Junior hockey doesn't really make news unless it's bad (see most of these non-tournament threads lol).

Here's some good stuff
https://twitter.com/greymichaela/status/1638723501761888256

No details yet other than not Dawson Mercer and there is salary retention
https://twitter.com/reporterchris/status/1629973962443595777

More importantly, he is not going to Tampa or Boston.

https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs/status/1604884366684987397

https://twitter.com/IneffectiveMath/status/1604885294653775872

[Player]

https://twitter.com/reporterchris/status/1543928143072972802

Word is they've spoken to a variety of potential replacements, including those currently employed by other NHL organizations.

Sources say Curtis Sanford made a particularly strong impression.

He's expected to join the Leafs organization after working the past five years for the Vancouver Canucks in goalie development.

Here's a really good write-up of Curtis Sanford, and the influence Ian Clark has had on his playing and coaching career.
https://canucksarmy.com/2021/03/16/extension-ian-clark-sanford-tandem-canucks-goaltenders-develop-afar/

Okay, early returns, and not going to dig into the goals saved above expected but...

Player	Contract	Leafs	Marlies	Growlers	Other
Matt Murray	Leafs	0-1-0 0.826
Ilya Samsonov	Leafs	6-2-0 0.921
Joseph Woll	Leafs	DNP LTIR
Erik Kallgren	Leafs	1-1-2 0.904	0-0-0 0.889
Dennis Hildeby	Leafs				SHL: 3-2-0 0.918
Keith Petruzzelli	Leafs		6-0-0 0.922
Artur Akhtyamov	Reserve				VHL: 9-5-1 0.931
Vyacheslav Peksa	Reserve				VHL: 10-6-1 0.924
Dryden McKay	Marlies			4-0-1 0.911
Luke Cavallin	Marlies			3-0-0 0.940
Dylan Ferguson	Marlies PTO		2-2-0 0.887

As of: December 5, 2022

Player	Contract	Leafs	Marlies	Growlers	Other
Matt Murray	Leafs	5-1-2 0.921
Ilya Samsonov	Leafs	7-2-0 0.924
Joseph Woll	Leafs		3-0-0 0.934
Erik Kallgren	Leafs	3-2-4 0.898	0-1-0 0.913
Dennis Hildeby	Leafs				SHL: 4-3-0 0.919
Keith Petruzzelli	Leafs		7-4-0 0.896
Artur Akhtyamov	Reserve				VHL: 14-6-1 0.941
Vyacheslav Peksa	Reserve				VHL: 12-10-3 0.925
Dryden McKay	Marlies			5-3-1 0.889
Luke Cavallin	Marlies			8-2-1 0.931
Dylan Ferguson	Released		2-2-0 0.887

https://twitter.com/friedgehnic/status/1589106898481033217

https://twitter.com/mapleleafs/status/1589320487838318592

https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs/status/1580649584023539713
He will be sporting an A for home games for the Blazers this Memorial Cup hosting season

https://twitter.com/puckpedia/status/1577878156689567744

https://twitter.com/reporterchris/status/1577336916743184386
Y tho

https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs/status/1575475625409892352

https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2022/09/06/previewing-the-2022-23-toronto-marlies-season/

Lots of parts moved out from last year's team; Mark from MLHS has the rundown.

The most interesting threads of the season will be:
Does Greg Moore last in this make or break season, even with good buddy Ryan Hardy in the GM seat?
Lots of goalies: who will step up to be the next Kallgren?
Stretch drive reinforcements: quite a ways away, but Hirvonen, Niemela, Ovchinnikov, Voit could all get significant AHL looks in the spring

https://twitter.com/hayyyshayyy/status/1560288664021831683
Let's gooooo

https://twitter.com/jongatehouse/status/1549933397207834627

https://twitter.com/mapleleafs/status/1548043517653446660

https://twitter.com/KevinWeekes/status/1547313572937605121
HE BACK, BISHES

https://twitter.com/capfriendly/status/1547416018326327296

Kevin Weekes deleted a tweet about MAF re-signing with MIN
https://twitter.com/darrendreger/status/1545065855050022916
https://twitter.com/KevinWeekes/status/1545069212279898115

[PPP]

