Leafs' Prospect/Marlies Discussion Thread!
- Thread starter hockeylover
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LeafGm
Well-known member
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!
Still, it's disappointing, and Nylander & Brown weren't a huge factor in the games they lost. I suspect we'll be seeing both of them back in the AHL to start next season. Hopefully with the lineup bolstered with the likes of Freddie Gauthier, Carter Verhaeghe, Nikita Soshnikov & Andreas Johnson as well.
Yep. Plenty of teams have gone down 3-2 after winning the first two games too. It's not the collapse that going up 3-0 and losing is.
Still, it's disappointing, and Nylander & Brown weren't a huge factor in the games they lost. I suspect we'll be seeing both of them back in the AHL to start next season. Hopefully with the lineup bolstered with the likes of Freddie Gauthier, Carter Verhaeghe, Nikita Soshnikov & Andreas Johnson as well.
MindzEye
Wayward Ditch Pig
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!
I'm actually legitimately excited about the Marlies roster next season...which is kind of sad in it's own way, as I expect the Leafs to be a collection of young guys (Naz, Rielly, Gardiner, Holland, etc), veterans (Polak, Robidas, etc), bad contracts taken back to extra maximum value for our outgoing players (Weiss, Semin, etc) and plugs (like Sill). I don't think Shanabas lets any of the kids anywhere near that big league roster unless they absolutely kick the door in next year.
I'm actually legitimately excited about the Marlies roster next season...which is kind of sad in it's own way, as I expect the Leafs to be a collection of young guys (Naz, Rielly, Gardiner, Holland, etc), veterans (Polak, Robidas, etc), bad contracts taken back to extra maximum value for our outgoing players (Weiss, Semin, etc) and plugs (like Sill). I don't think Shanabas lets any of the kids anywhere near that big league roster unless they absolutely kick the door in next year.
LeafGm
Well-known member
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!
Imagine if we drafted Hanifin, and sent him to the Marlies? Or if one of Strome or Marner got added to their roster late in the season or early in the playoffs? No matter what happens, it'll be one of the most interesting Marlies teams we've ever seen.
As for the NHL roster, agreed ME. It'll be the same kind of bizarre mish-mash we saw for the second half of this season. UFA bargain bin pick-ups, vets, AHL scrubs, kids, salary dumps & a malcontent or two that the Leafs tried to trade away in the summer, but couldn't find the right deal for.
Imagine if we drafted Hanifin, and sent him to the Marlies? Or if one of Strome or Marner got added to their roster late in the season or early in the playoffs? No matter what happens, it'll be one of the most interesting Marlies teams we've ever seen.
As for the NHL roster, agreed ME. It'll be the same kind of bizarre mish-mash we saw for the second half of this season. UFA bargain bin pick-ups, vets, AHL scrubs, kids, salary dumps & a malcontent or two that the Leafs tried to trade away in the summer, but couldn't find the right deal for.
mbow30
Spudmeister Supreme
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!
ahl hockey is sloppy as ****, and the marlies easily could have won games 3 or 4 (i didn't see any of 5). some bad goals against, some good chances missed... they were right there.
nylander is a stud. he has a monster shot, can get it off quickly and from anywhere on the ice. and he's really the anti-kessel with his work ethic. he's always on the puck, uses his body well, and competes in all three zones.
brown's going to have a real hill to climb to make the nhl. he isn't slow (i'd say average foot speed) but he's a pretty mediocre skater. and he plays to initiate contact, which isn't usually a recipe for success when you're 5'10 and have average speed. he's a savvy offensive player, but he's going to have trouble with the size and pace of the nhl game.
nyalnder, though... no questions there. he's going to be good.
ahl hockey is sloppy as ****, and the marlies easily could have won games 3 or 4 (i didn't see any of 5). some bad goals against, some good chances missed... they were right there.
nylander is a stud. he has a monster shot, can get it off quickly and from anywhere on the ice. and he's really the anti-kessel with his work ethic. he's always on the puck, uses his body well, and competes in all three zones.
brown's going to have a real hill to climb to make the nhl. he isn't slow (i'd say average foot speed) but he's a pretty mediocre skater. and he plays to initiate contact, which isn't usually a recipe for success when you're 5'10 and have average speed. he's a savvy offensive player, but he's going to have trouble with the size and pace of the nhl game.
nyalnder, though... no questions there. he's going to be good.
hockeylover
Well-known member
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!
32 points in 37 games during the season and 16 points in 20 games in the playoffs? Wish those numbers were higher.
32 points in 37 games during the season and 16 points in 20 games in the playoffs? Wish those numbers were higher.
number17
Mod Squad
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!
It's hilarious I was reading an article in the Star a few days ago, and they are saying how Gauthier is the steal of a draft, and he's a big sized center who is finally 'getting it'. It's a great year for Gauthier because he's won the WJHC Gold medal, the Q league, and now has a chance to win the Memorial cup.
And I guess McDavid is officially a bust cause his team couldn't even win the OHL lol ... Gauthier had very little (if anything) to do with the WJHC gold medal (where he started as a 3C and was demoted to 4C by the time the team was in the semi final and final), he is the 10th highest scoring player on his team in the Q regular season ... not to mention he's among the oldest guys on the team, and in the high scoring Q he's no where near 1.5-2PPG which is what is expected of any prospect who would go on to make a contribution offensively in the NHL.
