Pre-Season: Leafs @ Flyers - Sept. 15, 6:00pm - LeafsTV, TSN 1050

[Stickytape]

Not to sound like an echo, but I was also wowed by Rielly.  Ranger and Raymond looked good, too.  And whoever this "Kadri" kid is.

Pleasantly surprised by Gibson, who looked strong.  I still like the look of Gauthier; certainly one to keep an eye on over the next couple years.

Also, I <3 Harry Neale.

 

[leafplasma]

MacWilliam was solid out there, I was very impressed.  I mean this guy is very mobile out there for a big bruising dman.  He should easily be able to replace Fraser in the bottom pairing  at the very least in a year or two.  Ranger, Raymond and of course Kadri also stood out in this game for me. Gibson was also steady.

 

[maplesyrup]

Missed it... Sounds like the Leafs are writing up the Raymond contract as we speak?

 

[hockeyfan1]

Impressed with Paul Rangers' agility and Mason Raymond's speed.  Kadri was his usual great self, Reimer looked sharp and well, the result was a win. 

According to coach Carlyle:
"I would give this game an overall average grade. We are trying to establish some of the staples of a hockey system here," he said. "It is interesting to watch how some players separate themselves from the rest of the group.

"The NHL plays at another level and you can't make some of the mistakes we did tonight in certain areas of the ice."

He's probably right but these games are meant to showcase some new additions & talents.  As the exhibition games progress and the roster is trimmed, cohesion will most certainly be present.

Source: TSN

 

[OldTimeHockey]

After two periods you're already pencilling the 19 year old kid in as a 3rd liner?

Yes, that wasn't clear?

EDIT: On this year's team? No. I mean his skill set looks as if he'll be 3rd line material when he reaches his potential. He's not making this team.

Clear sure....I just was dumbfounded that someone could jump the gun this early. Do tell why you're not a scout in the NHL?

 

[Chev-boyar-sky]

After two periods you're already pencilling the 19 year old kid in as a 3rd liner?

Yes, that wasn't clear?

EDIT: On this year's team? No. I mean his skill set looks as if he'll be 3rd line material when he reaches his potential. He's not making this team.

Clear sure....I just was dumbfounded that someone could jump the gun this early. Do tell why you're not a scout in the NHL?

That would give away the main reason for the paying public to read my autobiography entitled "Why I didn't become an NHL scout". I can give you a sneak preview though:

Excerpt: "I could make more money in my chosen career"

Reserve your copy now to get the whole story. They may just re-launch the Oprah Winfrey show for my exclusive story. It will make a Million Little Pieces look like a Dr. Seuss book.


EDIT: Seriously though, you're "dumbfounded" that a person you've never met, don't know/know nothing about, would have an opinion on a hockey forum board about a prospect in the system? I guess you must walk around in a permanent state of dumbfoundedness. Then due to your being dumbfounded, you feel the need to be an a$$ and ask why I'm not an NHL scout? I'd say that the response had me dumbfounded, but that'd be a little over-dramatic, don't you think?

 

[OldTimeHockey]

EDIT: Seriously though, you're "dumbfounded" that a person you've never met, don't know/know nothing about, would have an opinion on a hockey forum board about a prospect in the system? I guess you must walk around in a permanent state of dumbfoundedness. Then due to your being dumbfounded, you feel the need to be an a$$ and ask why I'm not an NHL scout? I'd say that the response had me dumbfounded, but that'd be a little over-dramatic, don't you think?

Oh simmer down Chev..talk about being over-dramatic.

I don't agree with your ability to assess talent sitting on your couch after 40 minutes of hockey. Imagine that, someone not agreeing with you on a message board. The horror!

 

[Boston Leaf]

Not quite sure how evaluations or projections for future can be made on newer players after 1 exhibition game?

 

[Chev-boyar-sky]

Not quite sure how evaluations or projections for future can be made on newer players after 1 exhibition game?

