2016-17 Marlies Talk: New Season, Continued Expectations

[CarltonTheBear]

The Marlies also made a bit of a strange move yesterday trading centre Colin Smith away for right-winger Mike Sislo. Smith, as some might remember, was acquired last year in the Matthias to Colorado trade. He went on a tear with the Marlies post-trade, scoring 22 points in 23 games. Signed an AHL deal in the summer. This season he's spent a lot of time on the wing for whatever reason and his scoring has dropped a bit but he's still been productive. Sislo seems like a roughly comparable AHLer but he's older and also has a bit of NHL experience. I'm just not sure why they'd move yet another centre out of the team.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I'd consider swinging Moore into the middle if our wings are so clogged.

Next year, we're adding Brooks, Bracco, Korostelev (currently injured), Dzierkals, Desrocher, Piccinich, Walker, Bobylev, and maybe Grundstrom, so this could get really stupid (awesome). Only one centre in that bunch. Maybe Cameranesi makes the move to centre too.

Lou mentioned that maybe half a dozen of the current Marlies are NHL capable right now (Kapanen, Leipsic, Griffith, Rychel, Gauthier being the obvious ones). Assuming one gets poached in expansion, and 2-3 graduate, the Marlies are looking staaaaacked next season.

You might be getting a little carried away there. Of the guys you mentioned Brooks, Bracco, and maybe Grunstrom would probably be the only guys with a good chance of being impact AHLers in their rookie seasons, if at all.

 

[Frank E]

Will Adam Brooks be able to join the team once the WHL playoffs/Mem Cup is over? Because you have to figure he'd instantly become their best/oldest centre.

His team, the Regina Pats, are hosting the Mem Cup this year. They're also the top ranked team in the WHL. So they'll likely be going pretty deep there. I doubt he'll be available.

The Pats are hosting the Mem Cup next year.  This year the Mem Cup is in Windsor.  As you said though, they will likely be going pretty deep so he will not likely be available.

Well, I hope the Pats blow it early.

 

[herman]

You might be getting a little carried away there. Of the guys you mentioned Brooks, Bracco, and maybe Grunstrom would probably be the only guys with a good chance of being impact AHLers in their rookie seasons, if at all.

I totally am, mostly from excitement that the Marlies will no longer be clogged with that many cap dumps.

I'd say Dzierkals has the best chance of the remaining bunch coming in. Walker and Bobylev will probably make a bit of hay but have consistency issues. Korostelev as well, but he'll get focused Barb time over the next couple of years (a la Leivo). I nothing Desrocher and Middleton, but they'll probably anchor the bottom pairing.

I think Kapanen and Leipsic will graduate for sure, maybe Gauthier depending on Boyle, and Griffith depending on his playoff showing and training camp.

Not too shabby:
Timashov - Brooks - Bracco
Dzierkals - Moore - Johnsson
Rychel - Gauthier - Korostelev
Lindberg - x - Grundstrom
Walker - x - Piccinich
Bobylev - x - x

Obviously some bodies will move at Expansion and the Draft, but we have a lot to work with up front. Just don't look down the middle or on the backend or in net.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Obviously some bodies will move at Expansion and the Draft, but we have a lot to work with up front. Just don't look down the middle or on the backend or in net.

I wonder if they look to bring back Froese next year. He's a UFA in the summer as long as he doesn't play 15 games for Tampa.

 

[mr grieves]

I think Kapanen and Leipsic will graduate for sure, maybe Gauthier depending on Boyle, and Griffith depending on his playoff showing and training camp.

Not too shabby:
Timashov - Brooks - Bracco
Dzierkals - Moore - Johnsson
Rychel - Gauthier - Korostelev
Lindberg - x - Grundstrom
Walker - x - Piccinich
Bobylev - x - x

Why so doubtful Rychel moving up?

 

[herman]

Why so doubtful Rychel moving up?

I kind of think he'll get Vegas'd now that Fehr is here to allow Komarov or Martin to be protected.

Leipsic first, but if Rychel is still around, he'll be up after JvR and Komarov are gone.

 

[Coco-puffs]

I think Kapanen and Leipsic will graduate for sure, maybe Gauthier depending on Boyle, and Griffith depending on his playoff showing and training camp.

Not too shabby:
Timashov - Brooks - Bracco
Dzierkals - Moore - Johnsson
Rychel - Gauthier - Korostelev
Lindberg - x - Grundstrom
Walker - x - Piccinich
Bobylev - x - x

Why so doubtful Rychel moving up?

LW Depth Chart:

JvR
Hyman
Komarov
Martin
Leipsic

So two of those guys (cough* JvR, Komarov cough*) would need to be moved.  The above also doesn't account for the fact Leivo and Soshnikov might also end up as LW.  (RW depth chart being  Marner, Nylander, Brown, Sosh, Leivo, Kapanen... thats 6 guys for 4 spots. )

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

What I haven't seen mentioned is the potential waiver issues for bubble AHL guys that won't have exemption next year.