And, on top of all that, his QJMHL PPG stats DROPPED compared to last year for both regular season and post season.
His teams have done well, but Gauthier himself has taken a step back IMO. At this point, I'd say he has at best a 50-50 chance of becoming a good bottom 6 F in the NHL, and zero chance of becoming a top 6 NHL F.
And to call him a 'steal at draft' ... the guys taken before and after him are Mantha and Poirier. Both have already 'graduated' from the juniors and are playing in the AHL, both have also got a taste of the NHL already and are miles ahead of Gauthier. He's anything but a steal ... he's much closer to being a bust than a steal.
It's hilarious I was reading an article in the Star a few days ago, and they are saying how Gauthier is the steal of a draft, and he's a big sized center who is finally 'getting it'. It's a great year for Gauthier because he's won the WJHC Gold medal, the Q league, and now has a chance to win the Memorial cup.
And I guess McDavid is officially a bust cause his team couldn't even win the OHL lol ... Gauthier had very little (if anything) to do with the WJHC gold medal (where he started as a 3C and was demoted to 4C by the time the team was in the semi final and final), he is the 10th highest scoring player on his team in the Q regular season ... not to mention he's among the oldest guys on the team, and in the high scoring Q he's no where near 1.5-2PPG which is what is expected of any prospect who would go on to make a contribution offensively in the NHL.
And, on top of all that, his QJMHL PPG stats DROPPED compared to last year for both regular season and post season.
His teams have done well, but Gauthier himself has taken a step back IMO. At this point, I'd say he has at best a 50-50 chance of becoming a good bottom 6 F in the NHL, and zero chance of becoming a top 6 NHL F.
And to call him a 'steal at draft' ... the guys taken before and after him are Mantha and Poirier. Both have already 'graduated' from the juniors and are playing in the AHL, both have also got a taste of the NHL already and are miles ahead of Gauthier. He's anything but a steal ... he's much closer to being a bust than a steal.
number17
Mod Squad
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!
But I am eager to hear what positives you see in Gauthier from watching him play?
I don't think evaluation of a player comes down to how he plays in the playoff. When a 19 year old junior player's PPG production DROPPED compared to previous year, and his peers are already in the AHL and he's not even among the leaders on the junior team, taht can't be a good thing can it?
But I am eager to hear what positives you see in Gauthier from watching him play?
leafman101
Well-known member
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!
Gauthier is a 20 year old in the CHL. He should look good. He probably should have looked a lot better considering his age and size if he had legit top 9 upside.
Gauthier is a 20 year old in the CHL. He should look good. He probably should have looked a lot better considering his age and size if he had legit top 9 upside.
number17
Mod Squad
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!
Ohhh but you haven't watched him play! How do you know?! (sarcasm)
LeafGm
Well-known member
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!
The Goat is what he is at this point. There isn't really any point in paying much attention to his stats. Unless he's a huge outlier, his career in the Q has already made it crystal clear that if he makes it to the NHL, it's not going to be on the strength of his scoring ability. Hell, I'll be extremely surprised if he can even get to 0.5 PPG when he makes the jump to the AHL next season.
We just have to hope that as a player, he ends up being more comparable to Brian Boyle than he is to Tyler Biggs. Can't say that I've seen enough of him play to say which side of the ledger he falls on though. But at least we know that he's going to have some top notch guidance now that he's making the jump to the pros.
The Goat is what he is at this point. There isn't really any point in paying much attention to his stats. Unless he's a huge outlier, his career in the Q has already made it crystal clear that if he makes it to the NHL, it's not going to be on the strength of his scoring ability. Hell, I'll be extremely surprised if he can even get to 0.5 PPG when he makes the jump to the AHL next season.
We just have to hope that as a player, he ends up being more comparable to Brian Boyle than he is to Tyler Biggs. Can't say that I've seen enough of him play to say which side of the ledger he falls on though. But at least we know that he's going to have some top notch guidance now that he's making the jump to the pros.
leafman101
Well-known member
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!
How many good 3rd line NHLers couldn't even break a ppg in the CHL as a 19/20 year old? Even purely faceoff/defensive specialists and offensive black holes like Gaustad, Brent and McClement did that.
How many good 3rd line NHLers couldn't even break a ppg in the CHL as a 19/20 year old? Even purely faceoff/defensive specialists and offensive black holes like Gaustad, Brent and McClement did that.
LeafGm
Well-known member
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!
His NHL upside, IMO, is as a defensive/faceoff specialist who mostly centers the 4th line at even strength. And he could just as easily never even get a sniff at the NHL. Biggs put up the same kind of numbers as Gauthier in his final CHL season, and he can't even score at all at the AHL level.
I don't think we disagree---if Gauthier ever becomes a regular 3rd line center at the NHL level on any kind of halfway decent team, I'll be surprised.
His NHL upside, IMO, is as a defensive/faceoff specialist who mostly centers the 4th line at even strength. And he could just as easily never even get a sniff at the NHL. Biggs put up the same kind of numbers as Gauthier in his final CHL season, and he can't even score at all at the AHL level.