• For users coming over from tmlfans.ca your username will remain the same but you will need to use the password reset feature (check your spam folder) on the login page in order to set your password. If you encounter issues, email Rick couchmanrick@gmail.com

Ranking Prospects - 2017-18

CarltonTheBear said:
herman said:
And hopefully squeezing Pickard through waivers, as his only NHL action has been with the abysmal Avalanche and a sniff of coffee with the Leafs in a losing cause against the new and improved Avalanche.
Click to expand...

Obviously I don't really know if this is something he or his family (if he has one) would be comfortable with, but I wouldn't be all that surprised if Pickard took his talents overseas next season.
Click to expand...

I thought he'd be qualified with a multi-year deal similar to McElhinney and Sparks and sent down at the final second with the mass of loans to dissuade waiver vultures.
 
Frank E said:
Sparks, Pickard, and McElhinney.

Do any other teams carry this many borderline NHL goalies?
Click to expand...

And Kaskisuo, although he's technically farther from that border.

If teams don't, they ought to.

There's almost no trade value in moving non-starters right now, and it's one of the most important positions in the game as they can make or break teams for significant stretches.
 
Frank E said:
Sparks, Pickard, and McElhinney.

Do any other teams carry this many borderline NHL goalies?
Click to expand...

I think most teams nowadays carry a NHL back-up and then an AHL goalie who they're comfortable with to fill in as a NHL back-up when an injury hits. At the beginning of the season McBackup filled that first position but I don't think the Leafs were sold on Sparks to fill the second, that's why the Pickard trade happened. Obviously Sparks went on to have a heck of a season to cement his spot on the depth chart.
 
Frank E said:
Sparks, Pickard, and McElhinney.

Do any other teams carry this many borderline NHL goalies?
Click to expand...

Don Dubas is going to promote from within his system. Sparks has proven himself to be the best Goalie in the AHL.  He is still relatively young but as we know Goalies can mature a bit later than the skaters on the team.  I believe that Sparks will be an upgrade on McElhinny in the long run.  And it proves to the rest of the Marlies flock, hang in there, work hard, preform and you have a change in the bigs.  Who knows in 3 years Sparky could be #1
 
Highlander said:
Frank E said:
Sparks, Pickard, and McElhinney.

Do any other teams carry this many borderline NHL goalies?
Click to expand...

Don Dubas is going to promote from within his system. Sparks has proven himself to be the best Goalie in the AHL.  He is still relatively young but as we know Goalies can mature a bit later than the skaters on the team.  I believe that Sparks will be an upgrade on McElhinny in the long run.  And it proves to the rest of the Marlies flock, hang in there, work hard, preform and you have a change in the bigs.  Who knows in 3 years Sparky could be #1
Click to expand...

I'm no goaltender expert, but I've heard that Sparks' style in net isn't exactly the calm, low movement type goaltending you want to see in the NHL.  He's routinely making acrobatic type "out of position" saves which might not translate well to stopping NHL shooters.  They always talk about goalies playing the angles and being "quiet" in the net so they're always in the right position.  Just something to look for, but yeah he deserves a shot on the Leafs next season.
 
Zee said:
Highlander said:
Frank E said:
Sparks, Pickard, and McElhinney.

Do any other teams carry this many borderline NHL goalies?
Click to expand...

Don Dubas is going to promote from within his system. Sparks has proven himself to be the best Goalie in the AHL.  He is still relatively young but as we know Goalies can mature a bit later than the skaters on the team.  I believe that Sparks will be an upgrade on McElhinny in the long run.  And it proves to the rest of the Marlies flock, hang in there, work hard, preform and you have a change in the bigs.  Who knows in 3 years Sparky could be #1
Click to expand...

