Making our first trip to the Traverse City Prospects Tournament.
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) August 26, 2019
See the full @MapleLeafs roster for the eight-team tournament.
➡️ https://t.co/Z7BbPNet7A pic.twitter.com/snnzFfJGjt
Player | Position | League | Acquisition | |||
Abramov, Mikhail | F | Victoriaville (QMJHL) | 115th overall (2019) | |||
Alistrov, Vladimir | F | Edmonton (WHL) | Free Agent Invite | |||
Bradley, Matt | F | Newfoundland (ECHL) | Signed to AHL Contract | |||
Bradley, Trey | F | Toronto (AHL) / Colorado College (NCAA) | Signed to AHL Contract | |||
Brazeau, Justin | F | North Bay (OHL) | Signed to AHL Contract | |||
Carroll, Joe | F | Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) | Free Agent Invite | |||
Conrad, Colt | F | Toronto (AHL) / Western Michigan U (NCAA) | Signed to AHL Contract | |||
Der-Arguchintsev, Semyon | F | Peterborough (OHL) / Newfoundland (ECHL) | 76th overall (2018) | |||
Duszak, Joseph | D | Toronto (AHL) / Mercyhurst (NCAA) | Signed to NHL Contract | |||
Elynuik, Hudson | F | Toronto (AHL) / Newfoundland (ECHL) | Signed to AHL Contract | |||
Estephan, Giorgio | F | Toronto (AHL) / Newfoundland (ECHL) | Signed to AHL Contract | |||
Hamblin, James | F | Medicine Hat (WHL) | Free Agent Invite | |||
Hollowell, Mac | D | Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) / Toronto (AHL) | 118th overall (2018) | |||
Kivihalme, Teemu | D | Karpat (Liiga) | Signed to NHL Contract | |||
Korshkov, Egor | F | Lokomotiv (KHL) / Toronto (AHL) | 31st overall (2016) | |||
Kral, Filip | D | Spokane (WHL) | 149th overall (2018) | |||
Larochelle, Sean | D | Victoriaville (QMJHL) | Free Agent Invite | |||
Lindgren, Jesper | D | HPK (Liiga) / Toronto (AHL) | 95th overall (2015) | |||
Moore, Ryan | F | Toronto (AHL) / Newfoundland (ECHL) | Signed to AHL Contract | |||
Nelson, Josh | F | London (OHL) | Free Agent Invite | |||
Pepin, Marc-Antoine | D | Thetford (QCHL) / Sherbrooke (QMJHL) / Shawinigan (QMJHL) | Free Agent Invite | |||
Robertson, Carter | D | Owen Sound (OHL) | Free Agent Invite | |||
Robertson, Nicholas | F | Peterborough (OHL) | 53rd overall (2019) | |||
Rubins, Kristians | D | Toronto (AHL) / Newfoundland (ECHL) | Signed to AHL Contract | |||
Sapego, Sergei | D | Prince Albert (WHL) | Signed to AHL Contract | |||
Scott, Ian | G | Prince Albert (WHL) | 110th overall (2017) | |||
Simoneau, Xavier | F | Drummondville (QMJHL) | Free Agent Invite | |||
Staios, Nathan | D | Windsor (OHL) | Free Agent Invite | |||
Stotts, Riley | F | Calgary (WHL) | 83rd overall (2018) | |||
Woll, Joseph | G | Boston College (NCAA) | 62nd overall (2016) | |||
Woods, Riley | F | Spokane (WHL) | Signed to AHL Contract | |||
Zhukov, Maksim | G | Barrie (OHL) / Green Bay (USHL) | Signed to AHL Contract |
Xavier Simoneau, a very small centre from the Q, also went undrafted this year, but most ranking services had him on their board.
Xavier Simoneau, C, 18 (Drummondville, QMJHL – No. 204 NA)
Simoneau, standing at a mere 5-foot-6, has the qualities you’d look for in a 6-foot-6 beast. He’s physical, annoying to play against and wins battles along the boards. Oh, and he had 57 points in 55 games with the Voltigeurs. The ninth pick in the 2017 QMJHL draft, Simoneau has everything but the high-end speed you’d hope for from a kid his size.
Traverse City Prospects Tournament starts in just 2 weeks! Hockey is almost back baby! pic.twitter.com/O3bMDcBk1K
— 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗱 (@Garts2point2) August 22, 2019
Note: for players invited that were just passed over in their first NHL Entry Draft, they can be signed to an ELC by an NHL team as long as that happens before the junior season begins. You can extend that window a little by offering the player a try-out agreement and playing them on the Marlies or the Growlers for a bit. Any player signed at 18 or just 19 in this situation is likely going back to junior hockey right away, so that ELC is exempt from the 50-SPC limit.
I don't know if it will be televised.
I don't know if it will be televised.
This tournament usually gets more attention than the one the Leafs used to take part in. Teams have generally streamed them on their own sites in the past few years. So I'd imagine there will be a way to watch these games.
