23. Toronto Maple Leafs
Strengths: Although they graduated many of their top forward prospects, the Maple Leafs still have several players with top-six potential. Forwards such as Tyler Bozak, Jimmy Hayes, and Mikhail Stefanovich bring a scoring presence to the system while others like Victor Stalberg bring a mix of grit and character. There are also several intriguing prospects such as Chris DiDomenico and Joel Champagne who could develop into top-six forwards. Weaknesses: Considering their top defensive prospect, Dmitri Vorobiev, may never play hockey in North America, the Leafs are extremely thin along the blue line. There is also little goaltending depth behind Justin Pogge. Top 5 prospects: 1. Justin Pogge, G, 2. Dmitri Vorobiev, D, 3. Mikhail Stefanovich, C, 4. Jimmy Hayes, RW, 5. Chris DiDomenico, C. Key losses to graduation: Luke Schenn, Mikhail Grabovski, Nikolai Kulemin.
Hockey's Future Spring 2009 Organizational Rankings.
Don't let Ken Campbell see us turning these kids into saviours but that Stefanovich is the next Malkin.
over 2 years ago
PPP
85 comments
0 recs |
Email
PrintComments
Luke Schenn is all the defensive depth we need…. (joking… why does noone pick up on the fact that we acutally think HE is our saviour?)
"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero
by Karina on May 26, 2009 11:50 AM EDT reply actions
because denying that would be like denying that there is a sun
Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option
by JaredFromLondon on May 26, 2009 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions
I have a good feeling about Stalberg and Bozak.
Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option
by JaredFromLondon on May 26, 2009 11:50 AM EDT reply actions
I have no clue about Bozak, but I have Stalberg love already.
"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero
by Karina on May 26, 2009 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions
the good feeling is in the name, such a good hockey name. Also if Dido can come back from that injury, he could be something
Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option
by JaredFromLondon on May 26, 2009 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions
breaking a femur takes long time to heal right. And because speed and skating are critical for DiDo, he’ll need a good season off to get back to full health, likely
Mee-Mee-Meep Meep Go Leafs Go Meep Meep! MEEP!!!
by blindfolded tank driver on May 26, 2009 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions
oh yeah, by no means should he be rushed, but from what ive heard about him, he’s a fighter and feirce competator, so i dont think he’ll just roll over
heres to a full recovery!
Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option
by JaredFromLondon on May 26, 2009 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions
The guy didn’t get drafted to the OHL, tryed out in the Q and turned into a superstar in that league
Disappointed since 1984
yeah, but i try not to put too much stock in an league that drafts kids at 15 years old.
Sure the Q has a lot of scoring players that turn out to be duds, but ill wait till he hits the AHL to judge that
Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option
by JaredFromLondon on May 26, 2009 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions
I just cant remember a time recently where we have had such a stock of potentials coming up, so I get a little excited about some.
Also forgotten is that a lot of very good players have come out of the Q
Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option
by JaredFromLondon on May 26, 2009 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Ya seriously, it’s a fun time to be a leaf fan.
There have been many good players to come from the Q. Sid, Lecavalier, Brad Richards, MA Fleury of the top of my head
Disappointed since 1984
Mario?
"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero
by Karina on May 26, 2009 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions
bossy, roy, brodeur, lafleur, bourque, LaFontaine, Savard
Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option
by JaredFromLondon on May 26, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions
i'd like to point out...
none of the ones you just listed have been drafted in the past 10 years.
for comparison sake, i’m curious who, besides Crosby came out of the Q in the past 5 years or so and made an immediate impact.
I can only think of one, Patrice Bergeron.
"Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
The Left Coast Lock
by blurr1974 on May 26, 2009 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions
of course, times be different, the OHL and the WHL poach most of the good talent from eastern Canada
Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option
by JaredFromLondon on May 26, 2009 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions
i think it’s more of a different style of game.
the Q is wide open hockey, while the W is more physical and the OHL a hybrid of the two.
of the three, i think the WHL is probably the most like the NHL in style of play.
"Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
The Left Coast Lock
by blurr1974 on May 26, 2009 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions
the WHL
is more physical than the NHL, at least from what I’ve seen. But yes, I’d probably think that a high scorer in the W is more likely to continue that trend in the NHL than someone from the Q.
But we shall see, Pierro-Zabotel was almost left to go back in the draft by the Pens this summer, they signed him on the last day possible to prevent that from happening.
"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero
by Karina on May 26, 2009 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions
true, it is also a lot more defensive, all of the good defenders seem to come from there, also the goaltenders all seem to be coming from there recently, is this because they are better or because they are playing behind better defensive teams?
Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option
by JaredFromLondon on May 26, 2009 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Two Schenns on the Leafs. It simply does not happen! DAMMIT!
Mee-Mee-Meep Meep Go Leafs Go Meep Meep! MEEP!!!
by blindfolded tank driver on May 26, 2009 11:54 AM EDT reply actions
I can’t wait for our next 1st rounder to arrive so we can all swoon.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
and how we will swoon
Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option
by JaredFromLondon on May 26, 2009 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions
over our TWO first round picks!
