Leafs claim Seth Griffith off waivers

[Kaberle15]

Matt Martin better sandpaper the hell out of people, because you could make a pretty good case he's not one of the best 13 or even 14 forwards in the organization now.

Don't remind me. No one on waivers from the Leafs means Brown goes down for this (which is maybe better as he'll get top line minutes and be the first call up). Or Hunwick and Polak get traded in my dream scenario.

They still can put Leivo on ER, and assign Laich to the Marlies before they need to send someone else down...

 

[mr grieves]

Looks like a safer, bottom 6 pick than Pulkkinen, as well as centre depth in a pinch (he plays RW usually).

What does that mean, exactly? Don't we have plenty of safe bottom 6 options?

As a direct comparison to the other AHL dominant waiver option of interest: Griffith doesn't need a top 6 role the way Pulkkinen would've.

Defensively, he looks like a better option than Leivo. Better hockey sense than Hyman. If they miraculously waive someone else (Polak/Hunwick pls) and keep Brown, the two of them could split a season without overwhelming either of them.

That might be an ideal outcome. Not least because one of Polak and Hunwick won't be around. But I don't think the Leafs have been built as a top6/ bottom6 for some time and certainly aren't going forward...

Anyhow, Griffith seems nice -- not to be a huge improvement over what we've got already, but an NHL-ready version of same. Would've rathered a gamble on Pulkkinen, since his .75g/gm in the AHL suggests an element to his game that's a bit novel, exciting relative to what the Leafs already have.

 

[herman]

Ideally, we play Griffith to Kadri's wing opposite Komarov and just move on from Michalek to let Brown be the sniper-designate of the fourth line. Griffith acquitted himself well playing alongside Bergeron, and it gives him and Kadri some skill to play off of. Winging for Holland isn't bad either, but Martin is not exactly conducive to completing plays.

So I'm a bit sour about the no big deal Martin and Polak signings, and while a team shouldn't be basing their plans on the waiver wire or the trade front, these were pretty obvious impediments to roster flexibility in areas of the team replete with serviceable options. Whatever. They're here and they can be easily moved if Management feels the need.

I'd still feel better about this:
Hyman - Matthews - Nylander
van Riemsdyk - Bozak - Marner
Komarov - Kadri - Griffith
Soshnikov - Holland - Brown

Rielly - Zaitsev
Gardiner - Carrick
Marincin - Corrado

 

[Kin]

I really think some people are unfairly writing off Michalek. I get that he's been awful/hurt for a couple years but I really do think he's got some real potential to be a PAP type surprise.

 

[ZBBM]

I really think some people are unfairly writing off Michalek. I get that he's been awful/hurt for a couple years but I really do think he's got some real potential to be a PAP type surprise.

Speaking of which, did anyone claim PAP? 

 

[Coco-puffs]

I really think some people are unfairly writing off Michalek. I get that he's been awful/hurt for a couple years but I really do think he's got some real potential to be a PAP type surprise.

Speaking of which, did anyone claim PAP?

New Jersey

 

[bustaheims]

I really think some people are unfairly writing off Michalek. I get that he's been awful/hurt for a couple years but I really do think he's got some real potential to be a PAP type surprise.

Agreed. It's been a few years, but, he has five 20+ goal seasons to his credit - including one in which he scored 35. If he's healthy, there's a very real chance he could be a quality contributor and an intriguing asset at the trade deadline.

 

[ZBBM]

I really think some people are unfairly writing off Michalek. I get that he's been awful/hurt for a couple years but I really do think he's got some real potential to be a PAP type surprise.

Speaking of which, did anyone claim PAP?

New Jersey

Thanks.

 

[Highlander]

I really think some people are unfairly writing off Michalek. I get that he's been awful/hurt for a couple years but I really do think he's got some real potential to be a PAP type surprise.

Agreed and Michalek played very well at the World Cup. 

 

[Highlander]

Hunter knows this guy of course so there is the connection.

"Hunter knows this guy" or "He was a London Knight" is not an answer to "What role is he likely to play?".

I think I would rather have him play "Macbeth" than Fred Gauthiers "King Lear"

 

[Redleaf]

I get passing on Pulkkinen but this confuses me a little bit. Is he a press box guy? A smallish AHL scorer?

There is a London Knights connection, for what it's worth.