Cool: Jack Han is going to be one of the assistants behind the bench at this tournament with Keefe, Rob Davison, AJ MacLean, Growlers coach John Snowden, and Marlies goalie coach Jon Elkin.
Han was listed in Hockey Ops this past year, previously worked with Pellerin and Robidas in player dev (https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2017/9/7/16270240/toronto-maple-leafs-news-maple-leafs-hire-player-development-department-stephan-robidas-hack-han), and is currently no longer on the management list (https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/team/management). Without much fanfare, Han is now a Marlies assistant coach (http://marlies.ca/staff-directory/).
Cool: Jack Han is going to be one of the assistants behind the bench at this tournament with Keefe, Rob Davison, AJ MacLean, Growlers coach John Snowden, and Marlies goalie coach Jon Elkin.
Han was listed in Hockey Ops this past year, previously worked with Pellerin and Robidas in player dev (https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2017/9/7/16270240/toronto-maple-leafs-news-maple-leafs-hire-player-development-department-stephan-robidas-hack-han), and is currently no longer on the management list (https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/team/management). Without much fanfare, Han is now a Marlies assistant coach (http://marlies.ca/staff-directory/).
Congrats to him, that was always his goal in hockey (https://www.tsn.ca/han-hopes-to-challenge-conventional-thinking-in-coaching-ranks-1.623971).
Traverse City Prospects Tournament starts in just 2 weeks! Hockey is almost back baby! pic.twitter.com/O3bMDcBk1K
— 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗱 (@Garts2point2) August 22, 2019
HUGE game tomorrow...anyone know if it's being broadcasted?
HUGE game tomorrow...anyone know if it's being broadcasted?
Nothing from the Leafs side yet, but St. Louis announced they'll be streaming it on their website. You're welcome.
Goaltender Joseph Woll will not participate in the Traverse City Prospect Tournament due to a broken finger.
— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) September 5, 2019
Defenceman Kalle Loponen has been added to the @MapleLeafs Prospect Tournament roster.
The Leafs’ lines for their first game of Traverse City tonight:
— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) September 6, 2019
Robertson - SDA - Korshkov
Abramov - Stotts - Conrad
T. Bradley - Elynuik - Brazeau
Woods - M. Bradley - Estephan
Kivihalme - Hollowell
Rubins - Duszak
Pepin - Lindgren
Scott
Zhukov
Full Leafs jersey numbers in Traverse City (2/2):
— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) September 6, 2019
80 Zhukov
81 Hollowell
82 Kral
84 Stotts
85 SDA
87 M. Bradley
89 N. Robertson
90 Estephan
92 Staios
95 Abramov
96 Korshkov
98 Loponen
This is a very dark camera.
This is a very dark camera.
I've got nothing too...
Recap: Leafs double up the Blackhawks and improve to 2-0 at the Prospect Tournament.
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) September 7, 2019
Full highlights >> https://t.co/M339m9icPr pic.twitter.com/0NyJnCwo7y
Leafs lines vs. Blackhawks, which is about to get going in Traverse City:
— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) September 7, 2019
Robertson - SDA - Korshkov
Hamblin - Abramov - Conrad
Woods - Elynuik - Brazeau
Carroll - Simoneau - Moore
Kral - Duszak
Sapego - Loponen
Pepin - Staios
Zhukov
Bouthilier
Leafs lines vs. Red Wings in Traverse City tonight:
— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) September 9, 2019
Korshkov - SDA - Conrad
Robertson - Elynuik - Brazeau
Stotts - Abramov - Alistrov
Nelson - Bradley - Estephan
Kivihalme - Hollowell
Rubins - Lindgren
Kral - Larochelle
Scott
Zhukov
Game on!
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) September 9, 2019
Fans in Toronto can stream the action >> https://t.co/hvwEaZMW1u https://t.co/R780tuDs8J
SDA Goal! 1-1! 🚨 #TMLtalk pic.twitter.com/cPZmC3DOO9
— David Nestico (@davidnestico200) September 9, 2019
Taro Hirose restores the lead.Korshkov is ferocious on the forecheck and SDA roofs it! pic.twitter.com/ZcxVRVBmPP
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) September 9, 2019
Kivihalme steals the puck and scores to tie the game at 2! 🚨 #TMLtalk pic.twitter.com/PEsaM7rlKL
— David Nestico (@davidnestico200) September 9, 2019
Roberston gives Toronto the lead with almost no time left! #TMLtalk pic.twitter.com/CaVkbW436h
— David Nestico (@davidnestico200) September 9, 2019
Teemu Kivihalme scores his 2nd of the game and its 4-2 Leafs! 🚨#TMLtalk pic.twitter.com/bqvonGTAou
— David Nestico (@davidnestico200) September 9, 2019
For such a weak prospect pool with a lot of low picks these past three seasons (zero 1st rd picks at this tourney), most of whom have only played 1 AHL season, the Leafs are more than holding their own.
Taro Hirose restores the lead.
thanks Herman for all the commentary. Looks like Kivihalme is the real deal???
