2018​	2017-18 | OHL​	68​	12​	39​	51​	0.75​

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

SDA is a LONG way from Marner comparisons...

I'm not saying it can't be done - but Marners OHL stats are better than most 1st overall picks.

I agree he shouldn't be lumped into Marner category yet. But he is a prospect to be excited about.

With SDA having such a late bday this past season could be viewed as more comparable to most players seasons 2 seasons prior to draft. That completely changed the look of his draft year stats.

Marner was 5 months older all year his draft year. Kadri 11 months. Brayden Point 6 months. Even 5 months is a huge difference at that age.

SDA also didn't play on a good team which meant harder competition, not inflated stats, etc.

 

[Stigma]

Sandin - looks like he has top pairing potential as a steadier defensive presence. More of a Stralman type than an offensive Shattenkirk type, which is exactly what we need.

Liljegren - probably has a higher offensive ceiling than Sandin, but isn't as polished in his decision making. I think the whole year in the AHL would be good for him.

Grundstrom - Good mix of skill/size, which we largely lack on the wing up front.

Gordeev - He can skate very well for his size. Hasn't pulled it together, but the pieces seem to be there to become an NHLer. Getting a 6'6 NHL defenceman that can skate would add a dimension we don't have back there.

SDA - obviously very skilled and also very young for his draft class. I'm hoping for a big year from him.

Durzi - RHD that's generally pretty solid all-around, and put up some very very good offensive numbers last year.

Maybe flip Grundstrom with Bracco and we have the same list! I'm happy that you mentioned Gordeev as well. He's more of a long-term project, but I've been impressed with him so far. I also like Durzi. I know he's a controversial pick, but I'm very confident that he's going to win people over by the end of the year.

 

[Scott Malkinson]

1. Semyon Der-Arguchintsev
2. Timothy Liljegren
3. Rasmus Sandin
4. Carl Grundstrom
5. Pierre Engvall

 

[crump]

Trevor Moore. May not be as skilled as a Bracco or Sandin, but I like his work ethic and as a possible replacement for Hyman or Brown after their contracts are up, or an injury call up this season. I like what he brings. Potentially playing with Tavares and Marner tonight, so it will give us a peek at his effectiveness with skilled guys.

 

[al secord]

1. Semyon Der-Arguchintsev
2. Timothy Liljegren
3. Rasmus Sandin
4. Carl Grundstrom
5. Pierre Engvall

Don Cherry just woke up in a cold sweat.

 

[Scott Malkinson]

Don Cherry just woke up in a cold sweat.

It's 2018. Most of us don't care what Grapes says about Europeans.

 

[Muston Atthews]

Sandin, Lilly, SDA, Bracco, Engvall - all look like future players

I’d add in Grundstrom, and whichever of Oz/Borgman doesn’t make the team

 

[HamiltonNHL]

Nylander.

 

[Toronto makebeleifs]

It's 2018. Most of us don't care what Grapes says about Europeans.

I think he's referring to name pronouciation. Grapes will have a stroke trying to say SDA. That aside, he has impressed me and bracco has also been a pleasant surprise. Engvall is my #1 for expectations vs. On ice product