422 replies to this topic

[Val_James]

I'm hoping once things settle down here we can sticky this and continue to update the status of our young buds since they are the future of this organization. I have no doubt we have a lot of talent throughout the ranks and its just a matter of how they are nurtured and brought along. We seem to be a lot deeper as a team and its created a lot of healthy competition for our younger players.

NHL PROSPECTS

Jake Gardiner Defenseman GP 14 G 0 A 5 +/- -4

few can argue with Jake Gardiner's quick ascendance to the big club he is an unbelievable skater with a great knack for making the right decisions. He is easily our best defensive prospect and is looking every bit like a Phil Housley type defenseman. He is going to be our PP specialist in a few months I believe. Odd... But he plays more on the PK than he does on the PP.

Matt Frattin Right Wing GP 13 G 1 A 1 +/- -4

I love his commitment to the back check and think in time he could be a useful two-way player but right now he's isn't helping anybody. He looks like a fish out of water and needs LOADS of time in the minors to work on his game and gain some much needed confidence. He hasn't had any impact whatsoever. He finally scored a GOAL! picked the top shelf on Vokoun. Still hasn't shown me much to warrant being with the big club but heh...

James Reimer Goalie GP 6 W 4 SO 1 GAA 2.58 SV% .912

Lets be honest here, if James Reimer isn't who we think he is we have no future. That much has been evidenced since he went down with concussion-like symptoms. He was pretty decent when he played and I expect him to be pretty decent when he gets back. His numbers aren't spectacular but he has been very solid for us collecting 4 wins in 6 tries.


AHL PROSPECTS

Nazem Kadri Centre/Winger GP 11 G 1 A 10 +/- -2

While I would agree he has a lot to learn Nazem Kadri needs to be playing in the NHL to take the next step in his development. There are players who benefit from having an extended period in the AHL and then there are the kind that just need lots of NHL game experience to find their stride, I feel Nazem fits the latter. The way Burke and Wilson treat hockey players like they're robots is just sickening. "we left Perry and Getzlaf in the AHL and look at them now?" Yeah that's Perry and Getzlaf! That doesn't mean every single hockey player will respond the same way. Nazem needs NHL experience he has already proven he can dominate the AHL level.

Keith Aulie Defenseman GP 10 G 0 A 0 +/- -7

He was never going to be an offensive dynamo so the stats at this point don't really bother me. What Keith needs to do in the AHL is use his size and strength to physically dominate the opposition. Unfortunately for him and us he hasn't really been all that successful thus far. Keith played really well for us towards the end of last season and has struggled early to find his form. Its not to dissimilar to Schenn really, they both have struggled out the gate and need to pick up the play now. Aulie is slipping down the depth chart fast!

Joe Colborne Centre GP 12 G 10 A 9 +/- 7

Joe could be our very own response to Boston's "Thank you Kessel" chant! The kid has been brilliant so far this season. Easily our best centre prospect a quite possibly playing like our best overall. He is big, not very physical but has been using his size a bit more to dominate the AHL. Needs to work on his skating and try to play a bit more physical. He is looking every bit like a Joe Thornton clone with possibly more goal scoring ability lets hope when he gets back into the lineup he continues the torrid pace that made him player of the month. Was called up to the big club and hasn't looked too bad! grabbed and assist in his debut.

Jesse Blacker Defenseman GP 16 G 0 A 7 +/- even

Haven't watched a lot of Marlie games outside of the highlights so its very difficult to get an honest assessment of Jesse's play thus far. Judging by his stats he looks like he's picked up right where he left off after the rookie camp, he was terrific then and looks to be playing steady hockey in the AHL as well.

Mark Owuya Goalie GP 6 W 3 SO 0 GAA 1.51 SV% .944

We could talk about Scrivens and also Rynnas and I'm sure you all will at some point but this kid Owuya looks like he can make some noise for us down the line. During the preseason he looked pretty solid and had a calming poise between the pipes. If the numbers are any indication it looks like he's started his pro career well! I like what I've seen and think he could be a guy we will be looking to in a few years.