"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero
by Karina on May 26, 2009 12:01 PM EDT reply actions
reply fail
"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero
by Karina on May 26, 2009 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions
thats the spirit!
Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option
by JaredFromLondon on May 26, 2009 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions
That simply doesn’t happen.
"We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into Iraq"
- Major Mike Shearer
brian burke snagging two highly sought after college prospects, that simply doesnt happen!
Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option
by JaredFromLondon on May 26, 2009 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Vorobiev...
he’s the one with the heart issue, no…?
"Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
The Left Coast Lock
by blurr1974 on May 26, 2009 12:14 PM EDT reply actions
si
Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option
by JaredFromLondon on May 26, 2009 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions
seems odd
he’s still rated so high…
"Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
The Left Coast Lock
by blurr1974 on May 26, 2009 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions
hockey futures isnt the swiftest of up daters
Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option
by JaredFromLondon on May 26, 2009 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Schenn will touch him and cure his ailment
Mee-Mee-Meep Meep Go Leafs Go Meep Meep! MEEP!!!
by blindfolded tank driver on May 26, 2009 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions
also, he is still a highly skilled player, he isnt hurt or sick (yet) he just has, from what I have been led to believe, a higher risk than normal of getting said desease and thus the russian league he is playing in doesnt want to take responsibility of another Cherepanov
Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option
by JaredFromLondon on May 26, 2009 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions
sadly, the cost of insuring him here, will likely make him unlikely to play here either…which is too bad…he needs a robot heart.
Mee-Mee-Meep Meep Go Leafs Go Meep Meep! MEEP!!!
by blindfolded tank driver on May 26, 2009 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions
But Cherepanov was also doping for months leading up to his death; and had done so as little as 3 hours before he died. If Vorobiev can avoid whatever Cherepanov was doing, I think his chances of sticking around go up
yeah, but is he even playing anymore?
Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option
by JaredFromLondon on May 26, 2009 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions
no
"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero
by Karina on May 26, 2009 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions
yeah, didnt think so, i hope someone figures out how to get him to play in North America (baring it is safe, i really have no idea of how his type of sickness works)
but if the kid wants to play, they should let him (maybe a waiver? i dontk now)
Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option
by JaredFromLondon on May 26, 2009 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions
hope? laziness? lack of knowledge?
choose your own adventure!
Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option
by JaredFromLondon on May 26, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Not to revert to Mr. Crankypants, but the fact that the Leafs are still #23 one year in Burke’s tenure is a strike against him. Nobody expects him to turn this around overnight, but he’s had the better part of a season (including the deadline) to bring in some prospects and has failed completely, other than the college signings.
There’s still time, of course, but right now he’s behind where he should be in this area.
Down Goes Brown - Unapologetically nostalgic for the past. Brutally realistic about the present. Grudgingly optimistic about the future.
by Down Goes Brown on May 26, 2009 1:40 PM EDT reply actions
Dear Mr. Crankypants
He still has only had one draft to work with so he could only bring in the college kids. If the team’s ranking doesn’t move in the next edition then I’ll start wondering if it might be considered a strike against him.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
I butchered that first sentence. It should note that he has not even had one draft as GM under his belt yet.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
he also hasnt done anything to hurt us yet!
Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option
by JaredFromLondon on May 26, 2009 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions
but they were #17 in December and are #23 now????
"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero
by Karina on May 26, 2009 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions
it doesn’t take into account young players on a roster, thus Schenn, Kulemin, Tlusty and Grabby aren’t considered due to GP in the bigs already. I’m sure we’d move up some places if they were.
but having Schenn, Kulemin and Grabby graduate makes us drop THAT much?
We better shoot up a ton after the draft, then.
"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero
by Karina on May 26, 2009 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions
I think the ranking is focused only on the prospects so graduating them doesn’t improve the rankings and yes, it should rise after the draft or it’s a stupid ranking and we can dismiss it.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
what I mean
is the only reason we dropped is because they graduated….
See how much Pittsburgh dropped after being near the top last year, that’s what I mean. Kind’ve silly to rank everyone right now, when there’s been no time to restock prospects after the season.
"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero
by Karina on May 26, 2009 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions
pretty much all Burke has done is gotten us 2 second rounders for UFAs, brought in two highly sought after college players and taken a salary dump from the Bolts
Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option
by JaredFromLondon on May 26, 2009 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Fair enough. But when Burke signed on in November, if I’d told you that he’d make it through the trade deadline without acquiring even one single prospect or draft pick, would you have believed it?
Down Goes Brown - Unapologetically nostalgic for the past. Brutally realistic about the present. Grudgingly optimistic about the future.
by Down Goes Brown on May 26, 2009 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m wondering what Bozak and Hanson are if not prospects…
"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero
by Karina on May 26, 2009 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Note my clever use of the “through the trade deadline” qualifier.
Down Goes Brown - Unapologetically nostalgic for the past. Brutally realistic about the present. Grudgingly optimistic about the future.
by Down Goes Brown on May 26, 2009 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Well...
