Ranking Prospects 2021-2022

[herman]

PPP 5. Nick Robertson

Tis the season to let Nicky Bobby be the top banana* in the AHL, alongside Abramov, Gogolev, Der-Arguchintsev, Steeves. Get PP reps, PK reps, top-line matchups, and round out his game.

I get what Dr. Wickenheiser is saying about trying to get Robertson into 'easy speed', because you do need to give yourself some headroom to ramp up higher in certain situations (playoffs), and if your pedal is all the way down to the metal in a random December game, there's no where else to go in May/June. His second scrimmage acknowledged that advice a bit, making the play to the open man (Steeeeeeeeves) instead of forcing Jason Blakers. Robertson's shot draws a lot of attention, so leveraging his playmaking skills more will give himself more space to shoot down the road. 

* The Nathan MacKinnon of the Marlies, if you will

 

[OldTimeHockey]

PPP 5. Nick Robertson

Tis the season to let Nicky Bobby be the top banana* in the AHL, alongside Abramov, Gogolev, Der-Arguchintsev, Steeves. Get PP reps, PK reps, top-line matchups, and round out his game.

I get what Dr. Wickenheiser is saying about trying to get Robertson into 'easy speed', because you do need to give yourself some headroom to ramp up higher in certain situations (playoffs), and if your pedal is all the way down to the metal in a random December game, there's no where else to go in May/June. His second scrimmage acknowledged that advice a bit, making the play to the open man (Steeeeeeeeves) instead of forcing Jason Blakers. Robertson's shot draws a lot of attention, so leveraging his playmaking skills more will give himself more space to shoot down the road. 

* The Nathan MacKinnon of the Marlies, if you will

Yes, easy speed is an interesting way of putting it but she's absolutely correct. Full out, all the time, gives the impression of "I need to do everything" and that usually leads to players being out of position and doing more damage than good.

 

[herman]

T3. Rodion Amirov / Rasmus Sandin

I know there were some big ticket names ahead of him (Rielly, Nylander, and the next two), but Kapanen never was able to climb this high on the rankings; even in raw score prospect potential, I'd put Amirov slightly ahead of Kapanen (not as physically gifted, but much more brain).

Amirov and Sandin are similar in that regard: brainy offensive players that aren't relying on standout physical capabilities; acceptable (and moldable) defensively. As such, they're both possession glue players how use their smarts and distribution and transition skills to keep pushing the puck into better conditions for their teammates.

 

[herman]

PPP 2. Mitch Marner

He good. But he mad.

I quite like their suggestion of Ritchie-Tavares-Marner as a line; it?s quite similar to Tkachuk-Dvorak-Marner with a slow shooty centre and a big b-hole at the net, and Marner conducting the Song of Ice and Redlights.

 

[Bullfrog]

I really prefer the Matthews-Nylander and Tavares-Marner pairings. Can't decide which pairing Ritchie should go with. I can see benefits to either.

 

[herman]

I really prefer the Matthews-Nylander and Tavares-Marner pairings. Can't decide which pairing Ritchie should go with. I can see benefits to either.

I like
Bunting - Matthews - Nylander
Ritchie - Tavares - Marner
Mikheyev/Engvall - Kampf - Kase
Engvall/Simmonds - Kerfoot - Spezza

Rotate the bottom 6 as required, Kampf, Kerfoot, and possibly Mikheyev being the steadies.

 

[Bullfrog]

Wouldn't Kampf and Kerfoot be switched there?

 

[Frank E]

People are higher on Bunting than I am...I hope I'm wrong.

 

[herman]

People are higher on Bunting than I am...I hope I'm wrong.

I have a pretty good sense of who you don't care for, but who are you high on (of the grab bag of UFA wingers and bottom pairing defensemen)?

 

[herman]

Wouldn't Kampf and Kerfoot be switched there?

Not really a prospect conversation anymore, but:

How I see it is, I don't care. They're both bottom 6 lines flavoured differently, and the game sort of dictates which one gets more minutes. Generally, I think if they're trying to use Kampf as a Danault-lite option, he's going to play more than the Spezza line. It remains to be seen how they actually handle the older vets this time around; I personally want to give them more time off if at all possible.

The switch up this season to focus on more prime-aged UFAs who have salary-limiting warts, rather than grizzled and desperate to win veterans, is a good thing. A) prime-aged player should be playing at their developmental peak (a la Galchenyuk), B) coach won't be 'afraid' to sit'em, switch'em, or flip'em when needed. At this stage of the game, the Leafs cannot afford to be precious with their outer core (Hyman, Andersen, Rielly), let alone their replacement depth.

