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2016/2017 Season Preview: Toronto Maple Leafs

Posted by michaelrevell on October 12, 2016

Posted in: hockey, Sports. Tagged: ahl, auston matthews, brendan leipsic, brendan shanahan, brooks laich, colin greening, connor brown, connor carrick, frank corrado, frederik andersen, hockey, jake gardiner, james van riemsdyk, joffrey lupul, johns enroth, josh leivo, kasperi kapanen, kyle dubas, leafs, leo komarov, lou lamoriello, maple leafs, marc-andre cliche, marlies, martin marincin, matt hunwick, matt martin, mike babcock, milan michalek, mitch marner, morgan rielly, name kadri, nathan horton, nhl, nikita soshnikov, nikita zaitsev, peter holland, rich clune, roman polak, seth griffith, stephane robidas, tmltalk, Toronto, Toronto Maple Leafs, toronto marlies, tyler bozak, william nylander, zach hyman. Leave a comment

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Toronto is currently swept up in Blue Jays fever, with the Toronto baseball club sweeping the Texas Rangers en route to the American League Championship Series, so it’s rather excusable that the start of the NHL season doesn’t exactly seem like a priority right now. But here we are, it’s Opening Night Eve, with the Maple Leafs heading to Ottawa to partake in the first Battle of Ontario of the 2016/2017 season tomorrow night.

It’s no secret to anyone that watches hockey that the storied Maple Leaf franchise has fallen upon hard times in the last decade, following a relatively successful pre-2005 lockout period that saw two Leaf squads make the Eastern Conference Final under the tutelage of the late, great Pat Quinn.

Since then, we’ve seen exactly one Leafs team make the playoffs, during the lockout shortened 2013 season, which every Leafs fan knows ended in spectacular heartbreak. The team was dismantled, coaches fired, GM’s let go, star players, fan favourites and captains either bought out, forced into the minors, long-term injured reserve or retirement, traded, or let go in free agency. A new braintrust featuring Brendan Shanahan, Lou Lamoriello, Kyle Dubas, Mike Babcock and Co. was assembled, and a full-blown long term rebuild was set to commence.

Well, here we are. It’s officially Year Two of “The Rebuild” and we’ve seen the Leafs move on from virtually everyone from their past teams, with Tyler Bozak, Nazem Kadri, Jake Gardiner and Morgan Rielly being notable exceptions. That trend continued this off-season, with the following players who appeared in at least one game with the Leafs last year no longer in Toronto’s plans whatsoever:

Jonathan Bernier —> Anaheim Ducks

James Reimer —> San Jose Sharks —> Florida Panthers

Scott Harrington —> Columbus Blue Jackets

Stuart Percy —> Pittsburgh Penguins

Dion Phaneuf —> Ottawa Senators

T.J. Brennan —> Philadelphia Flyers

Shawn Matthias —> Colorado Avalanche —> Winnipeg Jets

Daniel Winnik —> Washington Capitals

Sam Carrick —> Chicago Blackhawks

Mark Arcobello —> Bern SC

Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau —> New York Islanders

Michael Grabner —> New York Rangers

Brad Boyes —> UFA

Ben Smith —> Colorado Avalanche

Players joining the Leafs organization this off season include (their means of acquisition in brackets):

Auston Matthews (Draft)

Matt Martin (FA – New York Islanders)

Roman Polak (FA – San Jose Sharks)

Seth Griffith (Waivers – Boston Bruins)

Jhonas Enroth (FA – Los Angeles Kings)

Frederik Andersen (Trade – Anaheim Ducks)

Kerby Rychel (Trade – Columbus Blue Jackets)

Nikita Zaitsev (FA – Europe)

Joffrey Lupul, Stephane Robidas and Nathan Horton are all expected to be placed on long-term injured reserve to start the season, and there is no reason to expect any of the three to see any action in a Leafs uniform. An interesting note is that with today’s waiver claim of Seth Griffith, Josh Leivo is currently day-to-day and is also expected to start the season on the IR, likely to strategically avoid potentially losing him to waivers, Griffith style.

Late season veteran acquisitions Colin Greening and Brooks Laich were late cuts this training camp and are starting the season with the AHL Toronto Marlies, along with fellow vets Rich Clune and Marc-Andre Cliche, who are signed to AHL deals. Brandon Prust, the old school enforcer signed to a PTO, was also cut today.

So yes, the youth movement and rebuild is definitely in full effect, with the likes of William Nylander, Zach Hyman, Connor Brown, etc. getting their first taste of NHL action late last season, and prized rookies like Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and Nikita Zaitsev set to debut this season.

Not every young prospect is going to break into the lineup immediately, or necessarily this year at all, as seen with the recent roster cuts that saw Kasperi Kapanen, Brendan Leipsic, Nikita Soshnikov, among others, get sent to the Marlies. However, that’s to be expected, and it’s a great thing for Toronto that they have so many top notch young prospects now that there’s no room for all of them to crack the opening night roster.

For the first time in possibly decades, the Leafs actually have a bevy of good, young prospects, and the future is seemingly bright. This season will have its growing pains, this team is still not expected to immediately contend for a playoff spot, and is still a few years away from serious playoff contention. However, this current edition of the Maple Leafs should be an incredibly exciting and intriguing team to watch and follow, and it will be interesting to see which prospects and vets with something to prove (à la Milan Michalek) sink and which ones swim.

Here are the expected lines for the start of the season, via dailyfaceoff.com.

http://www2.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/lines/40/toronto-maple-leafs

Captain – none Assistants – Matt Hunwick, Morgan Rielly, Tyler Bozak, Leo Komarov

LW C RW

Milan Michalek Nazem Kadri Leo Komarov

James van Riemsdyk Tyler Bozak Mitch Marner

William Nylander Auston Matthews Zach Hyman

Matt Martin Peter Holland Connor Brown

LD RD G

Morgan Rielly Martin Marincin Frederik Andersen

Jake Gardiner Connor Carrick Jhonas Enroth

Matt Hunwick Nikita Zaitsev

Scratches: Frank Corrado, Seth Griffith, Roman Polak

IR: Nathan Horton, Stephane Robidas, Joffrey Lupul, Josh Leivo

Season Prediction –

Best Case Scenario:

The rookies, led by Matthews and Marner, perform well beyond expectations, with Matthews ascending to Connor McDavid-level status and Marner becoming Toronto’s Johnny Gaudreau. Nylander, Rielly, and the second tier of prospects continue to develop nicely, the veterans provide steady leadership, timely goals and solid defensive play, and the Leafs squeak into the playoffs, or barely fall short.

Worst Case Scenario:

The rookies stumble out of the gate, the media and fans quickly turn on them and kill whatever confidence and potential for growth they had. The vets underperform and end up getting moved out for a less than idea return. Frederik Andersen ends up being Jonathan Bernier 2.0. Toronto ends up in the bottom five of the league and lose out on the top lottery picks, meaning no chance at drafting Nolan Patrick or Timothy Liljegren.

Likely Scenario:

Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Rielly and Co. continue to develop and spark real fan interest for the first time in years. Steady growth commences and certain vets are moved out for younger assets. Although the Leafs miss the playoffs, they move out of the league basement and the long-term rebuild continues on to year three, with a positive step forward into next season.

There’s still a lot of uncertainty surrounding Toronto as they head into their centennial season, but one thing is for sure. These are NOT the Leafs of previous regimes. Gone is the heavy emphasis on “truculence and tenacity” and in is a more modern take on the game, led by skill, speed, and advanced stats. These young Leafs give Toronto fans a reason to be excited, both for this season and for the future, and that’s more than these Stanley Cup starved fans are used to in recent years.

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We’re now almost three full days into the 2016 edition of the World Cup of Hockey, every team has played at least one official tournament game, and all things considered, the tournament’s going as well as possible.

The main concern going into this rebooted World Cup, aside from it being looked at as an NHL cash grab, was the two “gimmick teams,” Team North America and Team Europe.

As we all know by now, Team North America is comprised entirely out of players raised in either the Canada or United States and are aged 23 and under.

Team Europe is a ragtag group of players from all the European countries whose national team didn’t make the cut for this tournament. Meaning, any European player not from Russia, Finland, Sweden or the Czech Republic was eligible for this team.

Understandably, the initial reaction to these squads being announced was lukewarm at best.

There were major concerns for both teams, detractors of Team North America said they lacked experience, and sure, they’re fast and can score, but can they keep the puck out of the net?

As for Team Europe, critics pondered if these players from a bunch of different countries would truly care about this tournament, and if they did, would they mesh together with little to no prior experience playing with each other, contrary to typical national teams?

Just three days into the World Cup, we can now confidently say that we took these teams a little for granted.

Team North America was an offensive juggernaut in the pre-tournament, and continued their success with a 4-1 drubbing of Finland in their first real tournament game. As I’m writing this, North America’s speed and puck moving ability is currently giving Russia fits as they exit the first period with a 1-0 lead. As mentioned before, there was no real concern regarding North America’s speed, scoring ability, and finesse. Goals from bona-fide stars like Johnny Gaudreau and Nathan MacKinnon have already shown that.

However, the main concern was the defensive side of the game, starting from the net out. Then last season happened.

Pittsburgh netminder Matt Murray went from third-stringer to leading the Penguins to a Stanley Cup championship. Anaheim’s John Gibson ended up in the All-Star Game. Even the third goalie in the group, Connor Hellebuyck, proved himself to be Winnipeg’s goalie of the future with a successful mid-season audition.

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Team North America & Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Matt Murray

Even with the goaltending situation looking solidified, people were still wondering how a young, relatively unproven d-core would fare against constant top-notch opposition. It’s a fair question, until you take a deeper look at the defensive lineup.

Aaron Ekblad is already a legitimate number one defenceman, leader, and steady all-round on-ice presence at the ripe old age of 20. It’s hard to believe he’s still so young since he manages to look, act, and lead like a man well into his NHL career.