PPP: Top 25 under 25

2022/23 Eligible:		2022 T25U25		2021 T25U25
Alex Steeves Artur Akhtyamov Auston Matthews Axel Rindell Braeden Kressler Brandon Lisowsky Chad Krys DNQ Curtis Douglas Denis Malgin old Dennis Hildeby Dmitri Ovchinnikov Erik Kallgren old Filip Kral Fraser Minten Ian Scott DNQ - Retired Joe Miller Joey Anderson John Fusco Joseph Duszak DNQ Joseph Woll Kalle Loponen Kristians Rubins DNQ Mac Hollowell Matthew Knies Max Ellis Mike Koster Mikhail Abramov Mikko Kokkonen Mitch Marner old Nicholas Abruzzese Nicholas Moldenhauer Nicholas Robertson Nikita Grebenkin Nikolai Chebykin Pavel Gogolev Pontus Holmberg Rasmus Sandin Rodion Amirov Health Exemption Roni Hirvonen Ryan O'Connell Ryan Tverberg Semyon Der-Arguchintsev Semyon Kizimov Timothy Liljegren Topi Niemela Travis Dermott - traded Ty Voit Veeti Miettinen Vladimir Boblyev who? old Victor Mete Vladislav Kara Vyacheslav Peksa William Villeneuve Wyatt Schingoethe		25. Brandon Lisowsky 24. Dennis Hildeby 23. Joseph Woll 22. Ryan Tverberg 21. Semyon Der-Arguchintsev 20. Mikhail Abramov 19. Filip Kral 18. Victor Mete 17. Mikko Kokkonen T15. Dmitry Ovchinnikov T15. Nicholas Moldenhauer 14. William Villeneuve T12. Ty Voit T12. Alex Steeves 11. Joey Anderson 10. Pontus Holmberg 9. Fraser Minten 8. Nick Abruzzese]Nick Abruzzese[/url] 7. Roni Hirvonen 6. Topi Niemelä 5. Nick Robertson 4. Timoth Liljegren 3. Matthew Knies 2. Rasmus Sandin 1. Auston Matthews		25. William Villeneuve 24. Brennan Menell traded 23. Artur Akhtyamov 22. Filip Kral 21. Pavel Gogolev 20. Pontus Holmberg 19. Dennis Malgin old 18. Ty Voit 17. Veeti Miettinen 16. Dmitri Ovchinnikov 15. Semyon Der-Arguchintsev 14. Joey Anderson 13. Nick Abruzzese 12. Mikko Kokkonen 11. Mikhail Abramov 10. Matthew Knies 9. Travis Dermott traded 8. Roni Hirvonen 7. Topi Niemela 6. Timoth Liljegren 5. Nick Robertson T3. Rodion Amirov / Rasmus Sandin 2. Mitch Marner old 1. Auston Matthews

Note: This post is a placeholder, as the draft is about to land in a couple of weeks, so there will be some movement on this list of eligibles along with new additions from the draft. It's also Auston Matthews' final season on the T25U25 board so there should be some new drama next season at the top of the board.

---

TLN Top 20 Prospects (Calder Eligible)
20. Max Ellis
19. William Villeneuve
18. Veeti Miettinen
17. Filip Kral
16. Curtis Douglas
15. Dmitry Ovchinnikov
14. Mikhail Abramov
13. Mikko Kokkonen
12. Semyon Der-Arguchintsev
11. Ryan Tverberg
10. Ty Voit
9. Nick Moldenhauer
8. Nick Abbruzzese
7. Pontus Holmberg
6. Alex Steeves
5. Fraser Minten
4. Roni Hirvonen
3. Topi Niemelä
2. Nick Robertson
1. Matthew Knies

[Rd]

Rd	Pick	Player Name	Position	Shoots	Draft Year	Height	Weight	League
2	38	Fraser Minten	C	L	2022 (D-0)	6'1"	185 lbs	WHL
3	95	Nicholas Moldenhauer	RW	R	2022 (D-0)	5'11"	170 lbs	USHL
4	122	Dennis Hildeby	G	L	2018 (D+2)	6'6"	234 lbs	Swe-Jr
5	135	Nikita Grebenkin	RW	L	2019 (D+1)	6'2"	187 lbs	MHL
7	218	Brandon Lisowsky	LW	L	2022 (D-0)	5'9"	181 lbs	WHL

Linked draft pick profiles courtesy of MLHS, Heights/Weights courtesy of EliteProspects

Draft Summaries
Pension Plan Puppets
The Leafs Nation
The Athletic (paywall) | Joshua Kloke, Corey Pronman
The Leafs Notebook (MLHS)

- - - -
Original Post

https://www.eliteprospects.com/draft-center/2022/consolidated-ranking

EliteProspects with the various rankings available for public consumption

Draft lands July 7-8 (after the signing bonus day *nudge nudge wink wink*). Leafs pick in rounds 1, 3, 7 so it should be boring...