I’d probably not be too shocked if I came at it rationally. Trades are increasingly rare during the regular season, the economy was already in the crapper so talk was already about how valuable picks and prospects were to success, and the Leafs’ best assets had NTCs.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
I’m kind of scared of Burke’s gung ho attitude about making the playoffs. Prospects may not be the route he goes.
A Nation of Masochists a blog dedicated to Toronto sports fans, who are continually punished but keep coming back for more.
disagreed
I think that he has been clear about the value of developing players internally so I think he’ll look at ways of reaching that goal without sacrificing kids hence the UFA route.
And if he does get those UFAs that means kids can spend more time developing out of the limelight which is what most people said that they wanted to see in MF37’s post.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
this does make sense… hmm….
intriguing
"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero
by Karina on May 26, 2009 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m referring to his comments near the trade deadline about if he could make a trade that got the Leafs into the playoffs he would do it. It may have been merely been posturing but we’ll see.
As for UFAs while your point of signing them gives the young players more time to develop is one that I hadn’t considered before I would still prefer a slow patient build that relies less on signing older UFAs and more on exchanging our veterans into young prospects perhaps at the sacrifice of another playoff year..
A Nation of Masochists a blog dedicated to Toronto sports fans, who are continually punished but keep coming back for more.
any good team is built with free agents and trades as well as prospects developed from within. sure, chicago sucked for a long time and lucked out with toews and kane. but they also signed khabibulin and campbell as FAs, and traded for havlat, sharp, and versteeg.
Chicago
I don’t know how much of their success can be attributed to signing Campbell, seems to me they’d be fine without him since they have Keith, Seabrook and Barker
"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero
by Karina on May 26, 2009 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions
fair enough, but khabibulin was a rock for them, havlat was their leading scorer, sharp was huge and they really struggled with him out of the line up, and versteeg led all rookies in scoring.
yup
Khabibulin’s signing was good, even if they overpaid.
Huet’s looks highly questionable now though.
Sharp is their MVP… that was a steal of a trade.
"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero
by Karina on May 26, 2009 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions
imagine if they had forgot Campbell and put that money towards something useful?
Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option
by JaredFromLondon on May 26, 2009 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions
no
because then they could win the cup. I need them to lose.
"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero
by Karina on May 26, 2009 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions
yep, the huet and campbell signings look pretty bad in hindsight. campbell actually played well for them this year, but he’s just being paid way too much. if the cap goes down to $50M in a couple of years, they’ll have like a $12-$13M cap hit just for huet and campbell. nuts.
Campbell is right behind Chara and Lidstrom in terms of salary. That’s insane.
"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero
by Karina on May 26, 2009 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions
yup, makes no sense what so ever
Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option
by JaredFromLondon on May 26, 2009 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions
The Huet one is the big chin scratcher unless he had already decided to let Khabi walk at the end of this year.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
prior to this season, Khabibulin wasn’t looking like he was a #1 goalie anymore. I think they had planned on letting him walk – and then he found his form again.
"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero
by Karina on May 26, 2009 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions
sounds about the same
as his last year in Tampa.
Khabi’s best in contract years (surprise, surprise)
sign him to a multi-year deal, and you can bet he’ll only be great in the last one. How good, is the question though. He’s what, 36?
"Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
The Left Coast Lock
by blurr1974 on May 26, 2009 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions
The Campbell signing was an overpayment and acknowledged as such by Tallon but he needed the momentum from last year to keep going in terms of excitement.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
He said if he could make a trade that would benefit the team in the long-term AND the short-term he would make it but he wasn’t going after any deals that were solely short-term fixed.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Also to be clear the goal isn’t to go to the playoffs. The goal is to win the cup.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
Plus side to winning the cup: the engraver is located in Montreal and they’ll have to carefully engrave “TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS” on the greatest trophy in sports.
Man that’s gonna be a good day.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
when the Leafs win
I will travel to this engravers…
"Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
The Left Coast Lock
by blurr1974 on May 26, 2009 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions
He’ll probably spell it wrong out of spite.
A Nation of Masochists a blog dedicated to Toronto sports fans, who are continually punished but keep coming back for more.
and fail to put Schenn on it about 45 times.
A Nation of Masochists a blog dedicated to Toronto sports fans, who are continually punished but keep coming back for more.
HA!
We’re not towards the bottom. We’re at least in the middle…
Support Your Local Coyotes Blog! -
Five For Howling
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- Saturday’s Three Stars: Another Malkin 5-spot; Price spoils Sundin night
- The Chicago Blackhawks’ losing streak is bad for everybody
- According to NHL, here’s why Dominic Moore escaped suspension for Fedotenko hit
- How Mats Sundin’s no-trade clause controversy made fans reconsider loyalty in NHL
- Nordiques Nation invades Hockey Day in Canada
Latest stories and headlines from NHL.com
- WHL Roundup: A look at Saturday's games
- Shinnimin scores twice and adds assist as Americans beat Chiefs 5-3
- Reid with three goals and an assist as Winterhawks beat Thunderbirds 7-2
- Willick scores twice, including winner, as the Blazers beat the Rockets 3-2
- Simpson 41 saves, earning the game`s first star, as Silvertips beat Giants 4-2
SBNation.com Recent Stories
StatCounter
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
