Marlies Talk
- Thread starter armche123
- Start date
maplesyrup
New member
mirtle James Mirtle Joey Crabb has been named the AHL player of the week.
I reviewed the highlights of the games, saw brief parts of a few of their games previously and then I watched yesterday's game (some of it twice).
I also looked at goals against stats for each skater (while they were on the ice).
That's hardly a complete set of info but let's just say I had a look.
I wanted the Leafs to try to get Colborne as part of the Kaberle package so I'm not down on him and remain hopeful.
I was encouraged by what I saw. He seems more confident, a little more aggressive and he did well anticipating offence. He's got decent offensive ability - and he's better than what I saw of him last year. I think Joey Crabb would tell you that he would have been hard pressed to win AHL player of the week without Colborne's contributions.
I'm not 100% sold yet though. In spite of his stats, I still think he has plenty of work to do in the AHL. I'd like to see him get stronger on the draw - maybe taking a page out of Steckel's use of his size to be more dominant in the faceoff circle.
I continue to feel he seems to generate enough speed with his skating and moves pretty well when he wants to. There are times when he's kind of watching and not moving his legs and other times when, as I've mentioned before, he skates big circles rather than tighter ones and doesn't always go in a straight line to where he needs to be with respect to position. If you doubt his ability to skate in the NHL, watch a clip of Steckel or Antropov skating and then watch Joe (two big men). It's no contest in my opinion. He can definitely skate well enough to play in the NHL in my opinion and on an end to end rush, he can move quite well up the ice - he's not getting left in the dust and he's probably faster than a number of NHL dman.
I've found the announcers like Millen misrepresent the current issues with his game.
Time and again, I've seen him helping on defence going back to last year. Yesterday for example, Lashoff pinched and was in a puck battle deep in the offensive zone. Joe took his spot on the point and stuck with it. The opponent won the puck battle and broke out in a two on one ... with Joe the only man back. Joe prevented the pass and across as he should and dropped to his belly attempting to block the shot that didn't find the back of the net. So he continues to have a good defensive conscience and a willingness to act upon it. He just needs the experience to get better at it - to make improved decisions in his efficiency to act quickly.
I'd say right now, he's very roughly average as an AHLer defensively - not ready for prime time yet but he's progressing nicely.
I also looked at goals against stats for each skater (while they were on the ice).
That's hardly a complete set of info but let's just say I had a look.
I wanted the Leafs to try to get Colborne as part of the Kaberle package so I'm not down on him and remain hopeful.
I was encouraged by what I saw. He seems more confident, a little more aggressive and he did well anticipating offence. He's got decent offensive ability - and he's better than what I saw of him last year. I think Joey Crabb would tell you that he would have been hard pressed to win AHL player of the week without Colborne's contributions.
I'm not 100% sold yet though. In spite of his stats, I still think he has plenty of work to do in the AHL. I'd like to see him get stronger on the draw - maybe taking a page out of Steckel's use of his size to be more dominant in the faceoff circle.
I continue to feel he seems to generate enough speed with his skating and moves pretty well when he wants to. There are times when he's kind of watching and not moving his legs and other times when, as I've mentioned before, he skates big circles rather than tighter ones and doesn't always go in a straight line to where he needs to be with respect to position. If you doubt his ability to skate in the NHL, watch a clip of Steckel or Antropov skating and then watch Joe (two big men). It's no contest in my opinion. He can definitely skate well enough to play in the NHL in my opinion and on an end to end rush, he can move quite well up the ice - he's not getting left in the dust and he's probably faster than a number of NHL dman.
I've found the announcers like Millen misrepresent the current issues with his game.
Time and again, I've seen him helping on defence going back to last year. Yesterday for example, Lashoff pinched and was in a puck battle deep in the offensive zone. Joe took his spot on the point and stuck with it. The opponent won the puck battle and broke out in a two on one ... with Joe the only man back. Joe prevented the pass and across as he should and dropped to his belly attempting to block the shot that didn't find the back of the net. So he continues to have a good defensive conscience and a willingness to act upon it. He just needs the experience to get better at it - to make improved decisions in his efficiency to act quickly.
