Marlies' Playoff Games

[Frank E]

Should we read anything into the fact that since prospects Eemeli Rasanen and Keaton Middleton's playoff runs ended, that they weren't invited to join the Marlies on ATOs to experience a professional playoff atmosphere? Middleton's rights expire prior to the draft and if he fails to sign a contract, he will re-enter the draft.

Bet your bottom dollar that Middleton isn't getting an NHL contract. Really though, there are much better defensemen getting scratched at the moment for the Marlies anyways.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Should we read anything into the fact that since prospects Eemeli Rasanen and Keaton Middleton's playoff runs ended, that they weren't invited to join the Marlies on ATOs to experience a professional playoff atmosphere? Middleton's rights expire prior to the draft and if he fails to sign a contract, he will re-enter the draft.

Rasanen's OHL playoffs only ended last week, but he's joined the Marlies today. Probably just needed a bit of a break to recover from some bumps and bruises.

 

[herman]

Should we read anything into the fact that since prospects Eemeli Rasanen and Keaton Middleton's playoff runs ended, that they weren't invited to join the Marlies on ATOs to experience a professional playoff atmosphere? Middleton's rights expire prior to the draft and if he fails to sign a contract, he will re-enter the draft.

Rasanen's OHL playoffs only ended last week, but he's joined the Marlies today. Probably just needed a bit of a break to recover from some bumps and bruises.

I don't see him getting any playoff ice time barring catastrophic injury to the left side, as he's largely an unknown quantity to the coaching staff and is generally with the Marlies as more of a development team project. The lack of Middleton is interesting.

The other large d-man of 2016, Nicolas Mattinen, is playing for the OHL finals with the Hamilton Bulldogs against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. It's going to be a... dogfight.

 

[herman]

https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2018/05/01/sheldon-keefe-on-timothy-liljegren-perhaps-the-thing-im-most-impressed-with-is-how-physical-hes-been-and-how-hes-handled-the-physical-play/

We were talking about the impact that Andreas Johnsson and Travis Dermott and the impact they had in Game 5. It?s not always easy for a player to come down from the NHL level, especially from a playoff series like the one the Leafs played against the Bruins. Why was that transition kind of seamless for those two players?

Keefe: I think a big part of it you can attribute to their personality. Both guys are very positive people with great energy about them. I don?t think in any way do they feel they?re above this or that playing at this level is beneath them coming off of just finishing playing a Game 7. They were excited to come in. The circumstances were that it was an elimination game for both games, with a Game 5 in a best-of-five series. They were excited to be able to come in and make an impact. The other part of it is that both players ? I listened to both of their interviews ? said it felt like home, like this was where they?ve spent time and where they?ve been playing. They know the players and coaches, and what the expectations are. Those type of things make for a more seamless transition. Certainly, it?s a nice luxury for us to be able to add them in a game of that magnitude and we?re excited to have them moving forward.

The entire city would love to see the Leafs acquire a right-handed shot on the blue line that is not too expensive, that can be dynamic, that can also be responsible in their own end. On that note, how has Timothy Liljegren been this season?

Keefe: He?s been good. It?s not easy to be an 18-year-old defenseman in the AHL. There have certainly been times when you can tell he?s an 18-year-old defenseman playing in the American league and he?s trying to find his way and figure out how to use his unique skill set that he has ? not only in a league with faster men and all of those types of things, but a smaller ice surface and a different style of play than he?s accustomed to. That?s taken some time, but he?s been a constant on our power play and really helps us there. He moves the puck really well and efficiently. Perhaps the thing I?m most impressed with is how physical he?s been and how he?s handled the physical play. At times, he maybe loses battles, but he gets right up and gets right into it. He?s not shy; he?s not afraid. Those are very good signs because the skill set is a very good one, for sure. As he continues to mature, and gets quicker and stronger, all of these things will just thrive that much more. We?re excited for him for sure and we think this season has been a very productive one.

 

[Highlander]

Should we read anything into the fact that since prospects Eemeli Rasanen and Keaton Middleton's playoff runs ended, that they weren't invited to join the Marlies on ATOs to experience a professional playoff atmosphere? Middleton's rights expire prior to the draft and if he fails to sign a contract, he will re-enter the draft.

