Prospect and Marlies Thread: 2017 - 2018 (continued)

[Boutette]

Doesn't the swapping out of JVR and Komarov with Johnsson and Kapanen gloss over the fact we got Leivo in the line up? There's these two guys and then there's guys like Grundstrom they can make an impact as soon as next year.

This is because people completely ignore how the players play. Johnsson and Kapanen do not offer the size and edgework that Lievo does. The team would be better served by moving Nylander into Bozak's place (protected scoring line) and then placing Kapanen or Johnsson at Matthew's side. Lievo combined with Nylander and either Kapanen or Johnsson would be quite a versatile scoring line to play against weaker opposition.

 

[Walshy7]

Lol okay. I will do that in the evening some time.

haha its cool man, don't go out of your way. I can get off my lazy ass and find the podcast my self

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

I don't think there's another franchise in the league who would care so little about a prospect like Bracco as we seem to. We are just blessed with more offensive talent than we know what to do with

 

[Walshy7]

This is because people completely ignore how the players play. Johnsson and Kapanen do not offer the size and edgework that Lievo does. The team would be better served by moving Nylander into Bozak's place (protected scoring line) and then placing Kapanen or Johnsson at Matthew's side. Lievo combined with Nylander and either Kapanen or Johnsson would be quite a versatile scoring line to play against weaker opposition.

Kapanen is 1 inch smaller and 20 pounds lighter than leivo and is by far the best skater in the leafs organization

 

[cookie]

Kapanen is 1 inch smaller and 20 pounds lighter than leivo and is by far the best skater in the leafs organization

Plus he can kill penalties like Komarov. Then again, I'm liking Johnsson's game this year and the similarities to Connor Brown. Truth be told though, I think Babcock wants to see if Soshnikov can be Komarov 2.0. But it might just be a means of not listing him for nothing. For what it's worth, both Komarov and JVR are considerable defensive and offensive talents, and replacing them with AHLers with limited NHL experience seems a little risky.

 

[Walshy7]

Plus he can kill penalties like Komarov. Then again, I'm liking Johnsson's game this year and the similarities to Connor Brown. Truth be told though, I think Babcock wants to see if Soshnikov can be Komarov 2.0. But it might just be a means of not listing him for nothing. For what it's worth, both Komarov and JVR are considerable defensive and offensive talents, and replacing them with AHLers with limited NHL experience seems a little risky.

Next season those AHLers still don't have NHL experience, at some point to get NHL experience you need to play in the NHL. I hope they aren't resigning any of JVR, Komarov or Bozak and that will likely mean 2 or 3 AHLers will need to come in without NHL experience

 

[cookie]

Next season those AHLers still don't have NHL experience, at some point to get NHL experience you need to play in the NHL. I hope they aren't resigning any of JVR, Komarov or Bozak and that will likely mean 2 or 3 AHLers will need to come in without NHL experience

Yeah you're right. If the Leafs management is going to claim that they are using the AHL as a means of player development, then there's no reason not to use the players. I guess the real obstacle is the coach himself who relies heavily on veterans. I'm going to assume that guys with some NHL experience like Leivo and Soshnikov are going to have the inside track to an NHL job.

 

[MR4]

Marlies promo code CYBERMONDAY18 gets you 50% off tickets for I think all home games in next month

 

[DarkKnight]

SO happy to hear Grundstrom's knee surgery went better than the doctor's believed it would, 4-6 weeks is unreal good fortune, compared to out for the season, we dodged a bullet! Glad it wasn't as bad as originally thought.

 

[Boutette]

Kapanen is 1 inch smaller and 20 pounds lighter than leivo and is by far the best skater in the leafs organization

Yes, and because of this he plays a very different game than Lievo. I think he would be better suited replacing Nylander on Matthews RW, than JVR on the protected scoring line's LW.

 

[The CyNick]

I don't think there's another franchise in the league who would care so little about a prospect like Bracco as we seem to. We are just blessed with more offensive talent than we know what to do with

It's more that our fanbase overrates guys like Bracco and thinks he's a unique prospect. Meanwhile every team has a couple of similar guys, and are just not as overconfident as to what they will turn into.

 

[The CyNick]

This is because people completely ignore how the players play. Johnsson and Kapanen do not offer the size and edgework that Lievo does. The team would be better served by moving Nylander into Bozak's place (protected scoring line) and then placing Kapanen or Johnsson at Matthew's side. Lievo combined with Nylander and either Kapanen or Johnsson would be quite a versatile scoring line to play against weaker opposition.

Leivo doesn't have the hands or skating ability to be a premium scorer.

 

[LeafChief]

SO happy to hear Grundstrom's knee surgery went better than the doctor's believed it would, 4-6 weeks is unreal good fortune, compared to out for the season, we dodged a bullet! Glad it wasn't as bad as originally thought.

Any link to this?

I just did a quick google search and don't see anything other than a PPP article from yesterday.

 

[Boutette]

Leivo doesn't have the hands or skating ability to be a premium scorer.

But he does have a lot more interest and capability in playing a possession game and in defense, two things this team lacks.

 

[Kiwi]

I see Middleton has 14 points in 20 games

He's making it interesting about getting himself an ELC at the end of the season

 

[Mr Hockey]

Leafs are not shy about using ELC's on European free agents, our young drafted kids need to step up and really earn an ELC from this team. Leafs are in a good spot now

 

[MR4]

Yes, and because of this he plays a very different game than Lievo. I think he would be better suited replacing Nylander on Matthews RW, than JVR on the protected scoring line's LW.

Think these are the best lines:

Leivo-Matthews-Marner
Marleau-Nylander-Kapanen
Johnsson-Kadri-Brown
Martin-Aaltonen/Goat-Hyman

1 Rookie/Former pressbox on each line, could switch Leivo & Johnsson in above lines

 

[DarkKnight]

Any link to this?

I just did a quick google search and don't see anything other than a PPP article from yesterday.

Leafs Lunch today.

 

[LeafChief]

Leafs Lunch today.

That's awesome news. Hopefully we see him with the Marlies again at the end of the season.

 

[Mr Hockey]

 

[Mr Hockey]

~

 

[Randy Randerson]

Leivo doesn't have the hands or skating ability to be a premium scorer.

it's likely that none of our remaining prospects have the tools to be premium scorers, but that's not what we'll need of our remaining prospects - we'll need some replacement complimentary pieces.

I don't understand why people keep wanting to write this kid off prematurely - in case you weren't watching the other night, here's the clip of his goal:


I'll head off the next comment which will be "anyone can cherrypick" - he's below both Carolina Dmen when Borgman gets the puck, then flat out beats them down the ice, changes the angle on Ward and buries opposite top corner with a release that only 2 other Leafs have (Matthews, Nylander), maybe 3 if we're really lucky (Kapanen). It's not "premium player or bust", there's a whole lot of in between

 

[Boutette]

Leivo doesn't have the hands or skating ability to be a premium scorer.

I guess that mean's we won't have to pay him the $6-$7 million a year Van Reimsdyk is going to ask for.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

The sad part about that Orlando goal is that is pretty much all of Orlando's good players: Piccinich, Novak, Dupuy, Winquist, Dzierkals, Valleau. Pospisil would be in that list as well, and there are some guys you could argue are better than Dupuy on that team, but for the most part that's it for them. There's a reason why they are doing crap... Those guys are good ECHLers and many of them should be in the AHL right now, but there shouldn't be a huge drop off from them and there should be some guys who play better than them.

 

[zeke]

Leivo doesn't have the hands or skating ability to be a premium scorer.

he certainly has the hands.