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Marlies Talk 13/14

The 6-foot-3, 215-pound right-winger now has 13 goals in 16 games this season with the Marlies. With the Leafs, however, he has yet to register his first-career goal despite playing 45 games over the past two seasons.

?He has to find that same confidence and swagger with the Leafs,? said Spott. ?Here he does a nice job maintaining the puck, uses his body, he uses his speed and it becomes a weapon for him.?

Under Spott, Ashton plays top-six minutes, both sides of special teams and is a major contributor with the role he?s given.

With some line shuffling involved, Ashton played the left side on the top line on Sunday with Greg McKegg centring and Spencer Abbott on the right.

Abbott, who leads the AHL in assists with 46 in 52 games, has set up nine of Ashton?s goals this season.

?We?ve had some good chemistry together,? said Abbott. ?Today he proved why he?s such a good player.?

?I wouldn?t doubt it, there?s chemistry for sure,? Ashton agreed.

With the Leafs Ashton hasn?t been as fortunate with line mates and has played mostly on the fourth line with enforcers.

While Spott believes confidence is a big issue for Ashton when he makes the transition up to the NHL, where he is situated in the lineup doesn?t help his cause.

Not only is it difficult for Ashton to get any offence going with the skill level he?s surrounded by on the Leafs-and the limited amount of minutes he gets on the ice-the Manitoba native seems to sway away from his style of play to impress Randy Carlyle.

Ashton hasn?t fought once this season with the Marlies, yet he has dropped the gloves three times with the Leafs even though fighting isn?t part of his skill set.

Prior to being sent down to the Marlies on Feb. 28, Ashton had been out of action since late January after injuring his hand. The setback wasn?t easy to overcome as it was his second injury this year after breaking his nose earlier in the season fighting Montreal?s Jarred Tinordi.

?It?s tough sitting out and trying to come back. It?s been a process,? said Ashton. ?I kind of was on the ice and then had to take a couple steps back to let my hand heal again?.Anytime you sit out, it was a tough injury being on and off the ice, getting back in a game was great.?

With the NHL trade deadline approaching on Mar. 5, it?s still uncertain what plans the Leafs have for the future and where Ashton fits into it.

Regardless, Spott believes Ashton should be in the NHL.

?Anytime you get sent down it?s never a positive for a player that?s an NHL player. And he?s an NHL player.?
Click to expand...

http://kylethereporter.com/2014/03/03/carter-ashton-should-be-in-the-nhl-says-steve-spott/
 
Nice to see both Ashton and D'Amigo potting some consistent goals finally. Abbot's numbers are pretty impressive as well. It's just too bad that Carlyle will likely be the coach before one, and maybe all, of them lose their waiver status.
 
I just think it is silly that a player, whether of their own accord or because they feel pressure by someone within the organization, feels that they have to fight when they are called up to help improve their chances of staying in the lineup.  Never fights with the Marlies, but has 3 times with the Leafs.
 
I agree. It's clear he feels he needs to fill that role when in the 4th line position. Whether that's of his own or pressure from others. I'd love to see him have a chance to use his skills in a better context. Maybe Kulemin-Holland-Ashton. A line not expected to score, but with reasonable opportunities to do so.
 
Frank E said:
You guys have seen him play, right?
Click to expand...

He's had about 10000 more breakaways than any of the other 4th liners.  He's just been unlucky at the NHL level, coupled with playing with poor linemates.  He deserves a longer, better look IMO.
 
Frank E said:
You guys have seen him play, right?
Click to expand...

Yes. Usually for 10 or less shifts a night. Not sure what he's expected to do with his 6 minutes of ice time with Orr/McLaren and McClement.
 
Leivo with a hat-trick this afternoon:

http://video.mapleleafs.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=446&id=571074&lang=en

His second goal was JVR-esque.
 
L K said:
RedLeaf said:
Berger's take in the Leaf prospect pool...

http://www.bergerbytes.ca/rundown-on-maple-leafs-prospects/
Click to expand...

Why does his blog look like 1998?
Click to expand...

And more importantly has he told us whether the inactive trade deadline was the darkest day in Maple Leafs history or just the second darkest day in Maple Leafs history?
 
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