So you’ve got your number one defenceman, and he happens to be the kind of guy teams build around, much like what’s happening with Ekblad’s NHL team, the Florida Panthers. But Ekblad aside, there were still plenty of questions regarding the rest of the teams d-core.

Enter Shayne Gostisbehere and Colton Parayko. These two young men were not exactly household names entering last season, but both players cemented their status as future stars by the end of the year.

The two players are polar opposites, Gostisbehere being a product of the new NHL, an undersized player with elite vision, puck moving and scoring ability, and Parayko being a 6”6 physical beast with a heavy shot and a mean streak.

The two players might be quite different, but both made a significant impact immediately upon entering the league, both ended up on the NHL All-Rookie Team, and Gostisbehere came in 2nd in Calder Trophy voting.

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Philadelphia Flyers & Team North America defenceman Shayne Gostisbehere

Okay, so looking back, it may have been foolish to immediately dismiss the Young Guns as a legitimate threat, any team with the likes of the aforementioned players, Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, Dylan Larkin, Morgan Reilly, Seth Jones & Co. has to be taken seriously.

The knock is “lack of experience,” a slight that I feel is completely unwarranted. Every single player on this team has big game experience, ranging from the World Juniors, to NHL playoff action, to World Championships, to Swiss Cup action. Yeah, there’s a lack of experience compared to the older guys, that’s the same as in any field, but to assume that these young men are severely lacking in big game experience is a completely naive notion.

With the reduction of clutching, grabbing, slow-footed goons patrolling the ice, and the game becoming faster and more open on the whole, the NHL has been trending younger. A player at age 32 now is considered old and we’ve seen guys, Curtis Glencross for example, retire at around that age due to their jobs being stolen by the kids. We’ve seen young players over the years emerge as leaders, Jonathan Toews, Gabriel Landeskog and Connor McDavid being a few quick examples, and hockey at this point is most definitely a young mans game. So why be so quick to discredit the kids?

This team is the real deal, and has the potential to shock a lot of teams and pundits throughout this tournament.

Now, how about the other gimmick squad, Team Europe?

For starters, it has to be hard for these guys to care about this tournament the same way they care about something like the Olympics or World Championship. There’s something about putting your country’s jersey over your head and representing an entire nation. I’m sure Marian Hossa would rather be playing for Team Slovakia, Anze Kopitar would rather play for Team Slovenia, etc, etc. Putting on a unified, Team Europe jersey just isn’t quite the same, that’s easy to understand. However, it’s not like these players don’t have something to prove, or a country or continent to represent.

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Team Europe & Los Angeles Kings forward Anze Kopitar, of Slovenia

These players are still representing their nations, the Team Europe crest on the front doesn’t change that. Mark Streit’s still Swiss. Frans Nielsen’s still Danish. Zdeno Chara’s still Slovak. Yeah, their respective countries may not be deep enough to field a full team in a competition this exclusive, but these players are still representing those countries, their own flags still on their jersey’s in shoulder patch form. If you don’t think a proud Slovak like Marian Gaborik doesn’t feel the weight of a nation on his shoulders in any international tournament you’re kidding yourself. It just makes it that much more special for the players that did make this team, they are the best their country has to offer in a sport where they aren’t a powerhouse, and any country and player representing their country has to feel pride behind that.

Depth was a concern for Team Europe entering the World Cup, and just by glancing at the roster you know they’re not as deep as a Team Canada or a Team Russia. It goes without saying that the likes of Christian Ehrhoff or Pierre-Edouard Bellemare aren’t coming close to making Team Canada, but that doesn’t mean this team can’t contend with the best. Their 3-0 blanking of Team USA and their 2-0 record thus far proves that.

There’s legitimate talent on Team Europe, superstars like Kopitar, reliable vets like Streit and Nielsen, dynamic scores like Mats Zuccarello, and bottom-six stalwarts like Bellemare.

Just because some of these guys aren’t making some of the other teams in this tournament doesn’t mean they’re a bad team. In fact, if there’s one thing that Team Europe has an advantage in, it’s that these players are likelier to really know their roles.

For example, Team Canada is filled with superstars, the talent there is undeniable, but often times players on a team built out of pure stars struggle to find a role. A player used to playing 22 minutes a game will sometimes be put on fourth line duty. There’s little danger of that with Team Europe. A guy like Bellemare, or Jannik Hansen, or Christian Ehrhoff knows their role is rather limited in comparison to Anze Kopitar. This team is built solidly in every aspect, first line down to fourth line, top pairing defenceman down to the third pairing, and most of the roles these players are playing are not very different from their roles on their respective NHL teams.

Team Europe’s surprised so far, winning their first two regular tournament games after a bumpy pre-tournament, and a big part of their victories thus far have been Dennis Seidenberg. The same Seidenberg that just got bought out by the Boston Bruins and is currently without an NHL contract. Christian Ehrhoff is in a similar position. Both men have played rather impressively thus far, and are likely due to receive some NHL interest after the World Cup ends.

dennis-wide-17

Team Europe & ex-Boston Bruin defenceman Dennis Seidenberg, of Germany

Seidenberg and Ehrhoff’s play made me realize that perhaps this ragtag group of Europeans actually have more to prove than a team like Canada.

Everyone knows Canada can win at hockey, you just have to look at the past two Olympics’ to see that. The players on that team have won, are all NHL stars, all have massive contracts or paydays incoming, and have great job security. Not everyone on Team Europe is in the same boat.

As previously stated, Seidenberg and Ehrhoff are fighting for their NHL lives. Leon Draisaitl is trying to prove that he’s the real deal. Roman Josi is looking to prove that he’s more than just Shea Weber’s wingman. Thomas Vanek and Marian Gaborik have more to prove to their detractors than any player on Canada. And every single one of these guys is trying to show that there’s legitimate hockey talent in their respective countries.

If anything, Team Europe’s hunger has been evident thus far throughout the tournament, and it’s resulted in two straight victories and a lot of surprised faces in Toronto.

When Team North America and Team Europe first got announced, the initial reaction was a laugh. This is a farce, what a joke, they said, this whole tournament is a gimmick, they said.

Oh how those haters have been proven wrong.

These teams are a legitimate threat, the games so far have been incredible to watch, and at this point I don’t think it would shock many to see one or both of these teams upset a team or two.

Enjoy the games, there’s no guarantee that these two teams will be back in the next instalment of the World Cup. So let’s just sit back and enjoy history being made in the meantime.

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It’s the 4th of July, and while that means the U.S. is partying up a storm and celebrating their independence, there’s a bit of a different reason for people to be celebrating today up here in Toronto. Today officially marks the beginning of Toronto Maple Leafs development camp, and that means 40 young players are currently undergoing physicals in Toronto before heading off to Niagara Falls for the rest of the week.

Every player that was just drafted, yes that means Auston Matthews and Friends, are invited, as well as most other recent draft picks, a number of players picked up for the Marlies last year on Amateur Tryouts (ATO’s), and a few players here on camp invites. There are names here that every Leafs fan should recognize, starting with Matthews, moving on through Mitch Marner to Dmytro Timashov to Travis Dermott, but there are some other intriguing names on the list as well. On a side note, two sons of former NHLers are at camp in Anthony Brodeur and Mason Marchment, sons of Martin and Bryan, respectively. Neither is expected to get close to making the team, it’s an AHL deal or nothing, but that’s beside the point here. Camp is off limits to spectators up until Friday at 10:00 AM at the Gale Centre in Niagara Falls, where a free scrimmage (they’re asking for food donations) will be held. If you can, I highly recommend going, and without further ado, here are 10 players to watch during this current edition of Leafs development camp.

Auston Matthews

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Well, let’s start by getting the obvious ones out of the way, and that begins with the latest saviour of the franchise, Mr. Auston Matthews. Much has been said over the last couple of years about Matthews, obviously his immense skill set, his decision to play overseas in Zurich rather than going the traditional NCAA or Junior route, the fact that he’s not from a traditional hockey market, and finally, his being drafted by the Maple Leafs. We all know Matthews can play, if the kid doesn’t end up a franchise player the entire hockey world will be shocked, but what should fans be looking for in particular during this prospect camp? For one, it’ll be interesting to see if he develops any immediate chemistry with a fellow prospect. Matthews is expected to be playing centre, but there’s been talk of Mitch Marner playing on the wing. Will Matthews immediately spark up chemistry with Marner? What about with Dmytro Timashov, or Nikita Korostelev? Or perhaps Nolan Vesey or Jeremy Bracco? Not all of these players are making the big squad out of camp along with Matthews, but nonetheless, it’ll be interesting to see the kind of impact Matthews has on his teammates right off the bat. Keep an eye on his elite skating acceleration, his power forward tendencies, his precise passing and his ability to create scoring chances from anywhere.

2. Mitch Marner

Marner, the slightly undersized 4th overall pick from 2015, has absolutely torn up the OHL with the London Knights, recording 302 points in 145 regular season and playoff games over the last two seasons, including 44 points in 18 playoff games last season en route to the Knights winning the Memorial Cup. It’s pretty clear that he’s a step above the OHL, but is too young and not eligible to play in the AHL with the Marlies, a place where he’s probably best suited to go for at least part of next year. This camp, along with the regular pre-season camp in September, are crucial for Marner, as his play will decide whether he’s ready for immediate NHL action, or if another year dominating the OHL is better for his development. The jury is out on whether or not throwing a small, green player to the NHL wolves in what’s going to be a rebuilding year for the already youthful Maple Leafs is the best option, and honestly, it’s a shame that he’s not eligible for AHL play. In an ideal world with no restrictions and no contracts, I’d be giving Marner an NHL audition for a few games, and potentially be sending him to the Marlies if it was apparent that he wasn’t quite ready for The Show. However, that’s not possible, and it’ll be interesting to follow Marner throughout the development and training camp journey. Keep an eye on his ability to play with Matthews, his elite speed and puck vision, and his innate ability to score from anywhere.