I'd say right now, he's very roughly average as an AHLer defensively - not ready for prime time yet but he's progressing nicely.
maplesyrup
New member
You're harshing my Colborne mellow, dude. 8)
maplesyrup
New member
Newbury said:
God I hope he lives up to the hype (some of which I projected out there myself.)
Chev-boyar-sky
New member
Newbury said:
It actually ties him for the league lead with Joey Crabb with 15 pts (7G,8A) in 7 games.
Bender said:
Dallas Eakins said that he might be the best player in the AHL right now. Obviously he's a tad biased, but still very nice to hear. He was leading a goal-deprived Marlies team in goals last season prior to his call-up and was even named to the AHL all-star game, so he's had some success at that level but never anything like this.
Though I have doubts it will last, I was trying to think of a time when a Leafs player led the NHL in scoring and a Leafs prospect led the AHL/IHL in scoring. I wondered about Bruce Boudreau's days with the St Catherines/Newmarket Saints but didn't see that was likely. Sittler was near the end of his time in Toronto or had moved on.
Don't think it happened with Gilmour & Chernomaz/Perreault/Augusta either.
Even though it's just a handful of games played, it may be the first time it's happened or first time since the 60s or before. It's a pretty unusual thing for this franchise.
Don't think it happened with Gilmour & Chernomaz/Perreault/Augusta either.
Even though it's just a handful of games played, it may be the first time it's happened or first time since the 60s or before. It's a pretty unusual thing for this franchise.
Kadri's gonna be playing with Zigo (who has been playing great this year but being overshadowed by Colborne/Crabb) while with the Marlies. If those two can click like they did last season and the Colborne line keeps playing like they do the Marlies are gonna be pretty dangerous this season. A nice change from the team last season that struggled to score.
maplesyrup
New member
CarltonTheBear said:
How's D'Amigo been on that top line with Colborne and Crabb? Nobody seems to talk about this guy any more.
CarltonTheBear said:
In the Marlies games I saw last year, Zigomanis was also quite good (I think you and I agreed on that last year).
If Mueller stays on the second line, Boyce would be effectively replacing Foster (from last year) to form a checking line with Scott and captain Hamilton (from the current 2nd line) - which should continue to be a very good checking line that can score. I like Scott & Hamilton together.
This D unit looks pretty decent to me as well:
Aulie - Finger
Mikus - Holzer
Lashoff - Blacker
Rynnas & Scrivens are a solid tandem in goal.
If they don't get decimated by the needs of the Leafs and injuries like they did last year, they should do very well this year.
Someone notable I would have previously expected in the top 9: Luca Caputi, a guy Burke said last year had probably earned a spot in the NHL after preseason but the vets/contracts did him in.
From to the pre game reports, he started the season with Colborne & Crabb. According to Eakins, he pouted some when he got sent down this year - after missing much of last year with an injury. Now he has to work his way back up the Marlies depth chart. D'Amigo took his job on the top line and he's been seeing time on other lines since.
Given how close he and Hanson were to making the Leafs in Sept '10, it's quite a turn of events. Eakins has been playing him every game so he's getting his chance to play his way out of it. I would have penciled him into their top lines prior to this recent episode. And he may well bounce back before too long.
Facing waivers for the first time and clearing them = no NHL team really wants you. That's got to sting when you've got so close. Hopefully, he can get himself straightened out.
From to the pre game reports, he started the season with Colborne & Crabb. According to Eakins, he pouted some when he got sent down this year - after missing much of last year with an injury. Now he has to work his way back up the Marlies depth chart. D'Amigo took his job on the top line and he's been seeing time on other lines since.
Given how close he and Hanson were to making the Leafs in Sept '10, it's quite a turn of events. Eakins has been playing him every game so he's getting his chance to play his way out of it. I would have penciled him into their top lines prior to this recent episode. And he may well bounce back before too long.
Facing waivers for the first time and clearing them = no NHL team really wants you. That's got to sting when you've got so close. Hopefully, he can get himself straightened out.
cw said:
These are the reported Marlies lines tonight:
D'Amigo - Colborne - Crabb
Caputi - Zigomanis - Kadri
Wilson - Boyce - Hamilton
Mueller - Acton - Scott
I'm a little surprised that Scott is on the 4th line. I haven't had the chance to watch any Marlies games this season, but I seem to remember he and Hamilton were quite the pairing last season. Could just be a temporary thing though.