Rasanen's OHL playoffs only ended last week, but he's joined the Marlies today. Probably just needed a bit of a break to recover from some bumps and bruises.

I don't see him getting any playoff ice time barring catastrophic injury to the left side, as he's largely an unknown quantity to the coaching staff and is generally with the Marlies as more of a development team project. The lack of Middleton is interesting.

The other large d-man of 2016, Nicolas Mattinen, is playing for the OHL finals with the Hamilton Bulldogs against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. It's going to be a... dogfight.

Funny Herman

 

[Highlander]

Engvall scores again last night. another nice snipe

 

[herman]

Engvall scores again last night. another nice snipe

It was the product of some underrated work in the corner by Trevor Moore!

https://twitter.com/TorontoMarlies/status/992216704154456064

 

[Highlander]

Engvall scored the game winner, yes on nice work by Moore. Timashov 4 goals in 6 playoff games.  Nice pipeline

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Engvall scores again last night. another nice snipe

It was the product of some underrated work in the corner by Trevor Moore!

https://twitter.com/TorontoMarlies/status/992216704154456064

The height difference between Engvall and Moore/Brooks in that is hilarious.

 

[Highlander]

Engvall scores again last night. another nice snipe

It was the product of some underrated work in the corner by Trevor Moore!

https://twitter.com/TorontoMarlies/status/992216704154456064

The height difference between Engvall and Moore/Brooks in that is hilarious.

He has quite the wingspan, nice thing is he seems to know exactly where to go and you can see he snipes exactly were he is looking

 

[cabber24]

https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2018/05/01/sheldon-keefe-on-timothy-liljegren-perhaps-the-thing-im-most-impressed-with-is-how-physical-hes-been-and-how-hes-handled-the-physical-play/

We were talking about the impact that Andreas Johnsson and Travis Dermott and the impact they had in Game 5. It?s not always easy for a player to come down from the NHL level, especially from a playoff series like the one the Leafs played against the Bruins. Why was that transition kind of seamless for those two players?

Keefe: I think a big part of it you can attribute to their personality. Both guys are very positive people with great energy about them. I don?t think in any way do they feel they?re above this or that playing at this level is beneath them coming off of just finishing playing a Game 7. They were excited to come in. The circumstances were that it was an elimination game for both games, with a Game 5 in a best-of-five series. They were excited to be able to come in and make an impact. The other part of it is that both players ? I listened to both of their interviews ? said it felt like home, like this was where they?ve spent time and where they?ve been playing. They know the players and coaches, and what the expectations are. Those type of things make for a more seamless transition. Certainly, it?s a nice luxury for us to be able to add them in a game of that magnitude and we?re excited to have them moving forward.

The entire city would love to see the Leafs acquire a right-handed shot on the blue line that is not too expensive, that can be dynamic, that can also be responsible in their own end. On that note, how has Timothy Liljegren been this season?

Keefe: He?s been good. It?s not easy to be an 18-year-old defenseman in the AHL. There have certainly been times when you can tell he?s an 18-year-old defenseman playing in the American league and he?s trying to find his way and figure out how to use his unique skill set that he has ? not only in a league with faster men and all of those types of things, but a smaller ice surface and a different style of play than he?s accustomed to. That?s taken some time, but he?s been a constant on our power play and really helps us there. He moves the puck really well and efficiently. Perhaps the thing I?m most impressed with is how physical he?s been and how he?s handled the physical play. At times, he maybe loses battles, but he gets right up and gets right into it. He?s not shy; he?s not afraid. Those are very good signs because the skill set is a very good one, for sure. As he continues to mature, and gets quicker and stronger, all of these things will just thrive that much more. We?re excited for him for sure and we think this season has been a very productive one.

Can someone put Liljegren into a time machine to get another year or two of Marlies development and send him back to today? That would be very helpful.

 

[herman]

The height difference between Engvall and Moore/Brooks in that is hilarious.

He has quite the wingspan, nice thing is he seems to know exactly where to go and you can see he snipes exactly were he is looking

The most hilarious thing is how Syracuse left a 6'4" giant in the middle of the ice literally uncontested.

Engvall has started getting into more dangerous ice this season; he was pretty tentative last year, so it's a great sign, as he can certainly make his opportunities count.

 

[herman]

Can someone put Liljegren into a time machine to get another year or two of Marlies development and send him back to today? That would be very helpful.