3. Dmytro Timashov

timashov

Timashov was Toronto’s 5th round pick at 125th overall during the 2015 draft, and is looking like quite the steal at that spot. He’s been ripping up the QMJHL over the past two years with the Quebec Remparts and Shawinigan Cataractes, winning Rookie of the Year in his first season in the “Q” and has been a force for the Swedish Junior team as well. He was a point per game player in last years World Juniors and has been averaging well over a point per game in the Quebec league. The Leafs are big on this guy and it’s easy to see why with his quick, fluid skating, his on ice vision and hockey IQ, and his ability to score, dangle through opponents, and find open teammates. There’s hope that in a couple of years the Leafs may have found themselves a Mats Zuccarello type player, but in the meantime we’ll see if he can develop chemistry with Matthews and/or Marner and force himself onto the Leafs roster. My bet is him having a strong camp, but spending the majority of the season with the Marlies, continuing his development.

4. Travis Dermott

The 34th overall pick in 2015 made his pro debut last year with the Marlies, playing 1 game in their playoff run. The d-man also made the OHL 2nd All-Star Team and was a dominant force for the Erie Otters during their playoff run, showing leadership intangibles along the way while wearing an “A” for a very good Otters squad. He’s a smart, mobile, two-way defenceman with great hockey IQ and an ability to capitalize on offensive chances while not sacrificing the defensive side of his game. Great in every zone, he’s a little undersized and his physicality matches that, and how effective he is against NHL talent remains to be seen, but he’s a highly intelligent player that has shown great decision making, which could make up for his lack of size. Dermott is probably the best defenceman in this development camp, edging out Andrew Nielsen, and Leafs brass is hoping that he’s a key part of their future.

5. Jeremy Bracco

Jeremy Bracco of the Kitchener Rangers. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Bracco was a bit of an interesting case last season, originally committing to Boston College, playing in 5 games for them, before crossing the border and deciding to go the OHL route with the Kitchener Rangers. Nonetheless, the 61st overall pick in 2015 had a stellar year with the Rangers, recording 64 points in 49 regular season games, to go along with 14 points in 9 playoff games. The 5″9 forward is obviously undersized, but makes up for it with his hockey IQ, work ethic, on ice vision, overall skating ability and his offensive skills. In fact, Bracco does a most on ice things very well, with the main knocks against him being size related and a less than stellar backchecking resume. Bracco has time to develop, and I’m confident that being in the current Leafs system will change his ways regarding defensive play and backchecking. I expect Bracco to be back with Kitchener next year, with a late season or playoff callup to the Marlies depending on when the Kitchener season ends. Bracco’s another player that I’m interested in observing with Matthews and/or Marner.

6. Nikita Korostelev

In my eyes, Korostelev is one of the most intriguing prospects in hockey right now, a player drafted in the 7th round, 185th overall, yet plays an immensely skilled, puck-possession driven game. The Sarnia Sting forward has been producing steady numbers for three straight seasons now, and is expected to fully break through this year. He’s incredibly gifted with the puck, with the ability to not only dangle through defenders and unleash his bullet of a shot, but also deftly set up teammates with a tape-to-tape pass. He’s relentless on offense, and I believe he hasn’t yet scratched the surface of his true offensive abilities. If and when he does, whether it’s with Matthews, Marner, William Nylander or whoever, Korostelev projects to be a key secondary offensive option with the Leafs in the near future, with the potential to move into a primary offensive role. What’s most intriguing about Korostelev is the fact that although he was born in Russia, he’s been in Canada for many years, even prior to going the OHL route. He’s played on bantam and midget teams in Toronto and nearby Vaughan, and his style of play represents his playing in Canada during his prime developmental years. The Russian stereotype of the crafty, offensive force is forefront, but Korostelev does not shy away from physical hockey in the slightest, showing a will to throw his weight around in a prototypical “Canadian style” fashion. I have high hopes for this kid.

7. Andrew Nielsen

andrew nielsen.jpg

My second ranked defenseman in this camp after Travis Dermott, Nielsen is a bit of a different player than Dermott, to say the least. The knock against Dermott is his size. The 6″3 207 pound Nielsen doesn’t have that problem. Nielsen is in many ways an old-school defenseman, going against the trend of small, speedy defensemen that focus on offense and use their speed to rush back when the puck is back in their zone. The 2015 3rd rounder shows immense physical maturity and is an overbearing defensive presence that causes turnovers and shuts down the opposition with his size and defensive steadiness. However, Nielsen isn’t just a pure defender that can’t chip in on offence, he produced at nearly a point per game, recording 70 points in 71 games for the Lethbridge Hurricanes, being named to the WHL (East) First All-Star Team along the way. He also made his pro debut with the Marlies, playing in 5 games down the stretch. Although not quite NHL ready, I expect Nielsen to push for a roster spot in the near future, after a little more seasoning in the minors. This camp, watch how he dominates the game physically, I’ll be interested in seeing how he does against some of the bigger offensive names in camp.

8. Carl Grundstrom

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The 57th pick in the latest draft, Grundstrom may very well be looked at as a huge steal a few years down the line. Personally, I thought he’d go in the early 2nd round, and I was thrilled when the Leafs ended up nabbing him. The MODO trained winger has been a staple on the Swedish international junior scene for years, lauded for his work ethic and locker room persona. A very popular player wherever he goes, the leadership intagibles here are huge. He’s not an elite player by any means, he does nothing spectacularly, but has no glaring holes in his game either. His work ethic is infectious, he’s a staple on the penalty kill, can contribute offensively, is strong on his skates and great near the boards. Players like Grundstrom are useful on any team, if only for his sheer intensity and leadership skills. He’s expected to play for Frolunda in the SHL next year, but should be a key piece for the Leafs down the road. Watch for his in-game “coaching” ability, his interactions with players both on the ice and on the bench, and his sheer hustle factor.

9. J.J. Piccinich

Now one of the older guys in camp, Piccinich has been around a little longer, drafted in the 4th round in 2014. He moved from the NCAA, where things weren’t exactly working out with Boston University, to the eventual Memorial Cup Champ London Knights, playing on the same team as Marner, and produced at a point per game rate last season. A natural playmaking forward with great vision and offensive creativity, consistency is his biggest knock. Time in the AHL will hopefully help iron out his deficiencies, and Piccinich is another player that could potentially help Toronto with secondary offensive contributions. He should get ice time with the elite prospects, both in this camp and in September, and it’ll be interesting to see how he gels with Toronto’s natural scorers.

10. Kasimir Kaskisuo

The man with the most interesting name on this list is also one of the more intriguing players in camp. Signed out of the University of Minnesota-Duluth late last season, the Finnish netminder will be sharing crease time with recent draft pick Joseph Woll and camp invites Anthony Brodeur, David Ovsjannikov and Chris Nell. Kaskisuo made his pro debut last year, getting into two games with the Marlies, and as of right now slots in as the third minor league goalie option after Antoine Bibeau and Garret Sparks. The 22 year old netminder might end up usurping both Bibeau and Sparks down the stretch, and has the potential to be a number 1 goalie in the NHL, at best case scenario. He’s calm in the net and strong mentally, highly athletic and has great overall technique in net. His main knock is his rebound control, which has improved over the last couple of seasons. Kaskisuo is a bit of a wild card, that’s for sure, but could end up being one of the better prospects in camp when it comes down to it.

The full development camp roster can be found below.

Auston Matthews: Birthplace: Scottsdale, Arizona Position: C Height: 6″2 Weight: 194 Shoots: L

Essentially a generational talent, has the potential to be a complete franchise centre. Complete offensive talent in all aspects, foot speed, hands, hockey sense. A player to build a team around. No glaring flaws in game, dominates all aspects, will be a superstar for years. Named to the NLA Media All-Star Team, NLA Media Most Improved Player, Swiss Cup Champion, Swiss Cup Most Points. Led Team USA in scoring at WJC, named to tournament All-Star team, WJC Bronze Medalist, WJC Most Goals, WJC Top 3 player on team. World Championship top 3 Player on Team. Comparable to: Jonathan Toews, Anze Kopitar.

http://www.eliteprospects.com/iframe_player_stats.php?player=199898

2. Patrik Laine:

Birthplace: Tampere, Finland Position: W Height: 6″4 Weight: 201 Shoots: R

Huge frame, biggest weapon is his big shot. Constant threat to score and a pure sniper, possesses a quick wrist shot and a big one timer. Powerplay machine. Not particularly fast, but is a powerful skater with a long skating stride. Skating could improve. Played last year in Liiga, top Finnish league. Spent most of regular season on Tappara’s 3rd line, elevated to 2nd line in Playoffs and led in playoff scoring, winning the Jari Kurri Award for best player in the playoffs en route to the SM-Liiga Championship title. Dominated Liiga as a rookie, won Rookie of the Year, had most goals and points by a rookie, and playoff goals overall. Major factor in Finland’s WJC Gold medal run, had most goals in the tournament, was a top 3 player on his team, part of WJC All Star Team. Won World Championship Silver Medal, named to WC All-Star Team, Top 3 Player on Team, Best Forward, and MVP. Comparable to: Teemu Selanne, Vladimir Tarasenko, Dany Heatley

http://www.eliteprospects.com/iframe_player_stats.php?player=221667

3. Jesse Puljujärvi:

Birthplace: Älvkarleby, Sweden (reps Finland) Position: RW Height: 6″3 Weight: 201 Shoots: R

Dominant two-way presence, a complete player skilled at all aspects of the game. Good size, a very strong skater that is able to combine his hands, speed and accurate shot and playmaking skills. Top notch work ethic and attitude. Complete offensive skills, but more of a playmaker than a scorer. Impeccable on ice vision and hockey sense, has the ability to dominate with his combination of size and speed, but could learn to be more physical. No glaring flaws in his game. Some critics say he’s more “complete” than the “flashier” Laine. Member of both U18 and U20 WJC Gold medal teams last year. U18 and U20 WJC All Star team member, U20 Best Forward, most assists, most points, MVP, top 3 player on team. Finished U20 tied for 2nd all-time for most points by a player under 18. NHL ready and may go 2nd overall. Clutch player, but needs to maintain consistency over a full season. Comparable to: Jari Kurri, Sergei Fedorov, Evgeni Malkin

http://www.eliteprospects.com/iframe_player_stats.php?player=152117

4. Pierre-Luc Dubois:

Birthplace: Ste-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec Position: C/W Height: 6″2 Weight: 205 Shoots: L

