Nylander returning to Toronto

[CarltonTheBear]

Chris Johnston ‏@reporterchris  9 minutes ago
The #leafs are targeting the Jan. 23 game in Hamilton for William Nylander's Marlies debut.

Leafs even being patient with his debut.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Modo only has 18 games left on their season, and obviously playoffs won't be happening for them. The Marlies have 38 games left, and are just 2 points out of a playoff spot. They could desperately use a guy like Nylander too as their centre depth has been awful all season long, especially with Smith/McKegg/Carrick being used on the Leafs. They've had to rely on an ECHL player to fill their 2C spot for most of the season.

They also have Swedes like Loov and Granberg (Nylander and Loov were teammates on Modo last season) so they could help ease the transition for Nylander, although it's not like he's unfamiliar with North America growing up here.

I wish they would just let him play the final 18 games and then bring him over. It's impossible to understand or comprehend any decisions the Leafs have made over the past decade.

Unfortunately, the IIHF has a rule in place that these types of transactions have to occur before January 16th, so the Leafs had to act now.  Nylander wouldn't be available to the Marlies/Leafs even after the season ended for MODO according to IIHF rules.

Don't believe it has anything to do with IIHF rules, but maybe it does and the contract was designed to reflect that:

@DarrenDreger 

Toronto included a recall provision in Nylander's contract which had to be triggered by Jan 16th.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/nylander-wont-be-with-maple-leafs-this-season/ 

The first thing Dubas mentions in this interview is that the IIHF has this rule.  The Leafs ensured they COULD ask for him back by this deadline in their agreement.  (ie, Modo could have said we'll only take Nylander if you give him up for the whole year even with the IIHF rule allowing the transfer up until Jan 16th)

Thanks for that, makes sense!

 

[Highlander]

what a difference a week makes, some hope on the Loaf front and making correct moves with the newbies

 

[bustaheims]

I confess, I don't see a potential downside here. He's proven over 20 games that he can light up the SEL so why wouldn't you want him in North America ASAP so he can adapt to the country/style of play/future teammates?

Outside of the stream of "Leafs should recall Nylander" stuff we're likely to see, I agree. There's no real development related downsides.

 

[LuncheonMeat]

I'm really liking this Kool-Aid Dubas is stirring up.
Patient development plans for the players in the system?
Opportunistic cost-saving tactics in player movement?

Click your heels, Dorothy, you're not in Toronto anymore.  You can't be, right???

 

[ZBBM]

Send him a message by assigning him to the ECHL.  That'll show him the Culture of Entitlement is over.

 

[herman]

I'm really liking this Kool-Aid Dubas is stirring up.
Patient development plans for the players in the system?
Opportunistic cost-saving tactics in player movement?

Click your heels, Dorothy, you're not in Toronto anymore.  You can't be, right???

By golly, there's also a coach that has breakout tactics that are working, and teaches his players how to implement his strategies! Then he asks them for feedback for improvements to the game plans!

Might it be that the players actually already had the brains, heart, and courage to play the right way?!

 

[Rebel_1812]

I'm really liking this Kool-Aid Dubas is stirring up.
Patient development plans for the players in the system?
Opportunistic cost-saving tactics in player movement?

Click your heels, Dorothy, you're not in Toronto anymore.  You can't be, right???

By golly, there's also a coach that has breakout tactics that are working, and teaches his players how to implement his strategies! Then he asks them for feedback for improvements to the game plans!

Might it be that the players actually already had the brains, heart, and courage to play the right way?!

This coach has one win and two loses.  Better not plan the parade or give him the jack adams award till he has a winning record at least.

 

[herman]

This coach has one win and two loses.  Better not plan the parade or give him the jack adams award till he has a winning record at least.

Note that I made no mention of wins or parades or awards. Playing the right way is its own reward, and I hope the players can stay the course. The development focus bodes well for Nylander and other prospects coming into the system, especially when our AHL and other affiliates are tasked with modeling their systems off the parent club.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Corey Pronman released his latest top-50 drafted prospects list today (insiders only):

http://insider.espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/12161713/william-nylander-tops-ranking-top-50-drafted-prospects-nhl

He ranked Nylander #1:

1. William Nylander, C, Toronto Maple Leafs (previous ranking: 4)
Current team: Toronto Marlies (AHL) | 2014-15 stats: 21 GP 8 G 12 A
DOB: 5-1-96 | Draft: No. 8, 2014

The top group were all close for me, and I would not say that putting Nylander No. 1 was an easy call. I leaned toward him because he stands out. His skill level is unique, his play in Sweden this year has been unique, the way he weaves through the neutral zone and gains the blue line effortlessly is unique. He's by no means a perfect player -- he has to improve his play off the puck and get a lot stronger -- but the upside is quite tantalizing.

Reinhart, Ehlers, Bennett, and Domi rounded out the top-5.

edit: Should note, "prospects are considered "graduated" if they have more than 25 games played this season in the NHL, 50 career NHL games, or are currently on an NHL roster. Thus, players like Mikhail Grigorenko and David Pastrnak are considered graduates."

Ekblad and Draisaitl considered graduated too.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

That's certainly promising.

 

[ZBBM]

Corey Pronman released his latest top-50 drafted prospects list today (insiders only):

http://insider.espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/12161713/william-nylander-tops-ranking-top-50-drafted-prospects-nhl

He ranked Nylander #1:

1. William Nylander, C, Toronto Maple Leafs (previous ranking: 4)
Current team: Toronto Marlies (AHL) | 2014-15 stats: 21 GP 8 G 12 A
DOB: 5-1-96 | Draft: No. 8, 2014

The top group were all close for me, and I would not say that putting Nylander No. 1 was an easy call. I leaned toward him because he stands out. His skill level is unique, his play in Sweden this year has been unique, the way he weaves through the neutral zone and gains the blue line effortlessly is unique. He's by no means a perfect player -- he has to improve his play off the puck and get a lot stronger -- but the upside is quite tantalizing.

Reinhart, Ehlers, Bennett, and Domi rounded out the top-5.

edit: Should note, "prospects are considered "graduated" if they have more than 25 games played this season in the NHL, 50 career NHL games, or are currently on an NHL roster. Thus, players like Mikhail Grigorenko and David Pastrnak are considered graduates."

Ekblad and Draisaitl considered graduated too.

Seems like a fair assessment to me.