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Ranking Prospects 2023-24

PPP:
3. Nick Robertson

And slow and steady wins the coin toss against the tiny supernova riddled with rotten injury luck.

Nick Robertson is basically back at square one with less runway after a few years of injury, pandemic season shortening, and more injury. He has to take the reset in the AHL under a new (good) coach, build out the foundation of his game, develop the effectiveness of his strengths (i.e. pick and choose shooting opportunities, generate such opportunities with his feet), and mitigate the issues holding him back from consistency (i.e. skating stride/posture, 110% mentality) and sustained top-6 quality play.
 
herman said:
PPP:
3. Nick Robertson

And slow and steady wins the coin toss against the tiny supernova riddled with rotten injury luck.

Nick Robertson is basically back at square one with less runway after a few years of injury, pandemic season shortening, and more injury. He has to take the reset in the AHL under a new (good) coach, build out the foundation of his game, develop the effectiveness of his strengths (i.e. pick and choose shooting opportunities, generate such opportunities with his feet), and mitigate the issues holding him back from consistency (i.e. skating stride/posture, 110% mentality) and sustained top-6 quality play.
Click to expand...

Let?s hope Robertson can put it all together this year AND stay injury-free. It?s a big ask, but man? the wait would be worth it if it happens !
 
RedLeaf said:
Let?s hope Robertson can put it all together this year AND stay injury-free. It?s a big ask, but man? the wait would be worth it if it happens !
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I hope so too. But we've seen prospects in better development and opportunity situations flame out as well. Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson sort of come to mind in different ways: one was basically a tunnel vision speedster with no creativity to offer (and off-ice uh... shenanigans), and the other one just couldn't stay healthy after a late breakout season. Nick Robertson is blessed with both tunnel vision (but he has creativity, albeit under-utilized) and injury issues.
 
I'd probably have dropped Robertson down a few spots personally. At least behind Woll, Timmins, and Niemela. Maybe even Holmberg. I'm still rooting for the guy, but he's got a pretty insane uphill battle now to re-establish himself as a legit prospect considering his long injury history the past 3 years.
 
herman said:
PPP:
12. Nikita Grebyonkin
Slow Mikheyev with hands, or Russian Mason Marchment might be the potential here?
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https://twitter.com/HockeyNewsHub/status/1699851756237135900
Not thaaat slow, just Ilya is very fast. Good work by Grebyonkin to recognize the breakdown, and sprint with the puck without overhandling. Perfect celly. But also this goalie is poop.

https://x.com/hockeynewshub/status/1699859093752586561
He was apparently starting the game at 4LW
 
PPP:
1. Matthew Knies

His draft profile read like the Leafs went with a high floor pick according to most public rankings, rather than a potential elite ceiling pick: big body, not too many points, intangibles(!), but inconsistent playmaking. One of those, if only he could put all the tools in the toolbox together...

This profile from MLHS/Blackbook however, was a bit of on outlier. Yes, as effusive as most draft profiles tend to be (peak optimism), but this one seemed grounded in legitimate observations of progression.

2021 Blackbook
?a technical, hybrid power forward game? one of the rarest players you can find, in the sense that he can beat the first layer with his speed, frame, and range. He can then beat the second layer with his exceptional hands, and beat the third layer by using his deception and dual-threat attributes. He has it all, but it took him time.?
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Well, he appears on track to chug by even that high praise. The sample size is still small and there are a couple of mechanical and mental details to work out (e.g. skating efficiency, when to try creativity vs when to be safe), but seeing him with Toronto's top 6 forwards highlights just how good Knies' game meshes with elite skill. He may be a third banana in any Leafs top 6 line, but he has all the right tools to an elite third banana and push the ceiling of his line up with his forechecking and ability to get pucks back and off the wall. Think Zach Hyman, but with a pretty snappy shot and much better hands in tight, and playing his natural side. Better yet, Knies knows his limitations, plays within them, and then focuses on developing to beat them.
 
https://x.com/brigstew86/status/1700947636910448800
Solid zip from Cowan, but the real highlight was that pass by Ryan Humphrey LK21)
 
https://twitter.com/pppleafs/status/1701219223953948692
He has reportedly added a bit of grease to his wheels.

https://twitter.com/RinkRatReport/status/1701248490624471330
Okay it's not just hands, it's a slower Mikheyev that exercises deception, and shoots with his head up.
Rodion Amirov?s number retired in a ceremony at the beginning of this game.
 
https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs/status/1701642323589726630

Invites:
Tyler Weiss* , Robert Mastrosimone, Jacob Frasca*, Tyson Greenway*, Mazden Leslie, Spencer Sova*
* returning from Dev camp earlier

Marlies Contracts:
Tyler Weiss, Robert Mastrosimone, Nolan Dillingham, Jonny Tychonik, Luke Cavallin

Leafs Contracts/Reserve List:
Matt Knies, Roni Hirvonen, Fraser Minten, Ty Voit, Easton Cowan, Braeden Kressler, Max Ellis, Ryan Tvergberg, Brandon Lisowsky, Dmitri Ovchinnikov
Topi Niemela, Noah Chadwick, William Villeneuve, Mikko Kokkonen
Dennis Hildeby, Vyacheslav Peksa


PPP has the goods on the invites
https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/scouting-reports-on-torontos-2023-traverse-city-invites/

[*] Notably missing: Nick Moldenhauer, Hudson Malinoski (probably just due to their respective leagues starting up)
[*] Some of the invites from last year's dev camp went to the Pittsburgh rookie camp (for obvious reasons).
[*] Roni Hirvonen is back from his concussion and this time playing on the same side as Nolan Dillingham (AHL deal), his concussor.
[*] Hilarious that Knies is here, but I guess he has to earn his stripes? Or just enjoy dominating his peers?
 
herman said:
Hilarious that Knies is here, but I guess he has to earn his stripes? Or just enjoy dominating his peers?
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Each team has some pretty high end talent going as far as prospects go. Columbus has Adam Fantilli (will play in the NHL this year) and David Jiricek (could play in the NHL, although CBJ's blue line is crowded) going. Detroit has top-10 draft picks from 2022 and 2023 going, plus one of the top goalie prospects in the league. Dallas' higher end guys aren't as known but one of them, Stankoven, could be in a battle to earn a NHL roster spot at camp.
 
https://x.com/nickbarden/status/1702393712821637439
That second line of all smol, feisty winger/centres that should be wingers.
 
Highlander said:
Where can we view the tournament.
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Leafs don't usually announce anything for streaming until it's already just about underway (which is like 10 min from now). Leafs play Columbus at 3:30 EDT today (10 min from now) and Columbus is streaming

Columbus:
https://www.nhl.com/bluejackets/team/traverse-city

Leafs:
https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/livestream/
 
Leafs down 2-0 while generally controlling play (goal 2 was a bit goofy)
https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1702410050424189070

Stoppage in play now to address a pothole in the ice lol

Edit: Extended stoppage. Players are heading to the dressing rooms (or maybe to the other pad of ice...).
 
herman said:
Edit: Extended stoppage. Players are heading to the dressing rooms (or maybe to the other pad of ice...).
Click to expand...

First period will be finished on the second pad of ice, but will not be broadcast as there is no filming set up there. Game will return to the original pad for periods 2/3.
 
https://twitter.com/mapleleafs/status/1702820836418158926

https://twitter.com/mapleleafs/status/1702822832441364833
Great work by Cowan in the D zone to start the play

Oh good Kyle got the clip
https://x.com/kyle_cush/status/1702822698714312857
 
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