The highest rated Canadian born player of 2016, Dubois is the prototypical dominant two-way presence. A versatile forward that can be slotted in any position at any time, he is a terrific athlete whose skating ability coupled with his elite hockey sense will put him into the play, no matter the situation. Excellent backchecking and defensive ability, strong skater, a physical presence who’s not afraid to mix it up. Uncontainable offensive skills, patient with the puck, likes bringing the puck into “Gretzky’s Office” and work from there. Can be the scorer, playmaker, power forward or defensive shut down guy. A natural leader and potentially the most complete player in the draft, but could add bulk. Played in CHL Top Prospects game, won the Hlinka Memorial Gold Medal, Mike Bossy Trophy for Best QMJHL Professional Prospect, Paul Dumont Trophy for QMJHL Personality of the Year, QMJHL 2nd All-Star Team member. Should be key piece of Canada’s next WJC team. Comparable to: Henrik Zetterberg, Anze Kopitar, Jamie Benn (complete and elite two-way presence)

http://www.eliteprospects.com/iframe_player_stats.php?player=252480

5. Olli Juolevi

Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland Position: D Height: 6″2 Weight: 183 Shoots: L]

Jokerit youth club developed d-man, left Finland last season for the OHL and became a key piece of a stacked London Knights team. A complete defenceman, he is a strong skater with elite offensive playmaking and puck possesion skills. Will press the oppositions zone with ease, but will use his elite skating ability to quickly come back on the backcheck. Decent size, like most prospects could use more muscle, but not overly physical. Knows his physical limits and plays within it. Complete and well rounded, can play in any situation. High compete level and hockey sense, great on ice vision that showcases his playmaking abilities. Finnish Junior international mainstay, will be an anchor on Finland’s blueline for years. CHL Memorial Cup Champion, OHL Champion, played in CHL Top Prospects Game, U20 WJC Gold Medalist, WJC All Star Team member, WJC most assists by defenseman. OHL 2nd All-Rookie Team. The d-man with the most potential in this draft. Comparable to: Olli Maatta, Teppo Numminen, Lite-Nicklas Lidstrom

http://www.eliteprospects.com/iframe_player_stats.php?player=196391

6. Matthew Tkachuk

Birthplace: Scottsdale, Arizona Position: LW/C Height: 6″1 Weight: 194 Shoots: L

Comes from good stock, the son of Keith Tkachuk, cousin of Tom Fitzgerald & family, Kevin & Jimmy Hayes. Very smart player with great on ice vision, hockey sense and compete level. Will consistently record points, but has grit and a nastiness to his game that many top scorers now lack. Can play an agitating role, but is by no means a bottom line grinder. A top notch skater that has excellent speed and control. A creative forward that seems to always find a way to score or set up a goal, whether it’s with raw skill and hands, or in traffic by the net. Not a defensive juggernaut, but is nonetheless a strong backchecker. Already plays at an NHL level, may be ready for the jump immediately, arguably the most mature player in the draft. Despite gaudy assist totals, expected to be more of a scorer at the NHL level. OHL Champion, OHL Playoffs Most Goals, played in CHL Top Prospects Game, won U20 WJC Bronze Medal. Comparable to: Keith Tkachuk, Andrew Ladd, Jarome Iginla

http://www.eliteprospects.com/iframe_player_stats.php?player=233030

7. Alexander Nylander:

Birthplace: Calgary, Alberta (reps Sweden) Position: W Height: 6″0 Weight: 176 Shoots R

Another player from good stock, the son of Michael, brother of William. A truly excellent skater, he has both the skating ability and hockey sense to stickhandle and get through traffic. A playmaker that is patient with the puck and has elite puck vision and passing ability, he is nonetheless a complete scoring threat with a heavy, accurate shot and a great set of hands. One of the better overall offensive talents in the draft, but is also on the penalty kill and can back check, but could improve. Like his father and brother, a little prone to hanging on to the puck too long and occasional floating. Led Sweden in goals and points at the WJC U-18’s en route to a Silver Medal. Led all OHL rookies in assists and points, won Emms Family Award for Rookie of the Year. Led Sweden in goals and points at the WJC U-20’s, tied for team lead in scoring at U18 Hlinka Tournament, where Sweden won a Silver Medal. Played in CHL Top Prospects game. Property of Rogle BK in the SHL, signed 2 year deal prior to being loaned to Mississauga last season. Comparable to: Markus Naslund, Speedy scorers like Jordan Eberle, Patrick Kane, but with slightly more size and physicality.

http://www.eliteprospects.com/iframe_player_stats.php?player=212641

8. Jakob Chychrun

Birthplace: Boca Raton, Florida (reps Canada) Position: D Height: 6″2 Weight: 198 Shoots L

Yet another prospect with NHL bloodlines, he’s the son of journeyman defender Jeff Chychrun, and nephew of Luke Richardson. Once thought to be a candidate to overtake Matthews for the projected number 1 pick, injuries have hampered him. Chychrun did not exactly regress, but hasn’t been the completely overwhelming gamebreaker that was originally thought. That isn’t a knock against Chychrun, he might still be the most NHL ready defender in the draft. He will be a very, very solid overall two-way defenceman, and is still a potential star #1 defender. A boy in a man’s body, he has no problem throwing his weight around, but rarely does so in expense of his positioning. An elite skater, he is the prototypical two-way force that excels at all facets of the game. Great vision and hockey sense and ice in his veins, he thrives in high pressure situations both offensively and defensively. Possesses the ability to deliver an excellent breakout pass, coupled with his booming shot makes him a boon on the powerplay and an all round offensive presence. Good defensively at seeing where the puck is going to be pressing the opponent with his stick and body, forcing them to scramble. Stays a step ahead of the oppositions attack. Has the chance to break into the NHL immediately, has the build, competitiveness, leadership qualities and hockey sense to step in right away. Will likely be a defensive leader on Canada’s next WJC-20 team. Played in last years WJC U-18, wearing an “A” for Canada. Also represented the OHL in Jr Super Series and played in CHL Top Prospects Game. Was the 1st overall selection in the 2014 OHL Priority Draft. Has the potential to move up in the draft, based on team need. Injuries have limited him in big contest games, slightly hampered development. Comparable to: Brent Seabrook, Dion Phaneuf/Wade Redden that can skate

http://www.eliteprospects.com/iframe_player_stats.php?player=243386

9. Michael McLeod

Birthplace: Mississauga, Ontario Position: C Height: 6″2 Weight: 187 Shoots: R

A skilled centreman with size, McLeod did a lot of the heavy lifting in Mississauga that allowed Alex Nylander to roam free offensively. I have him going 9th to Montreal and him becoming the big, power centre that they have desperately needed for years. A powerful skater that when coupled with his size makes him incredibly difficult to contain and play against. Great puck skills, not excatly a typical playmaker, but has filthy hands and the ability to use his speed to blow past defencemen on a rush. A competitor with leadership intagibles, his skating is his best quality. Other aspects of the game may take some time to fully develop. Strong on faceoffs and defensively responsible, does whatever his team needs for them to win. An overall top talent that needs some seasoning. Hard to pinpoint at this stage, could end up a top line talent, could be an elite third liner. Should be a key part of Canada’s next WJC squad. Won Gold at Hlinka Memorial, played in CHL Top Prospects game, a favourite of Hockey Canada. Comparable to: His ceiling is Dylan Larkin, size, vision and hockey sense of Jason Spezza + raw speed of Mikkel Boedker. Could end up a very fast Jason Chimera, Manny Malhotra type.

http://www.eliteprospects.com/iframe_player_stats.php?player=240821

10. Mikhail Sergachev:

Birthplace: Nizhnekamsk, Russia Position: D Height: 6″2 Weight: 220 Shoots: L

Big kid in a man’s body, offense is his calling card, but he is by no means a purely offensive defenceman. He’s a two-way force that prefers the offensive side of the game, but has good defensive awareness and reads plays well in all zones. Plays a balanced style, great at getting the puck out of his zone either through carrying or through passing and joining the rush. Excels on the powerplay, great puck movement and lateral movement that creates passing lanes. Has a deceivingly hard shot from the point. An all-round defender with a strong skating stride, hockey sense, offensive instincts, passing skills, footwork, patience, size and some physicality. Defensively, Sergachev does a great job in pushing the opponent to the outside and to the boards, limiting the players options and blocking passing and shooting lanes, but can get caught wandering/pinching and has room to improve. Doesn’t shy away physically, but considering his size he could look to cause a little more of a physical ruckus. Needs more time to develop, but has too much overall talent to slip out of top 10/15. May slip a little due to “Russia Factor.” Has ability to end up a top pairing defender. Should be on Russia’s next WJC team. Played in CHL Top Prospects Game, won Max Kaminsky Trophy for OHL’s Most Outstanding Defenceman. Comparable to: Alex Pietrangelo, Sandis Ozolinsh, Vladimir Malakhov, Rasmus Ristolainen

http://www.eliteprospects.com/iframe_player_stats.php?player=312213

11. Clayton Keller

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Birthplace: Swansea, Illinois Position: C Height: 5″10 Weight: 170 Shoots: L