Ottawa's 7th overall pick is in play for an immediate impact player.

[In]

In
Curtis Douglas - 3-yr ELC 838k AAV
Max Ellis - 3-yr ELC 838k AAV
Roni Hirvonen - 3-yr ELC 857k AAV
Bobby McMann - 3-yr ELC 763k AAV
Topi Niemela - 3-yr ELC 857k AAV
Mikko Kokkonen - 3-yr ELC 847k AAV
Axel Rindell - 2-yr ELC 839k AAV
Matt Murray - OTT trade (25% retained)
Dennis Hildeby - 3-yr ELC 843k AAV
Ilya Samsonov - 1-yr 1.8M
Nicholas Aube-Kubel - 1-yr 1M
Adam Gaudette - 1-yr 750k
Victor Mete - 1-yr 750k
Jordie Benn - 1-yr 750k
Calle Järnkrok - 4-yrs 2.1M AAV
Zach Aston-Reese - 1-yr $840,630
Fraser Minten - 3-yr ELC 850k AAV (slide)
Keith Petruzzelli - 2-yr ELC 817.5k AAV
Conor Timmins - ARI Trade
Dryden Hunt - COL Trade
Bud - Team doggo
Ryan O'Reilly - MIN Trade
Noel Acciari - STL Trade
Jake McCabe - CHI Trade
Sam Lafferty - CHI Trade
Erik Gustafsson - WSH Trade
Like Schenn - VAN Trade


Jason Spezza - Special Assistant to the General Manager
Curtis Sanford - Goaltending Coach
Matt Moulson - Pro scout
Viktor Alm - Amateur scout
Chris Borque - Amateur scout
Jill Reiner - Hockey Research & Development analyst
Joe Underwood - Player Development consultant
Tomas Pacina - Development coach (Europe)
Natalie Morris - Anthem singer

Re-signed
Mark Giordano - 2-yr 800k AAV
Kyle Clifford - 2-yr 763k AAV
Timoth Liljegren - 2-yr 1.4M AAV
Denis Malgin - 1-yr 750k
Pierre Engvall - 1-yr 2.25M
Rasmus Sandin - 2-yrs 1.4M AAV

Jaren Burke - Management Development Associate
Duanté Abercrombie - Coaching Development Associate
Rich Clune - Player Development

Professional Try-Out
Dylan Ferguson —> Marlies PTO —> Marlies contract, ECHL loan —> Bellville trade —> signed with Ottawa Senators
Zach Aston-Reese —> signed

Promotions or Role/Title changes
Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser --> Assistant General Manager, Player Development
Ryan Hardy --> Assistant General Manager, Minor League Operations
Darryl Metcalf --> Assistant General Manager, Hockey Research & Development


Out
Jason Spezza —> retirement
Carter Hutton —> retirement
Petr Mrazek —> CHI trade
Ondrej Kaše —> unqualified —> CAR
Kristians Rubins —> unqualified —> OTT
Joey Duszak —> unqualified —> Dinamo Minsk (KHL)
Ian Scott —> unqualified —> Retired
Chad Krys —> unqualified —> Vienna Capitals (ICEHL)
Ilya Mikheyev —> UFA VAN
Ilya Lyubushkin —> UFA BUF
Colin Blackwell —> UFA CHI
Brett Seney —> UFA CHI
Michael Hutchinson —> UFA VGK
Nicholas Aube-Kubel —> waivers WSH
Curtis Douglas —> ARI trade
Axel Rindell —> contract terminated —> Timra IK (SHL)
Denis Malgin —> COL Trade
Mikhail Abramov —> STL trade
Adam Gaudette —> STL trade
Pavel Gogolev —> CHI trade —> contract terminated —> TOR contract (AHL)
Joey Anderson —> CHI trade
Rasmus Sandin —> WSH trade
Pierre Engvall —> NYI trade
Dryden Hunt —> CGY trade