 

[mr grieves]

Why so doubtful Rychel moving up?

LW Depth Chart:

JvR
Hyman
Komarov
Martin
Leipsic

So two of those guys (cough* JvR, Komarov cough*) would need to be moved.  The above also doesn't account for the fact Leivo and Soshnikov might also end up as LW.  (RW depth chart being  Marner, Nylander, Brown, Sosh, Leivo, Kapanen... thats 6 guys for 4 spots. )

Yeah, getting ahead of myself and forgot to mention: I was assuming JvR and Komarov would be gone -- Bozak too, moving Nylander to C.

 

[herman]

What I haven't seen mentioned is the potential waiver issues for bubble AHL guys that won't have exemption next year.

Already Eligible:
Griffith
Campbell
Kalinin
Oleksy

Eligible next season:
Leipsic
Rychel

Looks like it's not really a big deal, thankfully.

 

[Kin]

LW Depth Chart:

JvR
Hyman
Komarov
Martin
Leipsic

So two of those guys (cough* JvR, Komarov cough*) would need to be moved.  The above also doesn't account for the fact Leivo and Soshnikov might also end up as LW.  (RW depth chart being  Marner, Nylander, Brown, Sosh, Leivo, Kapanen... thats 6 guys for 4 spots. )

Even still that's putting a ton of pressure on Leipsic or Rychel to not only be productive NHLers but to be legitimate 1st line players.

 

[Coco-puffs]

Why so doubtful Rychel moving up?

LW Depth Chart:

JvR
Hyman
Komarov
Martin
Leipsic

So two of those guys (cough* JvR, Komarov cough*) would need to be moved.  The above also doesn't account for the fact Leivo and Soshnikov might also end up as LW.  (RW depth chart being  Marner, Nylander, Brown, Sosh, Leivo, Kapanen... thats 6 guys for 4 spots. )

Yeah, getting ahead of myself and forgot to mention: I was assuming JvR and Komarov would be gone -- Bozak too, moving Nylander to C.

Even still:

Hyman - Matthews - Marner
Sosh/Leivo - Kadri - Brown
Leipsic - Nylander - Kapanen
Martin - Fehr/Goat - Leivo/Sosh

Still makes Rychel the 13th forward.  That's without bringing Boyle back, which I do believe management wants to do.  I do wonder if the lack of size on that third line makes it an impossibility in reality. 

Also, Gauthier becomes waiver-eligible next year I believe (but not confident in that statement).  EDIT:  I was WRONG.  SAD!  Won't be eligible until 2018-2019.

 

[mr grieves]

Even still that's putting a ton of pressure on Leipsic or Rychel to not only be productive NHLers but to be legitimate 1st line players.

I don't know. Matthews has been dragging Hyman around all season. Leipsic and Rychel look better, and Matthews will be a year older.

 

[Kin]

I don't know. Matthews has been dragging Hyman around all season. Leipsic and Rychel look better, and Matthews will be a year older.

I guess I'm setting my bar slightly higher than "better than Hyman".

 

[mr grieves]

I don't know. Matthews has been dragging Hyman around all season. Leipsic and Rychel look better, and Matthews will be a year older.

I guess I'm setting my bar slightly higher than "better than Hyman".

As we all should. But I'm wonder about the Leafs' current depth, where players might slot in...

JvR
==Nik's 1L bar==
Leipsic
Leivo
Rychel?
Hyman
Martin

 

[Kin]

As we all should. But I'm wonder about the Leafs' current depth, where players might slot in...

JvR
==Nik's 1L bar==
Leipsic
Leivo
Rychel?
Hyman
Martin

I guess I'd have to see what Leipsic and Rychel could do at the NHL level before I put them into any sort of definitive slot on the depth chart. I don't think either of them have shown enough to the point where you can definitively say they'll be really good top 6 forwards and, as a result, the Leafs should probably keep an eye open for other options at the position.

 

[rdowdall]

I don't know. Matthews has been dragging Hyman around all season. Leipsic and Rychel look better, and Matthews will be a year older.

I guess I'm setting my bar slightly higher than "better than Hyman".

"Better than Hyman" .  That is now my second favorite potential band name next to "Memories of Wonderland"

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Toronto Marlies‏ @TorontoMarlies
#Marlies News: The Marlies have acquired F Cal O'Reilly, reassigned from Buffalo.

Well, Marlies just solved their 1C problem. O'Reilly's bounced around the NHL, AHL, and KHL the past few years. Seems like the typical AAA player. 42 points in 47 games in the AHL this season.

 

[Frank E]

Toronto Marlies‏ @TorontoMarlies
#Marlies News: The Marlies have acquired F Cal O'Reilly, reassigned from Buffalo.

Well, Marlies just solved their 1C problem. O'Reilly's bounced around the NHL, AHL, and KHL the past few years. Seems like the typical AAA player. 42 points in 47 games in the AHL this season.

How did they acquire him?