I'm at a loss as to what that means.

familiarity? Hunter probably has a role mapped out for him, whatever that may be.

 

[Kin]

familiarity? Hunter probably has a role mapped out for him, whatever that may be.

I've read a lot about the current management team and how it's set up and nothing I've read gives me the indication that Hunter is the guy making these sorts of line-up decisions. The way I understand things he's really more on the amateur scouting side of things.

 

[Redleaf]

familiarity? Hunter probably has a role mapped out for him, whatever that may be.

I've read a lot about the current management team and how it's set up and nothing I've read gives me the indication that Hunter is the guy making these sorts of line-up decisions. The way I understand things he's really more on the amateur scouting side of things.

So you don't think they even bothered discussing the player and the role he could play, with the guy in the organization that would know him best? I think that's highly unlikely.

 

[herman]

[tweet]785885494655774720[/tweet]

Slightly related:
[tweet]785874329338798080[/tweet]

Sounds like names are floated and the round table states their respective cases and they just vote on it like a board.

 

[Redleaf]

[tweet]785885494655774720[/tweet]

Slightly related:
[tweet]785874329338798080[/tweet]

Thanks Herman. That was a timely post.

 

[Kin]

So you don't think they even bothered discussing the player with the guy in the organization that would know him best? I think that highly unlikely.

I'm sure they did but, again, "Mark Hunter likes him" is not an answer to what role he'll play and why they thought he'd be better at it than their other options.

As a rule, when the team adds a player, I take that someone in the organization is high on that player as a given.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I like the pick up.  Leafs aren't loaded with RW prospects and he can immediately step into the lineup even if it is on the 4th line to start and provide more skill on that line.  His age 22 season in the AHL is second only to Jordan Eberle in the past decade for points production at that age.  He's likely already better than Leivo.

 

[Coco-puffs]

I like the pick up.  Leafs aren't loaded with RW prospects and he can immediately step into the lineup even if it is on the 4th line to start and provide more skill on that line.  His age 22 season in the AHL is second only to Jordan Eberle in the past decade for points production at that age.  He's likely already better than Leivo.

Aren't loaded with RW prospects?

Right-shot Right Wingers (ie, ones that don't usually play their off wing)
Marner
Brown
Kapanen
Bracco
Korostelev

Left-shot Right Wingers (ie, ones that play their offside a lot or are at least listed to do so):
Korshkov
Soshnikov
Lindberg
Grundstrom (some places have him listed as either wing though)

Our left side seems to have less depth:
Leivo (right handed, but plays the off wing)
Hyman (right handed, can play either wing)
Leipsic
Timashov
Dzierkals
Johnson

And the above doesn't include Nylander, who I do expect to move to center once Bozak is moved but is on the right side now.  If anything, aside from defense, we aren't as deep organizationally at Center and Seth Griffith does provide us with depth there.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I like the pick up.  Leafs aren't loaded with RW prospects and he can immediately step into the lineup even if it is on the 4th line to start and provide more skill on that line.  His age 22 season in the AHL is second only to Jordan Eberle in the past decade for points production at that age.  He's likely already better than Leivo.

Aren't loaded with RW prospects?

Right-shot Right Wingers (ie, ones that don't usually play their off wing)
Marner
Brown
Kapanen
Bracco
Korostelev

Left-shot Right Wingers (ie, ones that play their offside a lot or are at least listed to do so):
Korshkov
Soshnikov
Lindberg
Grundstrom (some places have him listed as either wing though)

Our left side seems to have less depth:
Leivo (right handed, but plays the off wing)
Hyman (right handed, can play either wing)
Leipsic
Timashov
Dzierkals
Johnson

And the above doesn't include Nylander, who I do expect to move to center once Bozak is moved but is on the right side now.  If anything, aside from defense, we aren't as deep organizationally at Center and Seth Griffith does provide us with depth there.

I mean moreso in terms of legit RW prospects.  I hope all of those players turn out, but Kapanen/Bracco/Korostelev are far from sure things and Marner I wouldn't really consider a RW yet, and he'd be sort of a converted C, same with Nylander.

But I guess it's not as stark as I had it in my head.

 

[cabber24]

Ouch, Prust was told he made the team prior Griffith claim and then let go. That sucks for him but it's not about him.