A smallish forward, Keller likely would’ve been passed on at this stage of the draft in the “Old NHL.” Luckily for him, it’s no longer 1997, and speed and skill are for the most part now prioritized over sheer size and brute force. Excels offensively, has the potential to become a highly skilled playmaker with a goal scoring touch and incredible hockey sense. An offensive juggernaught, he has the ability to both score highlight reel goals and set up teammates with his ridiculously crisp and accurate passing. Great vision and awareness coupled with deft hands. Strong puck carrier that can get through tight spaces while protecting the puck. Despite his size, he is hard to knock off the puck. A great skater with quick acceleration, Keller can blow past defenders and create scoring chances at a whim. Plays a flashy game, but is useful in all game situations. Can kill penalties, is relied on for defensive zone faceoffs and breaking out of the defensive zone. Needs seasoning and added muscle before breaking into the NHL. Won Bronze at WJC U-18, was named tournament MVP, had most assists, named to All-Star team and named top 3 player on USA. Comparable to: Johnny Gaudreau, Patrick Kane, Mitch Marner.

http://www.eliteprospects.com/iframe_player_stats.php?player=226432

12. Logan Brown:

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Birthplace: Raleigh, North Carolina Position: C Height: 6″6 Weight: 220 Shoots: L

Yet another kid of an ex-NHLer, the son of Jeff Brown is without a doubt the most physically intimidating high ranking prospect, clocking in at a whopping 6″6, 220 pounds. Coupled with his size, Brown’s biggest asset is his booming shot. He shoots at a speed and level rarely seen in the CHL, his size being the obvious catalyst here. With size comes power, but his puck control and elite hockey sense should not be overlooked. Shows creativity, patience and maturity while setting up plays. Defensively, he uses his frame and reach to shield the puck and keep it away from attackers and has the potential to be a two-way beast. Skating stride is good, could work on first stride explosiveness. Has to work on his overall consistency, and could use some added grit to go along with his size. If he adds a more aggressive style to his overall game, he could be absolutely dominant. Likely not ready to step into the NHL immediately, although his body says otherwise. Won bronze at WJC U-18 and played in CHL Top Prospects Game. Comparable to: Ryan Getzlaf, David Backes, Nick Bjugstad

http://www.eliteprospects.com/iframe_player_stats.php?player=248391

13. Tyson Jost

Birthplace: St. Albert, Alberta Position: C/LW Height: 5″11 Weight: 192 Shoots: L

Jost is an incredibly skilled player that both thinks and plays at a high level with elite hockey IQ. Has great hands and stickhandling ability that coupled with his hockey sense and ability to read plays makes him an extremely dangerous overall playmaker. Has perfected tape to tape passing in tight areas. Good shot with a quick release, likes to crash the net and battles hard to get goals or setup plays. Could use more muscle, and since he played in the BCHL, there is the question whether or not Jost could have replicated his success in the WHL. His spectacular showing at the U-18, where he broke Connor McDavid’s record for most points by a Canadian, should prove those doubters wrong, and Jost has consistently performed well against top notch elite competition on an international scale. Jost is also an elite level skater with agility and great acceleration that allows him to blow past defenders and drive towards the net. His hockey IQ comes out on defense, where his positioning and ability to read the play leads to constant turnovers. Given his somewhat physical style of play, more muscle would elevate a number of different areas of his game. He’s NCAA bound for next season, committed to North Dakota, and has plenty of time to prepare for the NHL, he won’t be making the immediate jump and definitely needs some seasoning. Will likely end up a lower end first liner, or an elite second line option. BCHL First Team All-Star, BCHL Most Assists, Vern Dye Memorial Trophy winner (BCHL MVP), Hlinka Memorial Gold Medal. U18 WJC top 3 player on team, All-Star team, Best Forward. World Junior A Challenge All-Star Team, MVP, Most Assists, Most Points, Gold Medal. Comparable to: Brendan Morrison, Kyle Turris, (Jonathan Toews, Patrice Bergeron not necessarily in terms of overall skill but in style of play)

http://www.eliteprospects.com/iframe_player_stats.php?player=148111

14. Jake Bean

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Birthplace: Calgary, Alberta Position: D Height: 6″1 Weight: 172 Shoots: L

An outstanding all round skater with insane acceleration, Bean is an elite two-way presence that is propelled by his agility and ability to quickly go from offense to defnece. The type of defenceman that can pinch on a whim and still be able to come back strong on defense in the same shift. Like the majority of prospects, he could definitely use some more muscle, which would help out his boardwork and play in front of his own net. His skating is likely his best asset, but he also shows poise with the puck, using his speed and puck control to start the rush either through himself or through a breakout pass. Bean possesses a heavy slap shot and a quick wrister that he can get through front of the net traffic. He’s a dynamic offensive force that has great vision and overall shooting and passing skills. Defensively, he is just as good, showing great positioning that shuts down passing and shooting lanes and keeps attackers towards the boards. He’s willing to physically battle for pucks, but is not known as an elite physical presence. As mentioned before, adding muscle will help that. Overall, a great all round defender that will likely end up on a top pairing one day, but is not expected to make the immediate jump to The Show. Played in CHL Top Prospects Game, won Hlinka Memorial Gold, played in WHL (East) Second All-Star Team, led WHL in goals by Defenceman. Comparable to: playing style of Keith Yandle, TJ Brodie, Mike Green

http://www.eliteprospects.com/iframe_player_stats.php?player=199660

15. Charlie McAvoy:

Birthplace: Long Beach, New York Position: D Height: 6″0 Weight: 198 Shoots: R

McAvoy has the potential to end up a top pairing defenceman, through his excellent skating ability, puck skills, willingness to take well advised offensive risks, and his growing ability to make smart decisions on the ice. Tough as nails, McAvoy is a relatively safe pick, because even if he doesn’t pan out offensively, his defensive skills and toughness will at the very least translate to a bottom pairing role. He skates well, with great agility and the ability to dance around the opposition to create offence. His quick pivoting skills allow him to make the transition from offence to defence easy, he’s a 200 foot player. McAvoy possesses slick stick skills, and can lead the rush himself or through a great first pass. His offensive poise and willingness to pinch makes him a potential power play quarterback. Good release on his wrister and snap shot and while his overall shooting is accurate, his slapshot could use some work to add more power. He has improved his decision making tenfold, prior to this season he was prone to risky plays such as bad pinching, looking for the big hit, and putting himself out of position. Overall, McAvoy is a safe option with big upside that might not necessarily fully translate to the NHL level. He still needs work on his defensive game, needs seasoning and is likely headed back to Boston University next season. Could be a top pairing force used in all situations, or a very good bottom pairing guy that will have a long career regardless. Won U20 WJC Bronze Medal, member of NCAA (Hockey East) All-Rookie Team. Comparable to: Tyson Barrie, Kevin Shattenkirk, playing style of Drew Doughty, toughness of Niklas Kronwall

http://www.eliteprospects.com/iframe_player_stats.php?player=245142

16. Max Jones:

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Birthplace: Rochester, Michigan Position: LW Height: 6″3 Weight: 201 Shoots: L

Another second generation player, the son of Brad Jones is a highly competitive power forward that blends skill with tenacity, the best way I can describe Jones is as a “Brian Burke” type player. He is incredibly hard-working and shows intense drive and passion in his play. Sometimes Jones crosses the line and will deliver a dirty hit, such as the one that led to a 12 game suspension this year in the playoffs against Owen Sound. Offensively, Jones is an elite sniper with a quick release that uses his size well and is a bit of a throwback, 90’s style power forward. Never afraid to mix it up, he bursts into the offensive zone and throws his body around, clearing lanes and creating scoring chances. He uses his body to protect the puck and cycle, but needs to work on his puck vision. Is a shoot first player and could use his teammates a little more. A great skater for his size, his powerful stride allows him to blow past opponents and use his natural finishing ability to score. Sound defensively, he plays similarly in all zones, showing good overall positioning and instincts that along with his constantly physical style of play leads to turnovers. Jones needs to work on his consistency and discipline if he wants to make an impact at the NHL level. He takes too many penalties and definitely needs more development time before making the jump to the Bigs. He’s a potential top 6 power winger if he continues to work on those aspects of his game. OHL Champion and played in CHL Top Prospects Game. Comparable to: Corey Perry, Lawson Crouse, Shane Doan

http://www.eliteprospects.com/iframe_player_stats.php?player=233448

17. Kieffer Bellows:

Birthplace: Edina, Minnesota Position: C/LW Height: 6″1 Weight: 194 Shoots: L

Keeping with what seems to be the trend this year, the son of Cup Champion Brian Bellows plays a similar high octane, shoot first game as his father. A pure sniper, Bellows possesses outstanding natural offensive instincts and is one of the better pure scoring prospects in the draft. He has a a great release on his wrist shot, a heavy slapshot that is even more dangerous when used as a one-timer, is a fantastic all-round shooter. His natural scoring ability and willingness to get dirty and go to the net results in countless deflections and “garbage goals” as well. Bellows has also shown excellent stickhandling ability, and the skill and agility to break past defenders one-on-one. A physical presence, he is adept at throwing the big hit in the offensive zone, freeing up lanes and being a momentum changer in the physical realm of the game. The major knock on Bellows is that he has a tendency to disappear when he’s not able to get on the scoreboard, and at this point is purely a one-dimensional scorer. He could definitely use his teammates more, and perhaps shoot a little less, especially when he’s unable to score. He has the speed, IQ and an effective enough defensive game to be a force in all three zones of the ice, but needs to be more consistent in the non-shooting aspects of the game. Bellows is not ready to step into the NHL immediately and needs a couple of years developing in the NCAA, where he’ll be going to Boston University. Overall, he needs to mature his game, become less one-dimensional and make some better decisions on the ice, but should develop into a top 6 forward, given time. Bellows was a member of USA’s U18 WJC Bronze Medal Team and should be in the next U20 World Juniors. Comparable to: James van Riemsdyk, James Neal, Boone Jenner

18. Dante Fabbro

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Birthplace: New Westminster, British Columbia Position: D Height: 6″0 Weight: 190 Shoots: R

