Marlies Training Camp Thread

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

I don't recall who tweeted it but I read yesterday or the day before that McKegg has stood out above everyone else (in a good way.) I see they have him in the wing. Perhaps this is where he's going to have his greatest chance for success in the long run?   

The projected lineup has him on the third line agitating line wing tonight.

I'd like to see him on the second line wing ahead of Scott, but perhaps Scott is the defensive conscience on that line.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Marlies won their first preseason game 3-1 over Hamilton. Ross, Scott (PP), and McKegg (EN) all scored. Scrivens and Owuya each played half of the game with Scrivens starting and allowing the only goal. Devane and Ryan were each involved in a fight. Ranger, Kostka, and Aucoin all wore the 'A's for the game.

Our own Rob Del Mundo was at the game, maybe he can provide us with some insight as to how a few guys played.

 

[RobDM]

Marlies won their first preseason game 3-1 over Hamilton. Ross, Scott (PP), and McKegg (EN) all scored. Scrivens and Owuya each played half of the game with Scrivens starting and allowing the only goal. Devane and Ryan were each involved in a fight. Ranger, Kostka, and Aucoin all wore the 'A's for the game.

Our own Rob Del Mundo was at the game, maybe he can provide us with some insight as to how a few guys played.

Here's my game recap:
  http://www.tmlfans.ca/leafs-news/6602-marlies-beat-bulldogs-in-preseason-action

The line of Aucoin, Kadri and Scott was dangerous all night.  Scott had the game-winner on a PP late in the third, but the trio was equally as impressive on a second period PP when they hemmed the Bulldogs into their zone for the full two minutes. Only some impressive shot blocking by Hamiton's Dumont prevented a goal.

I also liked the speed of the McKegg-Ryan-Ross line.  Eakins said that he likes how McKegg is coming along. There will be some tough decisions to make; I think that due to numbers, at most two of these 3 will crack the roster.

It was good to see Paul Ranger playing again, having missed nearly 3 years of hockey for personal reasons that he still won't talk about. But apart from missing his man for Hamilton's only goal, he and Blacker were a solid pair.  Gardiner and Kostka was the pairing on the top PP unit.

Three stars were: Scott, Kostka and Ross.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Thanks Rob. Really looking forward to seeing how many points Kadri picks up playing with Aucoin.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Did Kadri appear any different than last season in terms of strength, etc?

 

[Brian Glennie]

It was good to see Paul Ranger playing again, having missed nearly 3 years of hockey for personal reasons that he still won't talk about.

What would you like to hear him say, Rob?

 

[Rebel_1812]

Whether or not putting it in the media was a ploy of Eakins(I'd like to think it was because he's a tool if not), I don't know too many people that respond well from being publicly embarrassed.

If Kadri's body fat % is an issue, then it should be addressed, but talking to the media is an idiotic ploy. I'd say it sounds like a Wellwood situation, just not as extreme.

Yeah, Wellwood seemed pretty in shape with the Jets.

I think Wellwood's 'success' the last couple of seasons was the result using him in roles that he could handle. Toronto wanted his playmaking skills to somehow translate into speed and agressiveness. That wasn't going to happen with Wellwood.

I don't know where you got that. Tbh, Toronto wanted him to stop not giving a Frig about fitness.

It's just my own viewpoint on the matter. Wellwood has had some success no matter where he's gone. No kidding they wanted him to start caring about his fitness. But if you think his role isn't different now then what the Leafs wanted him to be, I think you're mistaken.

Obviously his role is different now, it's highly diminished and he's nothing more than a role player and I don't think you can blame it on the Leafs when the guy made a comparison that Gretzky never had to weight train.

His success has never been more than marginal since his excellent 48 game season with the Leafs. He bounced from Vancouver who demoted him twice AFAIK over fitness concerns, didn't stick with SJ and now that he's considered a success story for ONE season out of the last 6, it's purely based on Winnipeg using him right?

I'm sorry but based on all the information, I'd have to call this extremely simplistic. Maybe he was scared to death of playing in the KHL again.

I think we're basically stating the same thing but from different angles. I highlighted his 'successes' because I'm not 100% sure they can be called that.

My point is, he's never changed his style...his role has been changed. My other point was, perhaps the Leafs expected to much out of the pudgy feller.

His goal totals have never really changed from year to year since he was with the Leafs other than 2 seasons ago in San Jose(though in a full season, he was on pace for over 10 goals). He's consistently been a 10 - 20 goal scorer in the league and perhaps that's all he was/is. Toronto saw some early success and thought...wow if only he could drop 20lbs, we'd have a gold mine.

That doesn't remove the fact that he had a bad attitude about his physical fitness. And it doesn't remove the fact that Kadri appears to as well(though I'm not sure if it's to the same degree).

It also doesn't remove the fact that a 'no comment' would of been a better answer from Eakins IMO

Yeah this situation is turning out a little too close to Wellwoods.  I hope the organization doesn't panic and get rid of Kadri for nothing, there is still time to rebound.  However, I think his struggle to make the NHL is also one of opportunity.  All the top six spots are taken, maybe even spill over.  If there was a trading camp Kadri would have to outplay MacArthur or Kulemin to get a top six role.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

I've always seen Kadri as a huge hit, or a huge miss type player and some friends that watched him with the Knights felt the same way when he was drafted. He was always the star on the ice or invisible.

I'm not writing him off by any means, but some things need to change if he has any hope.

