Rookie Tournament Roster

[hockeyfan1]

Overall this tourney was a eye opener for our over all level of talent. Compared to similar games of just a few years back where you would be bored silly after a few minutes, the level of hockey was very entertaining and gave us lots of hope for the future. They seem to know have an abundance of talented prospects.

I thought the same think as compared to previous years.  These guys are speedy, and they showed their good points (including what needs improvement), plus a gungho up-tempo 'enthusiasm' on the ice.
There definitely are potentials here and it spells out very good for the Leafs for the near future.


Also, on a goaltending observation, I agree that Sparks was easily the best one in the tourney.  Future goalkeeper?  Looks like.

 

[Highlander]

You know what I like about Sparks, he is relegated to the Solar Bears, admits he is overweight and not in top condition and then takes on a leadership role with that club and has a very good season, he builds confidence and a new attitude, which is exactly the type of development role the Solar Bears are supposed to provide.
He comes back this year and says this "I'm 22 years old now, and I'm trying to ... solidify myself as somebody who has polished themselves professionally and is doing all the right things in the off-season, and is making the changes that, you know, maybe an 18 year-old kid doesn't get, but a 22 year-old should ... I lost about 20 pounds this off season ... just been gearing up for the season since June.

"Stuff like this [the rookie tournament] has been on my calendar all summer," he continues. "To get a chance to play tonight is a very exciting opportunity." This is exactly what the Leafs and their fans want to hear, especially since the team did not draft any other goalies this summer.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

I have a sneaking suspicion that Babcock is going to fall in love with Nylander during this camp. He is probably the most talented player in the entire organization already.

I know, I know they've spoken about patience, but they've also talked about guys being ready to take a spot and make it their own, Nylander might be there already.

The only real question marks are faceoff ability and his defensive game as a center, it's these that might see him play 1st line for the Marlies, if he has them both down at camp he's going to make it a very hard call.

 

[Highlander]

I would rather he do the one more year with the Marlies, he needs to build more bulk onto his frame. His defensive zone work was excellent in the tourney by the way.  He is the real deal but one more year in the AHL will only help

 

[herman]

I have a sneaking suspicion that Babcock is going to fall in love with Nylander during this camp. He is probably the most talented player in the entire organization already.

I know, I know they've spoken about patience, but they've also talked about guys being ready to take a spot and make it their own, Nylander might be there already.

The only real question marks are faceoff ability and his defensive game as a center, it's these that might see him play 1st line for the Marlies, if he has them both down at camp he's going to make it a very hard call.

I'm with Highlander on this. I don't see Nylander starting with the Leafs this year. He'll likely be sheltered after the trade deadline exodus as well, but come up the year after with Kapanen and Brown/Leipsic, to get a taste of the full season grind and to iron out any potential consistency issues.

Lou also mentioned that his philosophy was to err on the side of staying a bit too long in the AHL.

From: https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2015/09/10/toronto-maple-leafs-state-of-the-nation-full-transcript/

Fan: I wonder what the plan is for the rookies and draft picks. Will they be called up, or spending a year with the Marlies?

Lamoriello: First of all, we have to see where they are at in their career. We believe in a development process. When I say development process, I mean you take things in steps. No different than a young child; before he or she walks, they crawl, and before they run, they walk. We have to see where they?re at in their stage of development, but the one thing I?ve learned a long time ago is that it?s better to bring a player up too late rather than too soon. We want these players and these young players to have a long career, and not just something that?s a flash in the pan. We?ll give them every opportunity to develop. They?ll tell us when they?re ready; we won?t have to tell them.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Yeah, I read and understood all of that.

Their point is that players will only play when they are undeniable, Nylander could be close to being there already.

 

[herman]

Yeah, I read and understood all of that.

Their point is that players will only play when they are undeniable, Nylander could be close to being there already.

I get where you're coming from too. Nylander very well could already be heads and shoulders above our NHL centre options. I think management is setting a higher bar than merely hurdling what we have currently at the top of the depth chart though. Same goes for other players at the beginning of their development curves.

I posit that the standard to supersede is an average championship caliber player in the role they are striving for while there is time to slide their ELCs. Kind of like dressing for the job you want, rather than the job you have.

We are more likely to see players who should be at the cusp of the crest of their development curves, like Leivo, Frattin, and Percy, post-trade deadline at this point of the rebuild.

 

[Kin]

Or, you know, we could cut through all of that "Unlike other teams, we don't want to rush our players and ruin their careers" nonsense and just acknowledge that they'll probably keep guys who are ready for the NHL in the AHL because they don't want the team to do well this year.

 

[herman]

Absolutely. They'll spin it more positively in the dressing rooms and for media consumption, but we know what's really up.

 

[sooner2220]

One of the camp invites I was impressed with during the tournament was Nikolaus Brouillard and it's unfortunate that he sustained an injury that will sideline him for about a month. Does he still have an opportunity to sign an ELC or at least a minor league contract or does he simply return to the QMJHL?