Fabbro is an offensive-minded two-way presence, that perfectly blends offence and defence. Although he thinks offence first and has a huge shot, quick release and a crisp first pass that shows that, Fabbro can be absolutely lethal in his own end as well. His stickwork and body positioning in the defensive end breaks up lanes and he is constantly looking to cause turnovers. His best strength is his skating, showcasing fantastic agility and a great first step. His speed and acceleration allows him to be a constant presence in every zone, and can make the transition from offence to defence with ease. Fabbro excels in the transition game, with his elite vision and hockey IQ, he can quarterback a rush, either through himself or with a lethal breakout pass. Fabbro is not a big hitter and could put on some muscle, but he doesn’t necessarily shy away from physical play, he fights in the corners and in front of the net defensively, blocking lanes and taking away the middle of the ice. Blocks shots, shows great hockey IQ and has the potential to become a top pairing, two-way presence that all teams covet. He’s another prospect that’s committed to Boston University’s stellar hockey program. Fabbro was a BCHL First Team All-Star, BCHL Top Defenseman, scored BCHL Most Points by a Defenseman. Won Hlinka Memorial Gold, was U18 WJC Top 3 Player on Team, had U18 WJC Most Assists by a Defenseman. Won World Junior A Challenge Gold Medal. Comparable to: Tyson Barrie, Justin Faulk, Oliver Ekman-Larsson

http://www.eliteprospects.com/iframe_player_stats.php?player=247041

19. Luke Kunin:

Birthplace: Chesterfield, Missouri Position: C Height: 6″0 Weight: 196 Shoots: R

A very smart player with a high hockey IQ, leadership intagibles and excellent all-round ability, there is no major glaring weakness to Kunin’s game. Needs to gain strength, which will help with his deadly accurate shot, and work on his general explosiveness. Other than that, Kunin is a very solid jack of all trades that does a little bit of everything very well, but not necessarily at an absolute elite level. He displays a high work ethic to go along with a willingness to get to the front of the net, good puck skills, and has a knack for seeing potential scoring opportunites. Offensively gifted, Kunin battles hard in tough zones and uses his body efficiently to protect the puck. Aside from his accurate shot and his garbage goal skills, he also possesses adept passing ability to set up goals. His strongest suit is probably his hockey sense, which also translates to the defensive side of the game. He’s on the penalty kill, is good at the faceoff dot, is not afraid to block shots, and is great at blocking passing lanes. His ability to read the play is top notch. Overall, he’s headed back to the NCAA for more development, and will need a couple years to properly develop. When he does, he could end up being a top-6 two-way centre with a scoring touch, or an elite 3rd line presence in a tough checking role. Was a member of the NCAA Big 10 All-Rookie Team. Comparable to: Mike Fisher, Alex Steen if his offensive game translates to the pro level.

http://www.eliteprospects.com/iframe_player_stats.php?player=245278

20. Julien Gauthier:

Birthplace: Pointe-aux-Trembles, Quebec Position: RW Height: 6″4 Weight: 225 Shoots: R

A huge body with a scorers touch and a powerful skating stride, the nephew of Denis Gauthier has seen his stock fall slightly this year. He’s a power forward whose style of play has left scouts pondering if it will translate to the big league level. He scores more than he sets up plays and is not a natural playmaker, but more of a hard-nosed winger with a penchant for heading towards the net. Some say he’s a future front line power forward., others say he’s set up to be the bust of the first round and he will cap out as a third or fourth liner grinder, it’s difficult to tell at this point. Played in last years CHL Top Prospects Game and should be on Team Canada’s World Junior team this year. Comparable to: Johan Franzen, Rick Nash

http://www.eliteprospects.com/iframe_player_stats.php?player=213464

21. German Rubtsov:

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Birthplace: Chekhov, Russia Position: C Height: 6″0 Weight: 190 Shoots: L

Unfortunately, hockey fans were robbed of a chance to see the talented Rubtsov in action at the World U-18’s, as the entire Russian team tested positive for a banned substance and was replaced with the U-17 team. Rubtsov had a chance to dominate the tournament, as his cerebral style of play is rarely seen in players his age. His hockey sense is off the charts, and he does a little of everything well, but is mainly seen as an elite two-way player with fantastic skating ability and defensive skills. Rubtsov is versatile enough to slot anywhere in the lineup, but his peak in the NHL is projected to be as an elite 2nd liner. Won Hlinka Memorial bronze, a silver medal at the World Junior A Challenge, and was named to the All-Star team in that event. Comparable to: Ryan O’Reilly, Pavel Datsyuk

http://www.eliteprospects.com/iframe_player_stats.php?player=312227

22. Logan Stanley:

Birthplace: Kitchener, Ontario Position: D Height: 6″7 Weight: 225 Shoots: L

Just by looking at his size, it’s easy to see why Logan Stanley had scouts interests peaked. An absolute mammoth, Stanley is the epitome of a stay at home d-man. He’s improved by leaps and bounds this year, and now projects to be taken in the first round, a far cry from where he was a year ago. Stanley is strictly a stay at home defender, there’s not much offense to his game, but he would be the ideal complement to a more offensive minded d-partner. A player that can clean up the occasional mess if his partner is caught pinching or out of position. Skates alright for his size, but still needs work. An unfinished product, Stanley has work to do, but the potential to be a monster defensive player is there. Played in last years CHL Top Prospects Game. Comparable to: Jamie Oleksiak, Hal Gill, Jarred Tinordi

http://www.eliteprospects.com/iframe_player_stats.php?player=240108

23. Alex DeBrincat:

Birthplace: Farmington Hills, Michigan Position: C Height: 5″7 Weight: 165 Shoots: R

DeBrincat is the kind of guy that seems perfect for the “New NHL.” Only 5″7, DeBrincat is small, there’s no going around that, but he consistently finds a way to score and never seems to get hit or put himself in vulnerable situations. He’s used to playing with elite centres, as his OHL centres have been Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, and Dylan Strome. He’s not necessarily an overwhelmingly fast skater that will blow by defenders, but is more of an elusive, agile, quick player. Decently hard shot with a very quick release, it’ll be interesting to see if DeBrincat’s offense translates to the NHL level, with or without an elite centreman. Played in CHL Top Prospects Game, named to OHL Third All-Star Team, won WJC Bronze. Comparable to: Mike Cammalleri, Cam Atkinson

http://www.eliteprospects.com/iframe_player_stats.php?player=231275

24. Riley Tufte:

Birthplace: Ham Lake, Minnesota Position: LW Height: 6″5 Weight: 212 Shoots: L

Minnesotta’s reigning Mr. Hockey, Tufte wrecked the high school ranks last year and cemented his status as a first-rounder. An extremely raw talent, he needs tons of seasoning, but has great size and skating, and doesn’t back down from the physical side of the game. Tufte’s committed to the University of Minnesota-Duluth for next year, and is years away from the NHL. An intriguing overall mix of talent and size. Comparable to: Nick Bjugstad.

http://www.eliteprospects.com/iframe_player_stats.php?player=291903

25. Rasmus Asplund:

Birthplace: Filipstad, Sweden Position: C/LW Height: 5″10 Weight: 176 Shoots: L

Overshadowed at the World Juniors by countrymen Alex Nylander and Dmytro Timashov, Asplund is nonetheless a fantastic player in his own right. Although a little undersized, Asplund is incredibly hard working and brings leadership intangibles to the table. He’s feisty, and his work ethic is infectious, but his size limits him physically. Great hockey sense and playmaking ability, he’s an elusive skater that is always looking for open ice. His best trait is his head; his determination and work ethic is hard to match. Comparable to: Marcus Johansson, Bo Horvat

http://www.eliteprospects.com/iframe_player_stats.php?player=139616

26. Brett Howden:

2c659560-6c70-11e5-a6f7-1d41de1faa17_Sept26-Howden2-1-.jpg

Birthplace: Calgary, Alberta Position: C Height: 6″2 Weight: 190 Shoots: L

Quinton Howden’s younger brother was overshadowed in Moose Jaw last year by Brayden Point, but nonetheless left scouts intrigued. He’s decent all around, no standout skills, but does everything pretty well. A 200 foot player that has tenacity and edge to his game, he’s valuable at any end of the ice. Skates well, sound both offensively and in the defensive zone, Howden’s main problem is his compete level. He has a tendency to drift at times and focus only on scoring. Set up to play a bigger role in Moose Jaw this year, it’ll be interesting to see if his skill set and compete level goes up. Played in CHL Top Prospects Game, won Hlinka Memorial Gold and was named a Top 3 Player on Canada during the World U-18’s. Comparable to: Brandon Dubinsky, Lars Eller

http://www.eliteprospects.com/iframe_player_stats.php?player=232712

27. Vitali Abramov:

Birthplace: Chelyabinsk, Russia Position: W Height: 5″9 Weight: 174 Shoots: L

Another undersized player that would’ve fallen in drafts of the past, Abramov is a ridiculously quick skater with great agility, and has the offensive skills to match. He’s got good hockey sense and rarely puts himself into vulnerable positions on the ice, but has a high compete level and doesn’t let his size limit where he goes on the ice. Feisty, skilled, and could be the steal of the late first round. Equally skilled at both scoring and playmaking, but is also adept in the defensive zone. Played in CHL Top Prospects Game, named to QMJHL All-Rookie Team, won QMJHL Rookie of the Year and Michel Bergeron Trophy for QMJHL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Had most goals, assists, and points by a rookie in the QMJHL last year. Comparable to: Nikita Kucherov

http://www.eliteprospects.com/iframe_player_stats.php?player=295715

28. Pascal Laberge:

Victoriaville Tigres v Blainville-Boisbriand Armada

Birthplace: Chateauguay, Quebec Position: C/RW Height: 6″1 Weight: 174 Shoots: R

Laberge is a quick and feisty player with an edge to his game and the offensive skills to back it up. Sometimes he takes the edge a little too far, but he should mature with time. A dangerous offensive threat, especially in open ice, he’s got a quick shot and good playmaking ability, but struggles in the corners and in physical situations. Played in CHL Top Prospects game. Comparable to: Brayden Schenn

http://www.eliteprospects.com/iframe_player_stats.php?player=252492

29. Tage Thompson:

tage.0.0.jpg

Birthplace: Oyster Bay, New York Position: C/RW Height: 6″5 Weight: 194 Shoots: R

