His team was a tire fire to start the season and nobody was doing anything. Still a lot of potential thereKorshkov has not exactly lit it up in the khl..
His team was a tire fire to start the season and nobody was doing anything. Still a lot of potential thereKorshkov has not exactly lit it up in the khl..
His team was a tire fire to start the season and nobody was doing anything. Still a lot of potential there
If Korshkov comes over, we can get him top line minutes on the Marlies next year.
Also, do we need to sign Dakota Joshua this off-season?
No. He has one more year in the NCAA, and will certainly get it. Unless he has a big senior year, he may have to settle for an AHL deal with us next year.
Leafs would need to sign Mattinen, Middleton, Vesey, Piccinich (although he's already on an AHL deal so it's not like he's going anywhere), Engvall and Bobylev.
Out of that group, Engvall, Mattinen and Middleton are the only ones who would get any sort of serious consideration for an ELC. Vesey and Bobylev could be good options for AHL deals though. Bobylev may decide that he's not going to break through in the KHL right now and has shown a willingness to come to NA so maybe he'd be willing to give the Solar Bears (or possibly even the Marlies) a shot for a few years.
As for Korshkov, I still think he could form a line with Grundstrom and Aaltonen next year. Essentially would be the new Johnsson and Kapanen for the Marlies. Then if Moore, Timashov and Mueller can step up, and Bracco and Marchment can handle a full time top 9 role with either Brooks or a new UFA 3C (i.e. Evans, Sikura, Kahun), then it's still a pretty good forward group.
Korshkov has not exactly lit it up in the khl..
Thanks for posting this.
I share the same feeling with regards to Bracco, Marchment and Brooks.
I love the way Keefe and the Marlies staff are handling these players by really easing them in and forcing them to learn the defensive side of the game.
Yeah I was thinking if we can get Korshkov over for next year, learn the NA game in the AHL he could be ready the following year to jump into the NHL where we'll need him on a cheap ELC. I think Dakota is in a good position because of the lack of centre in the organization.
Well earned!
Marchment is another player found by Dubas that went from ECHL/AHL to ELC. Pretty big.
Not sure about his NHL potential but he's going to be a really good AHL power forward.
Grundstrom hasn't exactly 'lit up' the SHL either... I still prefer Korshkov although I think they'll both have similar NHL futures...
Brown Hyman and komarov all play the penalty kill. Leivo does not, and that’s why he hasn’t been a full time member of our team. I fear the same development path for bracco.I don't think they'll need to pass the Nylander/Marner echelon, but could be good supplements to it. JVR's probably a cap casualty this year, if so he's not competing for a spot. Marleau hasn't impressed me at all, he's fine but not an insurmountable obstacle, and by the time that Bracco gets a real look Marleau will be gone anyway, so a couple of the guys that you see as obstacles really aren't due to contract status or age.
Leivo plays both sides too, so he'd have to be better than Brown, Hyman, Marleau or Komarov. He is better than Hyman and Komarov, the other two are very open to debate, and that debate couldn't be conclusive until he actually got some playing time there
Leivo is at 70% defensive zone starts this year, and over 50% last year. His quality of linemates this year is among the worst on the team. Not sure if you mean that confirms that he's an offense-only player, or that he can't move up the lineup. He's a very good defensive player 5v5 because he's good at possessing the puck so he doesn't have to play defense, and he can't control his usage - he's earned better, the rest isn't in his hands
Compare Grundstrom to Johnsson at the same age. He is actually pretty impressive given that he is a much bigger body than AJ. SweHL only has around five 20 goal scorers in a typical year and barring an injury he is one. He's had steady improvement every season compared to Korsh who's numbers are basically a repeat of last year. Plus Grundstrom is almost a year and a half younger. Korshkov would have to be doing a ton of extra stuff without the puck to be a comparable talent, although the weird usage of younger players in the KHL might distort things a bit.
they're not all competing for roster spots right now, by the time Bracco gets here there will be vacancies where JVR, Komarov & Marleau used to be and maybe 5v5 where Nylander was if he moves to center. As unlikely as it is, Hyman probably should be playing in a bottom 6 role as well, so if that move ever happens there's another scoring line wing role availableBrown Hyman and komarov all play the penalty kill. Leivo does not, and that’s why he hasn’t been a full time member of our team. I fear the same development path for bracco.
As you just pointed out.. leivo’s already better then some of those guys but not on the ice instead of them. Exactly the point I’m trying to prove. At least he adds size though. Bracco is another small winger.
I’m not saying these guys can’t play hockey. I’m saying our roster is currently full for the position they are applying for.
It might be more flexible.. it might be less. We could sign Tavares.. or resign jvr. Bozack very likely could be resigned as our 3c and he doesn’t play the pk either. All I know is leivo was asking for a trade about a month ago. So it might not be as rosy as you’re making it out to be either.they're not all competing for roster spots right now, by the time Bracco gets here there will be vacancies where JVR, Komarov & Marleau used to be and maybe 5v5 where Nylander was if he moves to center. As unlikely as it is, Hyman probably should be playing in a bottom 6 role as well, so if that move ever happens there's another scoring line wing role available
I think it's all a lot more flexible than you're making it out to be, if either of Leivo or Bracco hits their offensive potential we'll find a place for them to play.
