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Rookie Tournament Roster and Schedule

This is ultra early, bit based on what I saw today Nylander is not remotely ready for the physical aspect of the pro game in North America, especially in the AHL where every career minor league headcase will be headhunting him to make a name for themselves.

Again its ultra early, but I'd prefer he played in the OHL or SEL this upcoming season.
 
I'll echo what's been said, Leivo pretty much should just go to main camp. He was scores better than anybody on either team.

Nylander will have to get much stronger, it takes time, maybe a bit more with him. It is early, but he's nowhere near strong enough to play pro here IMO.
 
Apart from one the ice, I like the demeanor, analytic assessment and approach of Gord Dineen. Looks like the Leafs made a good choice there. When asked about a player he gives very specific positive critic, almost like a scouting assessment. Seems pretty level headed. I think the Marlies should have a pretty solid team this as there is an over flow of competition on the big club, and some of the prospects are starting to pile up. Should be a good mix of talent and grit as well. As long as the goaltending can be comparable to what MacIntyre provided, the should be in for another strong showing and a deep playoff run. My early pick for any Marlie cracking the Leafs out of training camp might be Josh Leivo, though I am probably not alone in that. Not just based to tonight. He had a cup of coffee with the big club last year and put in a solid year with the Marlies. Looks like he might be ready to challenge in camp. With all the focus on Nylander, he may just fly under the radar.
 
The game was a lot more entertaining than i thought it would be. Nylander is a great talent but I agree with everyone, he needs to beef up and spend another year in Sweden. I wouldnt be upset for him to be with the Marlies however.
Leivo was outstanding, what an improvement, he will be a Leaf within two years, he has the touch. Also impressed with Verhaege, Broll and R. Rupert, all played very well.  Niilson, Loov and Knoedel also impressed. Darkhorse candidate: Findley,  who is this guy and where does he come from, played a great game, takeing he puck away in the offensive zone several times, poise with the puck, dishes well and goes to the net.  Sign him to the Marlies immediately, the guy has hockey "sense" coming out his arse.  Will be watching him today for sure.
All in all a very positive game and Sparks looks like he will be NHL ready in one or two years.
 
It's one game in a rookie tournament so, it's fun to watch but I'm not going to even attempt to make any projections on players based on it, especially since everyone is rusty too.
 
Bender said:
13th fan said:
Game In Six Minutes
http://video.mapleleafs.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=802&id=630386&lang=en
Click to expand...

Thanks! Nylander looks like he has some flash but wasn't a huge standout. Unlucky on losing the puck on the breakaway.
Click to expand...

Siegel had this to say:

As far as first impressions go William Nylander performed about as well as one could expect.

The Maple Leafs top prospect dazzled in his first game action in blue and white, speedy and dangerous throughout a 4-2 opening night victory from the club's annual rookie tournament in London. Nylander, picked eighth overall at the 2014 draft, finished with one assist, responsible for a handful of quality scoring opportunities opposite an opposing pool of prospects from the Chicago Blackhawks organization.

...

The 18-year-old was noticeable almost every time he touched the ice on this night, his high-end handle and bursts of speed often too much for the Blackhawk rookies to handle.

In the first period alone, Nylander set up linemate Carter Verhaeghe for a quality chance, burst out for a breakaway (he fumbled the attempt), broke up a scoring chance on the penalty kill and then drew a penalty later in that same shift. He offered flashes of speed, vision and creativity with the puck throughout the rest of the evening, crashing into the goal at one point following one particularly close call.
Click to expand...

http://www.tsn.ca/toronto/blogs/jonas_siegel/?id=461716
 
I've just done some research on Findlay, I would be interested to know why he wasn't drafted, even in the later rounds.  He has some good OHL stats and won something with the Alaska Aces.
Interesting thing is he played in the Soo, so our new assistant GM Kyle knows him pretty well.
Skates extemely well as his mother is the power skating coach for the Greyhounds.
Could be a dark horse candidate, he sure impressed our group watching last night.
Oh and yes he has been signed to the Marlies for one year.
 
From the game in six I'd agree that Leivo stood out, Nylander looked pretty good, Findley and Finn made up for some errors with a nice goal and I thought Biggs looked pretty good on the Rupert goal. Broll was good in the interview after too, 'puck had eyes'.
 
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/leafs-beat/with-job-on-line-carlyle-taking-no-nonsense-approach-to-leafs-season/article20491139/

Some interesting comments from Randy headed into camp.
 
From the article:

"Since Carlyle was hired late in the 2011-12 season, Toronto has fewer points (156) than 21 other NHL teams, has been outshot by 1,078 shots (more than seven per game) and owns the league?s worst possession rating at 42.8 per cent."
Click to expand...

 
Projected lineup for tonight...


Findlay Gauthier Brown
Watling Verhaeghe Biggs
M. Rupert R. Rupert Bilcke
Hopponen Bratina Hall

Finn Doetzel
Loov Donaghey
Nilsson Fraser

Goalies: Gibson (starting), Bibeau/Sparks(?)
 
What a start, great scrap with Bilke tossing some bombs.

Loov almost killed a guy with a spectacular hit and then Brown tips one in on the resulting PP for the Leafs after the Sens guy tried to go after Loov for the hit.
 
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