Martina Ortiz Luis, Anthem Singer
Jim Paliafito, Sr. Dir. of Player Evaluation --> NYI
Cam Charron (!), R&D analyst
Steve Briere, goaltending coach --> SEA
Greg Harden, Peak performance coach
Charlie King, video analyst
Paul MacLean, demonologist
Tony Martino, US area scout --> WPG, US area scout
Eric Joyce, front office contrarian

TJ Millar - Coaching Development Associate (also Tri-City Associate Coach)
Marian Agyei-Gyamera - Management Development Associate
Laurence Gilman --> Governor and Senior Vice President of the Toronto Marlies (just Marlies)

https://twitter.com/mapleleafs/status/1528465741309255680
New thread!

Holy macaroni

https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs/status/1495236772258848772

Tyler Toffoli to CGY so he can have a few more games vs VAN
https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1493279396953743364

Montreal got the collection bonus of having all three Pitlicks.

Do people still read? I can't remember if I already talked about this, but I picked it back up recently.

If you've read the A Song of Ice and Fire series (so far) and/or watch Game of Thrones, I especially recommend Robin Hobb's Farseer Trilogy (and subsequent trilogies in this universe).

As we ramp up into the new season, it's probably a good time to pour one out for ultimate team player, Zach Hyman.

Here's an oldie, but a goodie from Bourne
https://theathletic.com/581060/2018/10/10/bourne-the-fundamentals-of-an-effective-f1-forechecker-illustrated-by-the-leafs-zack-hyman/

Here's one of the biggest points with forechecking: it's really exhausting – I mean, it's an all-out sprint – and you never know when it's going to be worth your while. If you're beyond a stick length behind the D-man who's racing back through the D-zone circles to get the puck, you're creating a turnover a small percentage of the time and that usually involves the other guy messing up pretty bad. Yes, that pressure is often worthwhile because it can force the D-man to make a rushed play, so it's still worth it to your team, but there's certainly no guarantee you didn't just do a meaningless windsprint and burn your legs out for the rest of the shift (of which you only get so many) for absolutely nothing. [...]

That means it takes a certain mindset, a certain type of driven athlete who's in great condition, who's willing to just hunt and hunt and hunt relentlessly until they create those turnovers that lead to extra possessions, which lead to goals.

Towards the end of Jack Han's time with the Marlies, he noted a trend in the team's drafting showing up on the ice: a lot of puck possessors (as was Keefe's wont), and suddenly a dearth of puck getter-backers. The big ones had graduated onto the Leafs (and off the Leafs in most cases).

These past seasons of transactions have started to shift the balance back, which I would argue is the correct order of operations. Players that can do goal-stuff with the puck are expensive on the market and it seems wise to develop them in-house, while puck getters are often offensively underrated by their stats (i.e. potential $$) when they're stuck in bottom-6 roles. I have a hard time finding the reference at the moment, but Bourne mentioned on a podcast somewhere that Dubas had asked Lou to pursue Yanni Gourde some years ago while he was toiling in the minors, but was obviously shrugged off (we already had Hyman, Brown, Komarov, Martin, etc.).

In terms of technique and evolution of the art of forechecking, the Leafs preach:

• Stick on puck: stick gets there before you do, so target the puck
• Take out the hands: aim the hips into the hands of the opponent trying to corral the puck; here your size is almost irrelevant as a player's body is going to always be bigger and stronger than hands. Taking out the hands means loose puck with your body between the defender and the puck.

Here's someone else's video on Zach Hyman just gaining inside position on everybody.

https://twitter.com/emilymkaplan/status/1418704457915899906
https://twitter.com/friedgehnic/status/1418706548780670976
https://twitter.com/friedgehnic/status/1418707219818991618
https://twitter.com/friedgehnic/status/1418707080559702023

Boqvist, 1st and more picks to Columbus. What a haul for them

What the hell for Chicago
Edit: actually it is an eight year extension

One week to go until what might be the messiest NHL entry draft ever.

July 23-24

Draft Rankings can be found consolidated on EliteProspects

And we're off to an inauspicious start
https://twitter.com/JDylanBurke/status/1416095750577025024