Other likely additions to the team in the next few years, Johnsson & Grundstrom, can also kill penalties
Komarov's role going to Johnsson leaves us with Brown & Hyman as the top PK unit with Kapanen, Johnsson, and probably the 3rd & 4th line centers as capable penalty killers
Next year's forward group could look something like:
Hyman-Matthews-Nylander
Marleau-Kadri-Marner
Leivo-3C-Brown
Johnsson-4C-Kapanen
which leaves space for Leivo, Kapanen & an additional winger prospect out of the system and has 4-6 forwards who can be regular penalty killers. After that, Marleau's spot will need a replacement in time for Bracco to compete for it
1) Why are you bringing Johnsson into this? He hasn't proven anything yet, really...
2) KHL > SHL... so although Korshkov has produced less, I'd say what he's done is more impressive.
3) Korshkov had a slow start to the season, largely because of poor coaching
I think Grundstrom has the extra interest around here becuase of his exceptional AHL playoff performance last year, but I think Leafs fans will be pleasently surprised with Korshkov... I'm not saying Korshkov is significantly better, they're probably in the same tier... I just prefer Korshkov's package a bit more...
subsequent moves that lock up rosters spots would make it less flexible, those haven't happened yet so it's still wide openIt might be more flexible.. it might be less. We could sign Tavares.. or resign jvr. Bozack very likely could be resigned as our 3c and he doesn’t play the pk either. All I know is leivo was asking for a trade about a month ago. So it might not be as rosy as you’re making it out to be either.
I could see Leivo being a part of our team for another year and then maybe bracco taking his spot the following year.. but these guys are supplemental scoring wingers that won’t get paid to hang around when we gotta save money to pay the marners nylanders and Matthews of the world. and you better believe the kapanen’s who put in the work to adapt their game for a different role will be getting paid before them too.
kapanen did adapt. He never used to play the penalty kill. He was a speedy skilled timid winger when we first acquired him. He’s even noted in interviews the skill in the lineup above him and the need for him to adapt.subsequent moves that lock up rosters spots would make it less flexible, those haven't happened yet so it's still wide open
I could see Bozak back, that would still leave 5 guys capable of being regular penalty killers, so again doesn't look like a prerequisite to getting a roster spot
Not likely that Bracco and Leivo play the same role, more likely that Grundstrom/Korshkov would take Leivo's as LW's that can play in the dirty areas. Bracco is just a RW and more of a perimeter player. But if Leivo turns out, there's not much incentive to move on from him that quickly, especially when he'll be cheap - money is one of the primary reasons to keep a guy like this around until they get expensive - that would only be after next year if he explodes for an allstar type season then he turns into a core piece.
Kapanen really didn't do much adapting, he had the tools to play a PK role with his speed so he gets used that way. Again Leivo is a very good defensive player, have a look at his giveaway to takeaway ratio, but doesn't have the wheels to cover the kind of space needed to be a big plus penalty killer
results will dictate who gets paid first. Unless anyone has ridiculous results, expect to see more Hyman/Brown type cap hits, which is great for good supplemental players
He’s bringing Johnson into this because they are both comparables. Grundstrom is getting praise because he’s putting up points for a style that involves more aggressive forecheck and should be more translatable to the NHL.
Developmentally wise, khl is equal to shl. Both produce prospects that make and don’t make the nhl. Khl does make it harder for u23 prospects to grab top line minutes. Granted korshkov’s production is decent considering he does not play to p line minutes, but he is turning 22.
I think him not getting top six minutes is a bigger problem than the coaching.
Package? Korshkov is more of a skilled guy, but he’s not a top line player. He may fit on the 2nd line. The last time I watched him, he was easy to knock off the puck and he did not look like s puck possession beast. He has good positioning on the pk, but I would say he’s behind brown, Hyman, komarov (I rather not see him re-signed) in terms of defensive acumen. Higher ceiling in skill, but the sentiment in this thread should be tempered.
I’ll admit I have never seen grundstrom play in the shl, but he sounds like a possession driver and strong forechecker. He should have the higher floor and has more primary points than korshkov which bodes well for his transition to the nhl.
1) Why are you bringing Johnsson into this? He hasn't proven anything yet, really...
2) KHL > SHL... so although Korshkov has produced less, I'd say what he's done is more impressive.
3) Korshkov had a slow start to the season, largely because of poor coaching
I think Grundstrom has the extra interest around here becuase of his exceptional AHL playoff performance last year, but I think Leafs fans will be pleasently surprised with Korshkov... I'm not saying Korshkov is significantly better, they're probably in the same tier... I just prefer Korshkov's package a bit more...
I mentioned Johnsson only to bring context to Grundstrom's 19 year old production in the Swedish league. His goal scoring is exceptional for a 19 year old in that league, irrespective of his playing style. AJ is the best prospect in the Leafs system not currently in the NHL and if Grundy produces like him at the same age thats a strong positive.
KHL is at best equal to the Swedish league or the AHL. They will have their stars like Kovy or Radulov that could step into the NHL and really perform but unless you cherry pick their all stars the general talent level is not too spectacular. Consider the top 3 scorers on Korshkovs team were all unsuccessful former members of the Leafs system. Kozun was a top 10 scorer in the K last season and was never that good in the AHL and that isnt a fluke. Dawes and DaCosta are other AHL guys that found the K easier, and Kontiola could not do anything in the AHL. Its not a more difficult league, its just different.
I wasn't aware of the post coaching change split for Korshkov, thats good to know. Even with the slow start he is producing a lot more assists than CG as well