Personally, I’m not high on Thompson and believe he should be a mid-2nd round pick, but I do think that a team will bite early and take him in the late 1st round. Thompson is tall and lanky and the GM that drafts him no doubt hopes that he will grow into his frame. The son of Brent Thompson has outstanding hockey sense and feel for the game, but he seems to lack drive and passion on the ice and disappears at times. He’s got the size and overall natural skill to be a top-6 forward, but is the compete level there? My bet for a first round flame-out that teases his skill, but ultimately doesn’t have immense success at the NHL level. Comparable to: Jimmy Hayes

http://www.eliteprospects.com/iframe_player_stats.php?player=301349

30. Libor Hajek:

Birthplace: Smrcek, Czech Republic Position: D Height: 6″2 Weight: 196 Shoots: L

While not a flashy player, Hajek is the kind of no-frills defender that simply gets things done. Good at everything, but not elite at anything, Hajek projects to be a shutdown d-man that can chip in a little on offense, but mainly stays unnoticed and quietly does his job. Will likely be a #4 or 5 defenseman that chips in on secondary special teams units. Moves the puck well, but defense is his calling card. A much safer pick than a relative gamble like Julien Gauthier or Tage Thompson. Comparable to: Chris Tanev, Carl Gunnarsson, Marco Scandella

http://www.eliteprospects.com/iframe_player_stats.php?player=195023

A Tribute to Mr. Hockey

Posted by michaelrevell on June 10, 2016

Posted in: hockey, Sports. Tagged: detroit red wings, gordie howe, hartford whalers, hockey, houston aeros, mr. hockey, nhl, wha. Leave a comment

I am completely devastated beyond words. This string of celebrity deaths has been rattling, that goes without saying, and Muhammad Ali passing away the other week shook my world. But this one… Mr. Howe was someone really special to me. Not only did I have the honour and the privilege of meeting him once in my life, but he took the time to have an extended conversation with me, about life and hockey, and sign this book and a jersey I now have hanging up in my living room, personalized with my name and a message to me. His health was declining at the time and he was a year or so away from fighting a stroke, and I’ll never forget the genuine compassion and interest he showed towards a random 16 year old kid during one of the direst moments of his life. I’ll forever treasure those items and memories.

When my uncle introduced me to hockey in 1995, the first player I loved was Sergei Fedorov of the Detroit Red Wings. Although I was only 3 years old, I already yearned to learn more about the great game and the history behind it. Only three years later, while looking up Red Wings history during library time at school, I learned about the legend that is Gordie Howe.

I learned about his 1,850 career NHL points, his 508 points in the old WHA, a lot of them recorded while playing alongside his sons, Mark and Marty, which I thought was just the coolest thing ever. I learned how Wayne Gretzky idolized him, I learned about him growing up in Floral, Saskatchewan, and I learned about him getting himself a tryout with the New York Rangers and eventually signing with the Red Wings, paving his own path to one of the all-time great careers in sport. But I also learned about his wife, Colleen, who Mr. Howe absolutely adored from the day he married her in 1953 right up through her unfortunate passing from Pick’s Disease in 2009 and his own passing today. I learned about how he came out of retirement with the motive of playing pro hockey on the same line as his sons, and he was a grandfather at that point. I learned that when someone would mention his hockey playing kids, he was quick to mention that he was just as proud of another son, Murray, who’s a doctor. My favourite story about him involves one of his sons, don’t remember if it was Mark or Marty, being wrestled with on the ice by a player named Robbie Ftorek. Gordie Howe calmly skated over to Ftorek, removed his glove, stuck his fingers up his nose and hauled him to his feet, off of his son. I would’ve loved to see the look in Ftorek’s eyes at that moment.

Gordie Howe was a legend. What he has done for the game of hockey and for the cities of Detroit, Hartford, Houston, and Canada on the whole is indescribable. I know that hearing, reading, and when YouTube came out, watching the legends of Gordie Howe as a kid helped propel me into a life of hockey. Now, as I’m in year one of slowly realizing my dream of becoming a hockey writer, I look at my signed Gordie Howe book with tears in my eyes and I can’t help but think that this man helped change the course of my life and he never even knew it.

RIP Mr. Hockey, the world truly lost the greatest today.

Can’t say I saw this coming. Shout out to Dion for all the absolute nonsense he put up with in his time in Toronto, for being Captain of the only Leafs team of my adult life to make the playoffs, for not being as garbage as people claim he is, and for elevating his game enough under Mike Babcock to be a wanted asset by another NHL team that was willing to give a good haul of assets to Toronto in return for him.

Breaking down the trade:

To Ottawa:

Matt Frattin –

One of the few remaining remnants of the John Ferguson Jr era, Frattin was a 4^th round draft pick back in 2007, was a Hobey Baker finalist and scouts once thought that he could be a “Diet Rick Nash” type of winger on a second line featuring Nazem Kadri. A personal Marlies favourite of mine, I’ll be sad to see him go. That being said, he’s a 28 year old declining AHLer whose shot at becoming a legitimate full time NHLer is now years in the past. His best year came in 2011/2012 when he had 15 points in 56 games. Expiring contract. I expect him to either be an AHL leader next year, or playing in Europe.

Casey Bailey –

An undrafted winger, Bailey signed a two year entry level contract with Toronto in March of last year after being a point per game player during his years at Penn State. Has a good shot, ideal size and a high compete level, but the jury is out on whether or not he can ever progress past middling-AHL player status. He scored a goal for the Leafs in 6 games at the end of last season during a short audition, but failed to make the big club out of this season’s training camp and has underwhelmed for the William Nylander powered Marlies this year. At 24 years old with just 18 points in 38 AHL games this year, I see this undrafted, ex-U.S. College player being more of a Brayden Irwin than a Tyler Bozak. With an expiring contract and an NHL cap hit of $912,500, I don’t expect him to see much time, if any, with the big club in Ottawa. Decent minor league option that is a restricted free agent at the end of this season.

Ryan Rupert –

The ex-6^th round draft pick in 2012 has bounced between the AHL Marlies and the ECHL Orlando Solar Bears the past two seasons, after being a mainstay with his hometown London Knights for the entirety of his junior career, often playing with his twin brother Matt, who has also attended Leafs prospect camps. The 21 year old centre is a strong, rough and tumble player with decent puck skills, limited skating ability and a bad habit of delivering the odd dirty play. Unfortunately for him, his playing style seems to be more suited for 1996 than 2016. The prototypical slow power forward with a decent shot and a penchant for the net is a declining breed and Rupert seems to be a victim of circumstance. He was not high up in Toronto’s depth chart, was likely not going to make the Leafs full-time at any point, but remains a viable minor league option for Ottawa. He’s signed for next year too, so expect to see him as a regular on the Binghamton Senators.

Cody Donaghey –

This undrafted, 19 year old defenceman is currently in the QMJHL with the Moncton Wildcats and is considered to be a late blooming potential gem. He was undrafted, despite being the 150^th ranked player of his year, but impressed the Toronto brass with a good showing at the Under 17’s and with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies and Quebec Remparts in 2013-2014. The Leafs invited him to prospect camp as a free agent and he turned enough heads to parlay that into a three-year entry level deal. A right-handed shot with a high fitness level, Donaghey has the potential to be a very strong offensive defenseman, but like many defenders his age, his actual defensive game needs considerable work. He also recently fought through both an MCL and ACL tear, which has considerably hampered his development. Nonetheless, it would not surprise me at all to see him in the NHL at some point in the coming years. He’s signed until the end of 2017-2018, and I expect Ottawa to audition him on their blueline once he completes his junior career and spends some time in the AHL.

Dion Phaneuf –

It doesn’t seem like six years ago, but that’s how much time has gone by since Toronto acquired Phaneuf, Fredrik Sjostrom and Keith Aulie from Calgary in exchange for Matt Stajan, Niklas Hagman, Ian White and Jamal Mayers. It’s easy to look back in retrospect, and there’s no denying that Phaneuf did not turn out to be the player that Toronto envisioned, ending up as more of a Bryan McCabe than a Chris Pronger, but I firmly believe that Dion Phaneuf was a solid Maple Leaf, despite the popular opinion that says otherwise. He was a victim of circumstance, a player with a contract and letter on his jersey that said to fans that he would become the next Chris Pronger, when in reality, that is just not who Dion Phaneuf is. He is not a number one defenceman. Or even a number two at this stage of his career. He should not have been playing 30-odd minutes a game, like he was under the old Toronto regime. He was heavily misused and it showed in his play and the stats. That being said, he improved by leaps and bounds this year playing a reduced role under Mike Babcock, and appears to have found his game again. Phaneuf will never be the player that we thought he would be coming out of junior. However, he remains an incredibly serviceable second pairing defenceman that can be a physical game changer, a boon on the power play with his massive shot, and a good locker room presence that has dealt with adversity fairly well. He’s signed for five more years with a $7 million cap hit, which is already a steep price to pay for a player of his caliber, but could be disastrous a few years down the road if injuries or a steady decline takes place. I believe that he could be a great supporting piece for Ottawa, a player that can take a bit of the load off of younger guys like Cody Ceci, but I don’t envy that cap situation.

To Toronto:

Jared Cowen –

The 25 year old defenceman has severely underwhelmed at the NHL level since being drafted 9^th overall in 2009, and looking back, it’s clear that rushing him to the NHL was not the right move. A massive (6”5, 240 pounds) stay at home defender, Cowen was perfect for the old, slower, crash and bang NHL of days past. It was envisioned that he would be a stabilizing presence on the blueline that would neutralize attackers with his physicality and sheer size. Instead, the game changed and a player with Cowen’s footspeed does not look like he can last in today’s league. He fell out of Ottawa’s top six and has been all over the rumour mill for the last couple of seasons. He’s signed for $4.5 million next year, but with a cap hit of $3.1 million, and would be a restricted free agent after that. If his play doesn’t drastically improve, he would be a prime candidate for a buyout next off season. The potential is still there, but time is running out for Jared Cowen. Fast.