This? http://dragonball.wikia.com/wiki/Hyperbolic_Time_Chamber

 

[Guilt Trip]

The height difference between Engvall and Moore/Brooks in that is hilarious.

He has quite the wingspan, nice thing is he seems to know exactly where to go and you can see he snipes exactly were he is looking

The most hilarious thing is how Syracuse left a 6'4" giant in the middle of the ice literally uncontested.

Engvall has started getting into more dangerous ice this season; he was pretty tentative last year, so it's a great sign, as he can certainly make his opportunities count.

I haven't seen him play but is he another that could potentially play for the big club next year?

 

[herman]

I haven't seen him play but is he another that could potentially play for the big club next year?

Engvall's SHL contract has expired, and I think he's earned an ELC with his recent showings, helping a depleted Marlies squad coast into the playoffs. I think he gets at least another year with the Marlies to get acclimated with the North American game; he needs more skating work and room to grow into a less peripheral game (given his size).

More likely to make the jump is Carl Grundstrom, who is a more offensively oriented version of Zach Hyman. On the backend, we might see Justin Holl, given the presumed departure of Roman Polak.

A Gardiner-Holl pair would be hilarious.

 

[Coco-puffs]

The height difference between Engvall and Moore/Brooks in that is hilarious.

He has quite the wingspan, nice thing is he seems to know exactly where to go and you can see he snipes exactly were he is looking

The most hilarious thing is how Syracuse left a 6'4" giant in the middle of the ice literally uncontested.

Engvall has started getting into more dangerous ice this season; he was pretty tentative last year, so it's a great sign, as he can certainly make his opportunities count.

I haven't seen him play but is he another that could potentially play for the big club next year?

Well, we have to sign him to a contract first (he's on a PTO right now).  If we don't sign him by June 1st of this year, he becomes a free-agent.  I have my doubts he'd be play for the big club next year as you've got the following ahead of him on LW:

Hyman (who I'd prefer playing RW, but we have too many guys there)
Marleau
Johnsson
Grundstrom

And the following in the same class, but with more experience in North America

Moore
Timashov
Marchment

Its interesting to see the prospect depth chart these days, look at their ages, and determine at what point do you say if a player is no more than a fringe NHLer or still has enough room to improve to be more than a fringe NHLer.  Keeping in mind that most players these days have their best seasons from age 23-25, essentially, if you are 23 now... you gotta look like you are NHL ready now or you won't be more than just an injury callup.

Here is our list of forwards 24 or under in descending order (of age) with position and age listed.  I've only included guys who either stand out as early round picks or current Marlies.  I also included current Leafs to compare the ages of some of our prospects to guys who have already established themselves in the NHL.

Miro Aaltonen - C (24 - turns 25 in a month)
Connor Brown - RW (24)
Andreas Johnsson - LW (23)
Mason Marchment - LW (23)
Trevor Moore - LW (23)
Will Nye - C/RW (22)
Adam Brooks - C (22 in 2 days)
Pierre Engvall - LW (21 - turns 22 at the end of this month)
Yegor Korshkov - RW (21)
Kasperi Kapanen - RW (21)
Dmytro Timashov - LW (21)
Jeremy Bracco - RW (21)
Mitch Marner - RW (21 tomorrow)
Auston Matthews - C (20)
Carl Grundstrom - LW (20)

So, the higher you are on that list, the closer you need to be.  The lower you are on the list, the higher the chance you have of making enough progress over the next little while. 

 

[Frank E]

A Gardiner-Holl pair would be hilarious.

I don't think "hilarious" is the word that would describe how I feel.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Thx Herman and Coco...appreciate it.

 

[herman]

A Gardiner-Holl pair would be hilarious.

I don't think "hilarious" is the word that would describe how I feel.

You don't think two best friends who are both F-to-D converts from the same Minnesotan neighbourhood with a penchant for pinching plays and patient first passes wouldn't be really funny to see play together?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

A Gardiner-Holl pair would be hilarious.

I don't think "hilarious" is the word that would describe how I feel.

You don't think two best friends who are both F-to-D converts from the same Minnesotan neighbourhood with a penchant for pinching plays and patient first passes wouldn't be really funny to see play together?

I think what new-Frank meant is that there would be nothing funny about how incredibly effective those two would be together on the ice.