Hollowell is flying out there. pic.twitter.com/5uHOMZQVLH
— Kevin Papetti (@KPapetti) September 10, 2019
Taro Hirose restores the lead.
Just saw that he had 7 points in 10 games with the Red Wings to finish last season. Pretty impressive. Bet he's kicking himself for not signing with the Leafs with that gaping hole on the left side to start the season though...
I only caught the third but I love Hollowell's game. He's so slick,so skilled and mobile. He had the puck on a string it looked like.
I only caught the third but I love Hollowell's game. He's so slick,so skilled and mobile. He had the puck on a string it looked like.
I'm mildly optimistic about Hollowell too. If we can get 2 out of the 3 Sandin, Liljegren and Hollowell to pan out, we're in pretty good shape on D for a few years. Dermott already in the fold, Rielly still here, the future could be bright on the back end.
Right now Liljegren looks like the odd man out (the player not progressing) but I really hope I'm wrong about that.
I only caught the third but I love Hollowell's game. He's so slick,so skilled and mobile. He had the puck on a string it looked like.
I'm mildly optimistic about Hollowell too. If we can get 2 out of the 3 Sandin, Liljegren and Hollowell to pan out, we're in pretty good shape on D for a few years. Dermott already in the fold, Rielly still here, the future could be bright on the back end.
Right now Liljegren looks like the odd man out (the player not progressing) but I really hope I'm wrong about that.
I think people are going to be pretty happy about Liljegren as long as they're not expecting Karlsson-level offense. He spent a lot of last season going through the Rielly Process*, literally focusing on defense, PK, top shutdown minutes. And since people aren't watching the games and just looking at the points, uh duh. Sandin is going to receive similar treatment this season.
* The Reilly Process was instituted by Babcock and the rest of the coaching staff for defenseman development, specifically at the top of the depth chart.
Year 1: cushy, offensive deployment to start and get confidence built up with success; layer on responsibility as the year progresses
Year 2: the other side of the game; no PP, only PK, shudown minutes stress test to see where this players aptitudes off the puck are
Year 3: put it back together, aiming for a two-way stalwart that is reliable in all phases of the game. Might start leaning into strengths and sheltering weaknesses more.
I think there's progress being made. He's 19, it's just his really good 18yo season was overshadowed by Sandin's even better season.
Don't forget Kivihalme, Duzak, Lindgren, Kokkonen, Koster, Kral, Loponen and a long shot Rasanen (he is 6'6" all day long). One would hope that 2 or 3 of these guys can make it at some point.I only caught the third but I love Hollowell's game. He's so slick,so skilled and mobile. He had the puck on a string it looked like.
I'm mildly optimistic about Hollowell too. If we can get 2 out of the 3 Sandin, Liljegren and Hollowell to pan out, we're in pretty good shape on D for a few years. Dermott already in the fold, Rielly still here, the future could be bright on the back end.
I think there's progress being made. He's 19, it's just his really good 18yo season was overshadowed by Sandin's even better season.
If he was Canadian he wouldn't have even been eligible to play in the AHL until this upcoming season. Instead he part of an AHL championship winning defence corps at 18 and then followed that up by playing top pairing AHL minutes the next season. Like I said I'm not going to pretend to know what his ceiling is but just based off that I'd be pretty surprised if at minimum he didn't become a reliable bottom pairing defender who can move the puck.
Robertson finished with 4 goals in 3 games in this tournament, putting him in a multi-way tie for 2nd among all players. All the other players with 4 goals played 4 games though so we'll just say he finished 2nd. Joe Veleno had the lead with 7 goals in 4 games.
He finished in a multi-way tie for 3rd in goals with 15. But in shots per game he would have finished 1st in the tournament.
Kivihalme had 4 points in 2 games.
Today, Joe Veleno is about 19.75 years old. Today, Nick Robertson turned 18. 24.25 years ago, Kivihalme was born in Cloquet, Minnesota where his father Janne was playing for the University of Wisconsin-Superior alongside Nick Mulvey, who ended up becoming the Assistant Coach at Burnsville High, coaching, you guessed it, Teemu Kivihalme from 2011 to 2013. - Pierre Maguire, probably.
Today, Joe Veleno is about 19.75 years old. Today, Nick Robertson turned 18. 24.25 years ago, Kivihalme was born in Cloquet, Minnesota where his father Janne was playing for the University of Wisconsin-Superior alongside Nick Mulvey, who ended up becoming the Assistant Coach at Burnsville High, coaching, you guessed it, Teemu Kivihalme from 2011 to 2013. - Pierre Maguire, probably.
You know I was actually pretty surprised to learn that Kivihalme was born in the US. Just looked at his profile the other day and saw that. Not sure if he spent his entire childhood in North America but he did play high school/junior/college hockey all in the States. I really don't recall hearing much about that when he was signed. So if he's got NHL chops at least he won't have to deal with any issues other players coming from overseas might run into.
My thoughts on all 33 Leafs prospects that participated in Traverse City: https://t.co/Ih0yI5chXQ pic.twitter.com/oZyikt3Mle
— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) September 11, 2019