OHL/WHL/NCAA/USHL PROSPECTS

Tyler Biggs Right Wing GP 14 G 3 A 5 +/- 0

Slow start for him but who knows maybe he picks it up soon.

David Broll Left Wing GP 19 G 1 A 11 +/- 5

He's a bang and crash guy so the stats don't mean much nice to see he is a +5.

Stuart Percy Defenseman GP 18 G 3 A 14 +/- 9

He came on late last season and has continued to flourish! would be great to see him make the Canadian Juniors squad. He was a +50 last year and is a +11 so far, his scoring is up too.

Greg McKegg Centre/Left Wing GP 21 G 7 A 14 +/- -22

Off to a so so star in what is expected to be a big year for him coming off a near 50 goal season. He was good in the rookie camp and will probably play in the WJH tourney in December, has to pick up his play a bit though.

Brad Ross Left Wing GP 24 G 14 A 15 +/- -4

He's a little mucker who has goalscoring potential, I liken him to Darcy Tucker or maybe even Mike Peca Vancouver days. He is off to a great start and lets just hope he continues to play well and puts on a bit of weight.

Josh Nicholls Right Wing GP 24 G 16 A 14 +/- 6

What a run he is on! 13 goals in 19 games. Looking every bit like a true goalscorer, yes it is the WHL where goals are aplenty but you still have to score them and he's doing it at an alarming rate

Josh Leivo Left Wing GP 19 G 8 A 9 +/- -5

Could be this years Greg McKegg his numbers are up all across the board.

[sypher_04]

Thanks for the update all in one place.

[Zizzzzy]

OHL/WHL/NCAA/USHL PROSPECTS Tyler Biggs Right Wing GP 10 G 1 A 4 +/- 0 Slow start for him but who knows maybe he picks it up soon.

He was named CCHA Rookie of the Week, looking better..

http://mapleleafs.nh...s.htm?id=599309


FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. - Miami University freshman forward Tyler Biggs earned CCHA Rookie of the Week honours, the Central Collegiate Hockey Association announced Monday, after helping the RedHawks to their first weekend sweep of the year. The accolade is the first of Biggs' career.

Biggs (Loveland, Ohio) recorded a pair of assists in Miami's sweep of Alaska over the weekend. He assisted on Miami's first goal in both games. Friday the assist came even strength while Saturday's assist came on the power play. It was Miami's first power play goal in its last 27 chances and first since Oct. 14. With points in both games, Biggs extended his point streak to a career-long four games. He is now tied for the team lead among freshmen with five points on a goal and four assists. Biggs also had a blocked shot in Friday's game and put one shot on goal in each contest.

[Seer]

Joe Colborne named Reebok/AHL Player of the Month

Colborne’s 16 Points in Nine Games Ranks Tied for First in AHL

The American Hockey League announced today that Toronto Marlies forward Joe Colborne has been named the Reebok/AHL Player of the Month for October. Colborne scored eight goals, recorded eight assists and posted a plus-8 rating to help guide the Marlies to first place in the North Division standings with a record of 5-3-1-0.

Colborne, 21, began the 2011-12 season recording a point in each of his first eight games, starting with a goal on opening night in Binghamton. Colborne, who had recorded three points in a game just once as a rookie last year, hit that mark three times in October, earning first-star honours for each performance on Oct. 15 vs. Lake Erie (one goal, two assists), Oct. 22 vs. Rochester (overtime goal, two assists) and Oct. 26 vs. Abbotsford (two goals, one assist). Colborne’s 16 points leave him tied for the AHL scoring lead through the end of the month. The 6’5, 213-pound forward also ranks tied for second in the AHL in goals and third in plus/minus.

In recognition of this achievement, Colborne will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Marlies home game.