If you read my earlier post you'll see I've done my due diligence on Gauthier. This isn't just 1 game. I like the look of his skill set and think he'll be a player that makes the NHL roster at some point.

I love how it's impossible to try to project a players abilities based on how they look against some NHL talent. There have been various players over the years that have looked more ready than others.

I can take Rielly's game from yesterday, read scouting reports, watch video, and say "It sure looks like the consensus on him will probably be correct! Top 1-4 material".

Likewise I can watch Guathier and say the same. Looks like he has a bunch of tools to make the NHL and I was impressed by his defensive game at times. He made a nice pass on the 2nd goal. His skill set doesn't seem to me (or to many scouting reports) to be that of a top shelf talent. As soon as he was drafted there were many analysts saying he's a safe choice who'll be a 3rd line type guy, why draft that in the 1st round? (paraphrasing their words).

Could he end up a 2nd line centre? Of course. I don't see in him what other guys who are likely to be 1st/2nd line centers in the NHL at a comparable age. Shoot me. 

 

[Chev-boyar-sky]

EDIT: Seriously though, you're "dumbfounded" that a person you've never met, don't know/know nothing about, would have an opinion on a hockey forum board about a prospect in the system? I guess you must walk around in a permanent state of dumbfoundedness. Then due to your being dumbfounded, you feel the need to be an a$$ and ask why I'm not an NHL scout? I'd say that the response had me dumbfounded, but that'd be a little over-dramatic, don't you think?

Oh simmer down Chev..talk about being over-dramatic.

I don't agree with your ability to assess talent sitting on your couch after 40 minutes of hockey. Imagine that, someone not agreeing with you on a message board. The horror!

Well again there's a good amount of material to see of the kid if one looks (7 Team Canada U18 tournament games to start).

Feel free to disagree with me, that's cool. Ultimately the kid will be what he'll be. I think (even early on) that he's a lock down the road to be a 3rd line C. If he can develop more of an offensive game, then he could be a 2nd line C but offensive games (skills) are harder to develop IMO. You are reserving your opinion on the guy until he's got more time under his belt (you've seen him more as well, I don't know) and he's proven more one way or another.

I'm not sure that's projecting a guys abilities as much as it is letting their play/stats speak for themselves, but I can understand that stance as well to some extent.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

EDIT: Seriously though, you're "dumbfounded" that a person you've never met, don't know/know nothing about, would have an opinion on a hockey forum board about a prospect in the system? I guess you must walk around in a permanent state of dumbfoundedness. Then due to your being dumbfounded, you feel the need to be an a$$ and ask why I'm not an NHL scout? I'd say that the response had me dumbfounded, but that'd be a little over-dramatic, don't you think?

Oh simmer down Chev..talk about being over-dramatic.

I don't agree with your ability to assess talent sitting on your couch after 40 minutes of hockey. Imagine that, someone not agreeing with you on a message board. The horror!

Well again there's a good amount of material to see of the kid if one looks (7 Team Canada U18 tournament games to start).

Feel free to disagree with me, that's cool. Ultimately the kid will be what he'll be. I think (even early on) that he's a lock down the road to be a 3rd line C. If he can develop more of an offensive game, then he could be a 2nd line C but offensive games (skills) are harder to develop IMO. You are reserving your opinion on the guy until he's got more time under his belt (you've seen him more as well, I don't know) and he's proven more one way or another.

I'm not sure that's projecting a guys abilities as much as it is letting their play/stats speak for themselves, but I can understand that stance as well.

I do tend to reserve judgement until I can see what can be done to develop a player into what they can fully become.

Which is why I shy away from calling Rielly a can't miss prospect as I did with Colaiacovo, Pogge, Rask, etc;  Who knows what happens to these guys if they're placed in the right or wrong situation.

I personally am excited about a 6'5 18 year old in the system with the possibility of being a very good player in this league. We'll see what we get in a few years.