 

[Corn Flake]

Groupon offer for discounts on tickets for the two Marlies games coming up next weekend if anyone is interested:

http://www.groupon.com/deals/gl-at-toronto-marlies?c=button&utm_source=newsletter&s=body&sid=11270253&utm_medium=email&pt=&utm_campaign=gl-at-toronto-marlies&date=20121007&utm_content=all-deals_greater-toronto-area&p=1&division=greater-toronto-area&user=e3cdebe65b500719105afdd06fe89a0f89cc9d8bae04e19e69f6d647f29a2d63

 

[RobDM]

Did Kadri appear any different than last season in terms of strength, etc?

I thought he played with more of an edge. It was a very chippy start to the game. 25 seconds into the period, HAM's Blake Geoffrion got called for kneeing, then Kadri went to the box for elbowing on the next shift.

It's only one exhibition game, but I see no setback in terms of comparing his play to last year.

Maybe all the drama from the past 8-9 days lit a fire under him.

 

[RobDM]

It was good to see Paul Ranger playing again, having missed nearly 3 years of hockey for personal reasons that he still won't talk about.

What would you like to hear him say, Rob?

Whatever he's comfortable saying.

 

[L K]

Did Kadri appear any different than last season in terms of strength, etc?

I thought he played with more of an edge. It was a very chippy start to the game. 25 seconds into the period, HAM's Blake Geoffrion got called for kneeing, then Kadri went to the box for elbowing on the next shift.

It's only one exhibition game, but I see no setback in terms of comparing his play to last year.

Maybe all the drama from the past 8-9 days lit a fire under him.

But were you disappointed with his body fat %.  I felt that he was probably the least impressive player on the ice in terms of arbitrary fitness statistics that have very little impact on actual performance.

 

[RobDM]

Did Kadri appear any different than last season in terms of strength, etc?

I thought he played with more of an edge. It was a very chippy start to the game. 25 seconds into the period, HAM's Blake Geoffrion got called for kneeing, then Kadri went to the box for elbowing on the next shift.

It's only one exhibition game, but I see no setback in terms of comparing his play to last year.

Maybe all the drama from the past 8-9 days lit a fire under him.

But were you disappointed with his body fat %.  I felt that he was probably the least impressive player on the ice in terms of arbitrary fitness statistics that have very little impact on actual performance.

Didn't get to see him in street clothes because he was not available to reporters after the game. But from what I saw on him on the ice - and we had a pretty good view at ice level - in one corner of the rink, I saw nothing obvious that would be a concern.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Toronto's second (and final) preseason game is tonight against Hamilton again. Once again it will be broadcasted at http://www.funny820.com/ and the puck drop is at 7:30pm. Here's a preview from Marlies.ca:

http://blog.marlies.ca/preview-marlies-bulldogs/

Some line-up notes from @KyleTheReporter:

Whatever Jussi Rynnas tweaked last week in camp doesn't look to be an issue, he's skating this morning with tonight's game roster #Marlies

Eakins will dress Greg McKegg, Brad Ross, Andrew Crescenzi, Kenny Ryan and Tyler Brenner tonight. Solid prospect battle underway #Marlies

Ashton, Kadri, Colborne, Kostka, Aucoin, Gardiner, Abbott, Scott, Owuya will sit out tonight against Hamilton. #Marlies #AHLpreseason

 

[LeafsKessel]

Toronto's second (and final) preseason game is tonight against Hamilton again. Once again it will be broadcasted at http://www.funny820.com/ and the puck drop is at 7:30pm. Here's a preview from Marlies.ca:

http://blog.marlies.ca/preview-marlies-bulldogs/

Some line-up notes from @KyleTheReporter:

Whatever Jussi Rynnas tweaked last week in camp doesn't look to be an issue, he's skating this morning with tonight's game roster #Marlies

Eakins will dress Greg McKegg, Brad Ross, Andrew Crescenzi, Kenny Ryan and Tyler Brenner tonight. Solid prospect battle underway #Marlies

Ashton, Kadri, Colborne, Kostka, Aucoin, Gardiner, Abbott, Scott, Owuya will sit out tonight against Hamilton. #Marlies #AHLpreseason

It will be fun to listen. I think that the Marlies will win tonight.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Engelage, Grimshaw, Hughesman and Syvret were all released from their tryout agreements. No surprise there of course.

Brenner, Carrick and Crescenzi were assigned to the ECHL. Toronto's new ECHL affiliate for this season are the Fort Wayne Komets. The team is also affiliated with Anaheim.

That leaves 16 forwards, 8 defencemen, and 3 goalies on the team. The team will definitely carry 8 d-men and likely 3 goalies, but another forward is probably destined for the ECHL as Eakins has said he doesn't want to carry more than 5 lines up front.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Do you have any feelings on who the last forward cut will be?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Do you have any feelings on who the last forward cut will be?

It's looking like McKegg will be taking the one open spot available at forward, which would leave Ryan, Abbott, Ross, and Devane outside of the top-12. I think Ryan is the least likely to go down as he already spent a fair bit of time there last season and has paid his dues, which is something Eakins seems to respect. He's also probably the best defensive player of the four. Abbott is probably the most offensively skilled guy in that group so it might be good to have someone like that around. Ross and Devane are in somewhat similar positions but it sounded like Ross had a better training camp and has more of a range as to where he can fit in the line-up.

So my guess would be Devane, who of course was my original pick to snag that 12 forward spot.

 

[cw]

So my guess would be Devane, who of course was my original pick to snag that 12 forward spot.

I'm wondering if their roster could use some grit. No Rosehill, Orr, Neuber or Wilson from last season. They have a number of lightweights in the forward group in a tough league. On that basis, maybe Devane will stick.

 

[maplesyrup]

Hi praise for Ziggy from the coach;

John Shannon ‏@JSportsnet
Marlie Coach Dallas Eakins just called MZigomanis the best face-off man in both leagues. This time I hope Grapes agrees with him!