 

[dappleganger]

Put Nick Robertson on a line with Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews for the first 30 games of the season and see what he's got.

 

[Frank E]

People are higher on Bunting than I am...I hope I'm wrong.

I have a pretty good sense of who you don't care for, but who are you high on (of the grab bag of UFA wingers and bottom pairing defensemen)?

I'm hopeful that Ritchie can be Hyman.  I'm hopeful that Kerfoot can effectively rotate in to play LW in the top 6 because I'm skeptical that Bunting is good to go there.  Mikheyev might have to rotate in there as well if Bunting can't play at Tavares/Matthews/Nylander/Marner game and mind speed.

I think Engvall is 4C in that case, and Kampf 3C.  I'm hopeful that Robertson tears up the AHL early and often and forces the Leafs' hand to give them more LW scoring threat.

I'm hopeful that Liljegren has a great camp and can play effectively in 3rd pairing situations with different partners because I'm not crazy about Dermott playing the right side.  I hope TJ can repeat last season, and that Muzzin can remain healthy.  I think Rielly has something to play for this season which might help motivate him.

I'm not really high on anyone in particular, but I remain optimistic. 

Holl sucks.

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/Kyle_Cush/status/1437075142635659266
https://twitter.com/Kyle_Cush/status/1437768242483847175
https://twitter.com/Kyle_Cush/status/1438524230015012867

https://twitter.com/joshsimpson77/status/1438529481464033287

We should trade his rights to the Red Wings or something.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Wouldn't Kampf and Kerfoot be switched there?

My original assumption was that the Kampf signing would allow Kerfoot to play higher in the line-up, but it's also possible it could go the other way. We shouldn't forget that Kerfoot played a chunk of last season on a suped-up 4th line with Thornton and Spezza. Wouldn't be my first choice but it also wouldn't be entirely surprising to see him with like Spezza and Simmonds or Kase.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

https://twitter.com/Kyle_Cush/status/1437075142635659266

Somewhere in London Mark Hunter is pounding his chest right now.

 

[herman]

Kerfoot and Engvall are Keefe's utility/safety options. They never get first crack at plum gigs (they have no possibility of fireworks, whereas the cheap UFAs are mystery boxes!), but because of their transition capabilities and not being absolutely braindead, he will turn to them as the known final options for any experiments that cycle through 2-3 UFAs where nothing sticks.

So if two of Bunting, Kase, Ritchie flame out of the top 6, Kerfoot is going up there. Until then, I think he's going to be used to overmatch other 4th lines to give Spezza some speedy playmaking to work with.

 

[herman]

PPP 1. Auston Matthews

Birthday boy is in the top slot again, as expected.

Seems like all the other top picks from 2015-2016 are either already moved, contemplating moving, or putting on some kind of weird face (McDavid). The Leafs are very happy with their two, and it seems to be reciprocated. The fans mostly aren?t though, and with reason. Keefe has put them in position to garner significant individual success, but I think it?s time to turn the dial back towards team success above all.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

PPP 1. Auston Matthews

Birthday boy is in the top slot again, as expected.

Seems like all the other top picks from 2015-2016 are either already moved, contemplating moving, or putting on some kind of weird face (McDavid). The Leafs are very happy with their two, and it seems to be reciprocated. The fans mostly aren?t though, and with reason. Keefe has put them in position to garner significant individual success, but I think it?s time to turn the dial back towards team success above all.

You think the fans aren't happy with Matthews? or with the team's lack of success in general?

 

[herman]

PPP 1. Auston Matthews

Birthday boy is in the top slot again, as expected.

Seems like all the other top picks from 2015-2016 are either already moved, contemplating moving, or putting on some kind of weird face (McDavid). The Leafs are very happy with their two, and it seems to be reciprocated. The fans mostly aren?t though, and with reason. Keefe has put them in position to garner significant individual success, but I think it?s time to turn the dial back towards team success above all.

You think the fans aren't happy with Matthews? or with the team's lack of success in general?

I think lack of success, but that sort of gets targeted to specific personnel because it is more tactile than poo-pooing puck luck. I think it's a good chunk puck luck, injury luck, Keefe's deployment, Marner's head. Technically all of that falls on Dubas, but I generally agreed with most of his bets (because that's all he can literally control).

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/itsbigboyszn/status/1438913700350603264
Not my favourite play, and certainly not something to bank on, but he?s my boy and I?m going to put this drawing up on the fridge