 

[Boston Leaf]

Chev I wasnt actually referencing your post in particular. Jsut what I have been reading on many blogs posts. With coaching and experience anyone who played last night could exceed expectations..way too early in the game for all

 

[Chev-boyar-sky]

EDIT: Seriously though, you're "dumbfounded" that a person you've never met, don't know/know nothing about, would have an opinion on a hockey forum board about a prospect in the system? I guess you must walk around in a permanent state of dumbfoundedness. Then due to your being dumbfounded, you feel the need to be an a$$ and ask why I'm not an NHL scout? I'd say that the response had me dumbfounded, but that'd be a little over-dramatic, don't you think?

Oh simmer down Chev..talk about being over-dramatic.

I don't agree with your ability to assess talent sitting on your couch after 40 minutes of hockey. Imagine that, someone not agreeing with you on a message board. The horror!

Well again there's a good amount of material to see of the kid if one looks (7 Team Canada U18 tournament games to start).

Feel free to disagree with me, that's cool. Ultimately the kid will be what he'll be. I think (even early on) that he's a lock down the road to be a 3rd line C. If he can develop more of an offensive game, then he could be a 2nd line C but offensive games (skills) are harder to develop IMO. You are reserving your opinion on the guy until he's got more time under his belt (you've seen him more as well, I don't know) and he's proven more one way or another.

I'm not sure that's projecting a guys abilities as much as it is letting their play/stats speak for themselves, but I can understand that stance as well.

I do tend to reserve judgement until I can see what can be done to develop a player into what they can fully become.

Which is why I shy away from calling Rielly a can't miss prospect as I did with Colaiacovo, Pogge, Rask, etc;  Who knows what happens to these guys if they're placed in the right or wrong situation.

I personally am excited about a 6'5 18 year old in the system with the possibility of being a very good player in this league. We'll see what we get in a few years.

Agreed. I think he's got more tools than most, if not all, forward prospects in our system for a viable and complete NHL game.  I thought (even though it was only 1 game) that he looked better than Joe Colborne in almost all facets of his game.

As you say, time will tell, but the point I was making in my original post is that I believe he is an NHL player one day unlike a lot of guys in the system (Ross, Leivo, Biggs, McKegg) who "might" be. The question in my mind remains where, though as of this moment (to me) it looks as if he'll be a great 3rd liner with the potential to be a Jordan Staal type player if he reaches his potential.

 

[Chev-boyar-sky]

Chev I wasnt actually referencing your post in particular. Jsut what I have been reading on many blogs posts. With coaching and experience anyone who played last night could exceed expectations..way too early in the game for all

The question there though is, what are the expectations and is exceeding them good enough to make them NHL players.

Coaching can only do so much, ditto experience. Guys like Rielly, Guathier, Leivo and MacWilliam will benefit more from that as they're really young.

I still think Biggs is close to bust status and Colborne needs to raise his game or he's done.

EDIT: Watched a good number a Generals games during the lockout to form this opinion of Biggs. I really hope the best for him, and realize he's 20 and a big body, but I just didn't see it. He was a very fortunate passenger on Boone Jenner's line.

 

[Jalili]

The question there though is, what are the expectations and is exceeding them good enough to make them NHL players.

Coaching can only do so much, ditto experience. Guys like Rielly, Guathier, Leivo and MacWilliam will benefit more from that as they're really young.

I still think Biggs is close to bust status and Colborne needs to raise his game or he's done.

EDIT: Watched a good number a Generals games during the lockout to form this opinion of Biggs. I really hope the best for him, and realize he's 20 and a big body, but I just didn't see it. He was a very fortunate passenger on Boone Jenner's line.

It's still so early to say with Gauthier that I'm hesitant to make any predictions about him. It's often the player's post-draft year that indicates the direction that player's headed.

Regarding Biggs though, I agree with your assessment of him. That's one pick that I think they'd like to do over if they could.