GDT - Marlies opening weekend - Sunday 3pm vs. Lake Erie, LeafsTV

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Hamilton with number three on the PP and boy was it pretty.

[drummond]

this one surely counts

[seahawk]

The official behind the net signals goal. It gets waived off with no explanation. Millen thinks it was a goalie interference call, but nobody was sent to the box. Weird.

[drummond]

Nice win GO MARLIES GO

[Dr. Bobby Leafer]

Um, Barney?

[Green Leaf]

Keep quite NHL Gurus! We're watching skilled players play. Nice win Marlies! Win #1

[Bonsixx]

Well, they're better than the Leafs!

Gardiner was great, dominant at times even. Kadri was all right, and man, what is Hamilton's story? He's big, has nice hands, potential late-bloomer or is he just a career AHLer now?

Also, Blacker looked like a new McCabe, but Holzer was solid as a rock.

[Potvin29]

Here's what Corey Pronman (NHL Prospects writer for Hockey Prospectus and ESPN) had to say about Kadri:

Corey Pronman ‏@coreypronman

Kadri's an NHLer now without a doubt. Colborne Im 50/50. RT @KlattNazty: @coreypronman Could Kadri and Colborne compete in NHL this year?

Corey Pronman ‏@coreypronman

Faster, using teammates well, creating offense with ease. RT @errffy: What did u see from kadri that made u think he is for sure is an nhler

[CarltonTheBear]

May as well use this thread for Sunday's afternoon game as well. The Marlies go up against the Lake Erie Monsters (1-1), who will be playing their 3rd game in as many nights. The Monsters have a pair of very talented defencemen in Tyson Barrie and Stefan Elliott who would likely be in the NHL if not for the lockout.

The game is at 3pm at Ricoh. LeafsTV will carry the game. A stream will hopefully be available again.

[CarltonTheBear]

Game in 6 for those who missed it:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86X9ZyGbWc8" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86X9ZyGbWc8</a>

Pretty goal by Hamilton at the end there.

[Potvin29]

Heck of a pass by Colborne on that 2nd goal.

[drummond]

I was quite surprised by Kostka, he played very well, especially on PP. I love Fraser-Holzer tandem, Colborne played very well too. Zigo, Aucoin, Kadri, Gardiner very pretty good as well. Hamilton move on the third goal was spectacular. DŽAmigo and Scott were both relentless on penalty killing unit. Komarov in his first game ever in North America showed some guts, good for him.
Nice to see hockey again.

[Dr. Bobby Leafer]

Game in 6 for those who missed it:

Thanks. Hopefully I'll be able to find these year round.

[Chev-boyar-sky]

Here's what Corey Pronman (NHL Prospects writer for Hockey Prospectus and ESPN) had to say about Kadri:

Corey Pronman ‏@coreypronman

Kadri's an NHLer now without a doubt. Colborne Im 50/50. RT @KlattNazty: @coreypronman Could Kadri and Colborne compete in NHL this year?

Corey Pronman ‏@coreypronman

Faster, using teammates well, creating offense with ease. RT @errffy: What did u see from kadri that made u think he is for sure is an nhler

Can't say I agree with this. Kadri, while explosive and exciting at times, still makes some bad decisions which lead to big chances for the other team. For him to get consideration for the big team, he's either going to have to score a ton of points, or round out his game.

Colborne while not the same exciting player, was back-checking yesterday, is a big body (he looked huge on the HD stream I watched) and is an elite passer. I doubt he scores a lot of goals, but put him with a finisher and the assists will rack up pretty quickly (I hate to say the reverse Jonas Hoglund or as has been said before Joe Thornton lite). His skating is actually pretty good for a body that big. As long as the expectation at the NHL level is 10-15 goals to start with good playmaking and backchecking, I think he has a good chance of success.

[Potvin29]

I couldn't watch the game, so maybe someone else can chime in with their opinion, but I feel like EVERY turnover Kadri makes is over-analyzed and pointed to as a criticism.  I think he is the type of player who has the puck a lot and is trying to make plays, and that by virtue of being a guy who wants to carry the puck, he's going to make some turnovers (and probably more 'noticeable' ones at that, being who he is).  I bet most of the top offensive guys make a lot of turnovers.  Even from simply the Game in 6 you could tell he was creating chances all game.