Milan Michalek –

A good veteran presence, the skilled winger was a key piece in the trade that sent Dany Heatley to San Jose in 2009. Injuries have taken their toll, he’s currently out with a broken finger, and his prime is well in the past, but Michalek is without a doubt a decent top-nine forward option on most teams. He’s struggled with Ottawa this season, recording 10 points in 32 games, but when the inevitable roster shuffle continues and pieces like Shawn Matthias, P-A Parenteau, Michael Grabner and Co. get moved, I expect Michalek to pick up a lot of the slack. He’s signed through the next season at a $4 million cap hit, a lot for a player at this stage of his career, but Toronto has the cap space and could use a veteran presence on the ice next year with an expected influx of young players coming up to the bigs. Barring injury, Michalek could be a very serviceable short-term option for the Leafs.

Colin Greening –

The 29 year old winger had fallen out of the Ottawa roster over the past two seasons and has spent virtually all of this season in the AHL, recording underwhelming numbers of 13 points in 41 games, to go along with 52 PIMs. He’s on a $2.625 million per year contract that expires after next season, which is millions of dollars to much for a player of his age and caliber, hence why he was buried in the minors, but can conceivably take a fourth line role on the Leafs once the roster shuffle continues. He’s a stopgap option at best and I don’t see him being in the NHL much longer, if at all.

Tobias Lindberg –

Looking back in a few years, Lindberg could end up being the best player in this trade. The 20 year old winger was a 4^th round pick by Ottawa in 2013 out of the famed Djurgardens program in Sweden and spent last season recording 97 points (including playoffs) as a star import on the Memorial Cup champ Oshawa Generals. The coach on that team? None other than new assistant Leafs coach DJ Smith. Lindberg has represented Sweden internationally a number of times, despite not ever playing in the World Juniors, and had 22 points in 34 games this season for the Binghamton Senators. He’s going to be joining the Marlies for what is expected to be an extended playoff run, slotting behind A-list prospects like William Nylander and Kasperi Kapanen. As it currently stands, Lindberg is a high-end middle level prospect with size and scoring ability that could potentially see some time in the big leagues this year and has the potential to eventually make an impact at the NHL level.

2^nd round pick in 2017 – The stats say that a 2^nd round pick turns into an NHL player 1/3 of the time, and could potentially end up being a mid to high 30’s draft pick. If the Leafs draft properly, this could (obviously) turn into a huge asset. For example, some 2^nd round picks in 2011 include Boone Jenner, John Gibson, Brandon Saad and Nikita Kucherov.

Final Verdict:

There’s a lot of pieces in this trade. 10 piece trades rarely happen in today’s NHL and at first glance, this looks massive. But once contracts and potential get thrown into the equation, this trade ends up essentially being Dion Phaneuf for Tobias Lindberg and a 2^nd round pick.

From an Ottawa standpoint, they dump an underachieving ex-top tier prospect in Jared Cowen, a buried minor league contract in Colin Greening and an aging, expensive, injury prone Milan Michalek. They lose a good draft choice and a very solid prospect in Tobias Lindberg. They gain a veteran minor league presence with significant NHL experience and an expiring contract in Matt Frattin, minor league filler with Casey Bailey and Ryan Rupert, a potential dark horse in Cody Donaghey, that at worst case scenario will be a minor league mainstay, and a seemingly rejuvenated Dion Phaneuf. Phaneuf is expected to be a good locker room guy that can help groom young guys like Cody Ceci, Mark Stone and Curtis Lazar while still logging significant minutes on the blueline and powerplay. Will he be a superstar? No. Is he worth $7 million a year for the next five seasons? No. But not many players are, and fans need to separate Phaneuf from his contract while analyzing his play. I am concerned about potential age-related regression from Phaneuf, and this contract could end up hurting Ottawa in the long run as he ages. But as of right now, he is a serviceable defenceman and leader that will help the current team.

From the Toronto point of view, this is a long-term move that is keeping in check with the current rebuilding mindset. They clear out some minor league filler in exchange for a couple of bad contracts that can be used as placeholders on the current rebuilding squad and lose the potential dark horse that is Cody Donaghey, but gain significant value in return. I don’t expect it to happen, but Jared Cowen could conceivably re-spark his development under the Babcock regime and if he does improve he could be someone that sticks around long term. The potential that had him drafted 9^th overall is still there, but he has to prove he belongs immediately. Tobias Lindberg is a very good prospect that likely has a future with the Leafs and having another 2^nd round pick is obviously always a good thing. However, the main key here is moving the $7 million cap hit of Phaneuf and freeing up the captaincy. You thought the Steven Stamkos to Toronto rumours were overwhelming before? That just increased tenfold.

Overall, this was a solid trade for both teams, with Ottawa moving out some expensive and middling bodies in exchange for an expensive 2^nd pairing defenceman with leadership qualities and a couple of mediocre to middle prospects, while losing a couple of decent assets in the process. Although the haul for Ottawa was decent, I see Toronto being the winner here, if only for the freed up long term cap space and now vacant captaincy. Getting a good prospect and a 2^nd rounder is bonus in my eyes and taking on a couple of bad contracts is a small price to pay. I’ll leave you all with this. Seen Stamkos?

Toronto Maple Leafs Game 1: A Brief Recap

Posted by michaelrevell on October 8, 2015

Posted in: hockey. Tagged: careyprice, habs, jonathanbernier, leafs, montrealcanadiens, nhl, nhlfaceoff, tmltalk, torontomapleleafs. Leave a comment

Final score: Montreal 3, Toronto 1

Honestly, this game went better than expected. Wasn’t great, not in the slightest. But it was better than expected. It’s no secret that the Leafs are in for a rough few seasons, while the Habs are a team that considers themselves to be a legitimate Cup contender. So a 3-1 loss with the 3rd goal being an empty netter really isn’t horrendous on the whole. But boy, did this game start in pretty much the worst way possible.

As anyone that regularly watches the Leafs play knows, Jonathan Bernier has a history of letting in weak goals. So when Max Pacioretty put the first Montreal shot on net and it handcuffed Bernier, bounced over his shoulder and trickled in, I was not surprised. I literally burst out laughing. 100% that was an early omen for the rest of Toronto’s season. However, aside from the standard weak Bernier goal, he played pretty well, coming up huge with a couple of massive saves during the typical Toronto defensive lapses. No question, Bernier kept the Leafs in this game.

Moving on to the defense, despite being a constant lighting rod for criticism, captain Dion Phaneuf had a relatively quiet, but decent game. He ate up minutes, wasn’t a total defensive liability, and played pretty well with his new d-partner, alternate captain Matt Hunwick. He even picked up a secondary assist on the lone Toronto goal. Hunwick, while I don’t believe he is capable of playing top-4 minutes on a consistent basis, had a solid game. He showed some decent chemistry with Phaneuf and was a stabilizer on the ice, logging 4 hits and playing over 20 minutes, along with Captain Dion. Morgan Rielly was Morgan Rielly. He played a touch over 20 minutes, had a few offensive bursts, and was mediocre in the defensive zone, finishing with a -2 rating. Likewise for Jake Gardiner, he played a classic Jake game. Flashes of the Gardiner we saw in the playoffs in 2013, rushing with the puck and being a potential game changer, but we also saw what put him in the doghouse since then. The amount of times I see Jake Gardiner screwing up a pinch and having to rush back, stick flailing and leaving his d-partner out to dry with a 3 on 1 break is enraging. There’s no question that he has immense offensive talent, but that doesn’t mean anything when you don’t record a point, have limited offensive chances, and barely play good defense. This may be a make or break year for Gardiner. Now, it gets ugly with these final 2 players. Martin Marincin and Scott Harrington are two young players that were making their Toronto debut. And they sucked. I’m not going easy on them. They were constantly a defensive liability on the ice and frankly, they looked outmatched by a pretty damn good Montreal squad. Harrington failed to properly cover Alex Galchenyuk on the 2nd Habs goal, and there were countless other instances where both young men were caught up ice, or coughed up the puck, or simply got outmatched. Neither of them are NHL ready, that’s what I got out of this game. I’d like to see either Roman Polak, who was scratched tonight, or Frank Corrado get a shot next game.

Regarding the forwards, James van Riemsdyk scored the lone goal for Toronto (a fluky double tip), but aside from that, the core Leafs players were mostly non-factors. Nazem Kadri looked undisciplined to start, taking a stupid interference penalty early in the game. Joffrey Lupul floated, looking like a shell of his former self. Tyler Bozak was a total non-factor. What I did like, was how well some of the new Leafs acquisitions played. He was a -2, but Brad Boyes may have been the hardest working player in this game, and was a constant buzz on the ice. The fourth line of Nick Spaling, Daniel Winnik, and Mark Arcobello/PA Parenteau was dynamic at times and was easily the best Toronto line. Spaling had a great scoring chance that would’ve tied the game, but was let down by a bouncing puck. Arcobello was on the power play and seemed to be rotating in and out of this line with Parenteau, who didn’t look as good as the rest of these guys. Winnik was a gem last year before the trade, and played like the guy that Leafs fans initially fell in love with. Toronto registered 37 shots on goal, outshooting Montreal by 7. That’s unheard of for recent Toronto teams, who are literally used to being outshot 45-20. Michael Grabner was a healthy scratch tonight, which I’m sure will change. His speed and offensive ability intrigues me, I’d like to see him on the top line at some point. Regardless, there were definite steps in the right direction, but not enough production and effort from Toronto’s top guns, which was disappointing to see.

Carey Price may have been the guy who won the game overall tonight, but Toronto definitely could’ve played worse on the whole. Get used to it, Toronto fans. It’s gonna be a rough year.

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Toronto Maple Leafs Game 1: A Brief Recap

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