I'm no goaltender expert, but I've heard that Sparks' style in net isn't exactly the calm, low movement type goaltending you want to see in the NHL.  He's routinely making acrobatic type "out of position" saves which might not translate well to stopping NHL shooters.  They always talk about goalies playing the angles and being "quiet" in the net so they're always in the right position.  Just something to look for, but yeah he deserves a shot on the Leafs next season.
Click to expand...
Actually there was an article in the Athletic a while back about how Sparks was settling down his acrobatic style to square to the shooter style. Yes no doubt he has athletic qualities but he is definitely a better goalie than before this year
 
Highlander said:
Zee said:
Highlander said:
Frank E said:
Sparks, Pickard, and McElhinney.

Do any other teams carry this many borderline NHL goalies?
Click to expand...

Don Dubas is going to promote from within his system. Sparks has proven himself to be the best Goalie in the AHL.  He is still relatively young but as we know Goalies can mature a bit later than the skaters on the team.  I believe that Sparks will be an upgrade on McElhinny in the long run.  And it proves to the rest of the Marlies flock, hang in there, work hard, preform and you have a change in the bigs.  Who knows in 3 years Sparky could be #1
Click to expand...

I'm no goaltender expert, but I've heard that Sparks' style in net isn't exactly the calm, low movement type goaltending you want to see in the NHL.  He's routinely making acrobatic type "out of position" saves which might not translate well to stopping NHL shooters.  They always talk about goalies playing the angles and being "quiet" in the net so they're always in the right position.  Just something to look for, but yeah he deserves a shot on the Leafs next season.
Click to expand...
Actually there was an article in the Athletic a while back about how Sparks was settling down his acrobatic style to square to the shooter style. Yes no doubt he has athletic qualities but he is definitely a better goalie than before this year
Click to expand...

Yeah, I remember articles about him last summer how he was dedicated to a new fitness regime and shed some extra weight which gave him more stamina during games.  It's paid off huge for him in the AHL this year, hope it can translate to the NHL.
 
Zee said:
Highlander said:
Frank E said:
Sparks, Pickard, and McElhinney.

Do any other teams carry this many borderline NHL goalies?
Click to expand...

Don Dubas is going to promote from within his system. Sparks has proven himself to be the best Goalie in the AHL.  He is still relatively young but as we know Goalies can mature a bit later than the skaters on the team.  I believe that Sparks will be an upgrade on McElhinny in the long run.  And it proves to the rest of the Marlies flock, hang in there, work hard, preform and you have a change in the bigs.  Who knows in 3 years Sparky could be #1
Click to expand...

I'm no goaltender expert, but I've heard that Sparks' style in net isn't exactly the calm, low movement type goaltending you want to see in the NHL.  He's routinely making acrobatic type "out of position" saves which might not translate well to stopping NHL shooters.  They always talk about goalies playing the angles and being "quiet" in the net so they're always in the right position.  Just something to look for, but yeah he deserves a shot on the Leafs next season.
Click to expand...

Neither was Hasek.

therefore Sparks = next Hasek??
 
herman said:
https://twitter.com/dcmahiban/status/1002262761773117441

Obvi.
Click to expand...

The funny thing about Mattinen is that his play in the OHL the past 2 years has probably been better than anybody even expected it to be. And it still wasn't good enough to earn a NHL deal.
 
Fulemin lovingly dubbed this chunk of draft picks Mark Hunter's Large Adult Sons.

2015-3 Andrew Nielsen
2015-6 Stephen Desrocher
2016-3 JD Greenway
2016-4 Keaton Middleton
2016-6 Nicolas Mattinen
2017-2 Eemeli Rasanen
2017-5 Fedor Gordeev
 
Would be weird if the Islanders draft either of these guys.  Hunter picked them once!  I just can't see how they can keep him from helping any team (Islanders, if Lou has anything to do with clandestine meetings) before his non compete expires. That is why God invented encrypted cell phones.
 
Frank E said:
Leafs aren't signing him, lose his rights, he's going back into the draft.
Click to expand...

It'll be interesting to see if anyone takes a flyer on these guys in the draft, or if anyone grabs them as free agents after. I could maybe see someone interested in Mattinen, especially since he probably had a lot of eyeballs on him in the OHL playoffs/Mem cup.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top