[Seer]

Grizzlies’ Engelage named goaltender of the week


The ECHL announced Tuesday that Utah Grizzlies goaltender Andrew Engelage was named the Reebok Hockey ECHL goaltender of the week for Oct. 24-30.
Engelage went 3-0 last week as the Grizzlies improved to a league-leading 6-1 on the season. He stopped 71 of 74 shots, had one shutout and a .959 save percentage.
Engelage stopped 32-straight shots as Utah opened the week with a 3-0 win at Pacific Division-leading Las Vegas on Tuesday. The 23-year-old stopped 15 of 17 Aces shots in a 3-2 Utah win Friday. Saturday, he again held a shutout going down the stretch, before Alaska scored in the final two minutes to make the score 2-1. Engelage stopped 24 of 25 shots in that game.
Engelage takes a personal five-game winning streak and 5-1 record into this weekend’s action in Stockton. He has a 1.83 goals-against average and a .928 save percentage overall.
Last year, Engelage was twice named the league’s goaltender of the week.

[J-BOLD]

Tyler Biggs isnt having a slow start. He's playing on the 3rd line in his rookie season. Those numbers are actually pretty good. And his numbers arent everything, he was going out blocking shots like a beast, also.

His NHL comparison is David Backes. I was stoked we picked him.

[Davey705]

Nice to see Mckegg is still scoring, but his -13 is kinda alarming considering how many points he is getting. His line must be getting scored against a lot so far. Hopefully he can improve his defense a bit.

It's great to see Colborne's start this year. I just hope he isn't out too long and that he can continue his current pace.

[sypher_04]

Tyler Biggs isnt having a slow start. He's playing on the 3rd line in his rookie season. Those numbers are actually pretty good. And his numbers arent everything, he was going out blocking shots like a beast, also. His NHL comparison is David Backes. I was stoked we picked him.

It's not like 1g and 4 assists in 10 games in the NCAA is exactly bad either. It's not a terribly high scoring league.

[beergirl-1]

Tyler Biggs isnt having a slow start. He's playing on the 3rd line in his rookie season. Those numbers are actually pretty good. And his numbers arent everything, he was going out blocking shots like a beast, also. His NHL comparison is David Backes. I was stoked we picked him.

This is true, plus I would like to add that Miami has a very young team this year, a lot of freshmen so I don't think stats are really going to tell the whole story about Biggs this year.

[Val_James]

This is true, plus I would like to add that Miami has a very young team this year, a lot of freshmen so I don't think stats are really going to tell the whole story about Biggs this year.

I haven't seen one minute of Biggs play this year, strictly relying on the stats.

[beergirl-1]

I haven't seen one minute of Biggs play this year, strictly relying on the stats.

I haven't seen any games, however there are a couple of guys in my office that are huge Miami fans and they tell me what's going on, who's playing well etc. They both like Biggs and have said he's played well but they're not expecting much this year because of the age of the team but they do keep me in the loop about him.

[Fready]

I think Nicholls is out to prove that he is the real deal. Im not sure if Engelage is still in the system.

[sypher_04]

If I remember correctly he was never really part of the leafs anyway. He was a marlies signing

[H-B-C-Y-G]

Engelage was always just a minor league depth guy. Ever since they signed Mark in Da Park, he's surely out of the picture.

[H-B-C-Y-G]

Tyler Biggs won the CCHA rookie of the week award last week, btw....but Zizzy already posted that...

[sypher_04]

Tyler Biggs won the CCHA rookie of the week award last week, btw.

Nice, I guess that gives us a good indicator of how he's playing then.

[H-B-C-Y-G]

Ya, only two points behind the team leader in pts as an 18 year old in college is pretty good too...usually they have it hard against the older guys.

[ohyoleafsgo]

And the prospect thread is back.........YES! Love knowing were they're at without having to check myself

[Seer]

Prospect..? LOL!

[sypher_04]

nice. That's for the video Seer.