Frank E
Well-known member
Interesting Danford over Robertson.
Ranking Prospects 2025-26
- Thread starter herman
- Start date
Interesting Danford over Robertson.
herman
Well-known member
Personally, not how I would rank it, but often these things in this particular group ranking come down to value to the Leafs, rather than an individual talent evaluation. This is just my guess for next week.
Robertson everyone has seen for years now and expectation-fatigue has definitely set in, especially seeing two NHL coaches sort of stuffing him into purgatory every playoffs. He occupies an oversaturated niche in the roster/league: small, defensively suspect, offensively oriented but not overwhelmingly elite left winger.
Danford occupies a hard-to-get niche that the Leafs really want: two-way, physical, RD with size and snarl and mobility; imagine if the Leafs drafted Chris Tanev but he was super young and rather mean. His only real knock is he hasn't been proven in the NHL and how people evaluate defense using scoring stats.
Maccelli likely checks in over Robertson by virtue of having a successful season on his resume, and doesn't have the baggage of fanbase fatigue; he's basically the max age for this exercise so there's no real runway for personal growth, only better on-ice circumstances to ply his trade.
Cowan is the same niche as Robertson and Maccelli, but has a higher floor (PK, better skating, no tunnel vision) and as a play-chainer, probably a higher ceiling too; Maccelli probably has the lead on passing/vision at this time, but Cowan is still just a baby and has room to develop. Also more highly decorated in Junior accolades and there are way more eyeballs on him, hoping and coping for his success.
Knies continues the fine tradition (est 2016) of an Arizona-raised hockey player lording over the top of this list.
herman
Well-known member
PPP 5. Nick Robertson
I don't make the rules.
This was a very enlightening read because of how kooky Robertson's playstyle and subsequent stats are. The main note to add to what I posited above is that while Robertson scores above his xG, it's because he takes so many junk shots that it suppresses his xG AND consistently nerfs his line's offensive potential. It's a function of his tunnel vision and hyper focus on putting the puck into the net (himself).
I don't make the rules.
This was a very enlightening read because of how kooky Robertson's playstyle and subsequent stats are. The main note to add to what I posited above is that while Robertson scores above his xG, it's because he takes so many junk shots that it suppresses his xG AND consistently nerfs his line's offensive potential. It's a function of his tunnel vision and hyper focus on putting the puck into the net (himself).
herman
Well-known member
PPP 4. Ben Danford
Heyo. He’s the one I would’ve pushed higher than what I guessed the vote would shake out to be.
Heyo. He’s the one I would’ve pushed higher than what I guessed the vote would shake out to be.
herman
Well-known member
PPP 3. Matias Maccelli
I would've ranked him at Robertson level, maybe give the edge to Maccelli for a) having handled NHL minutes b) being a playmaker vs wicked shooter but almost always from bad ice (i.e. turnovers).
I would've ranked him at Robertson level, maybe give the edge to Maccelli for a) having handled NHL minutes b) being a playmaker vs wicked shooter but almost always from bad ice (i.e. turnovers).
herman
Well-known member
PPP 2. Easton Cowan
I'm still hyped! Apparently he is still growing. The Leafs front office will be looking for a more mature approach to the game, not strictly 'safe' per se, but structured. As much as he's a similar player template to Domi/Robertson, I think Cowan's floor is higher and I can see him as a very good complement to Tavares in a 3rd line configuration in that near future as the Domis and Robertsons are shed from the roster.
I'm still hyped! Apparently he is still growing. The Leafs front office will be looking for a more mature approach to the game, not strictly 'safe' per se, but structured. As much as he's a similar player template to Domi/Robertson, I think Cowan's floor is higher and I can see him as a very good complement to Tavares in a 3rd line configuration in that near future as the Domis and Robertsons are shed from the roster.
dappleganger
Well-known member
Cowan would be "sheltered" a little bit playing with Tavares and Nylander. Those two can do the heavy lifting and be the focus of opposing defences. Kinda like how McMann found success on that line, just go out there and play.
OldTimeHockey
Well-known member
I hope you're right. I'm not down on Cowan by any means, but like Domi and Robertson, he doesn't seem to be the sharpest tool in the shed "hockey sense" wise.
herman
Well-known member
In my future sheltered Cowan-Tavares line, it's a different winger. I think a bigger forechecker style winger makes more sense to complement Cowan's skillset. And if I'm the coach, while I'd want Nylander to forecheck without hesitation, I would prefer that Willy spend more time wheeling and dealing from the slot rather than grinding the boards, just based on leveraging skillset strengths.
I could say similar things about tomorrow's #1 T25U25 player, but that guy knows what his assets are and knows how to stay within his limitations and max out his tools. I think Cowan can do similar but in a different way obviously (he is not a brick poop shed like Knies is) and be a very solid play-chaining winger from either side of the ice. He is less susceptible to dumb forced pass and dumb forced shot-itis since he's more of a generalist. I don't think you need that much hockey sense to excel in an effort-based structure the way Berube wants the Leafs to play.
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dappleganger
Well-known member
I'm very interested on how Berube is going to distribute the lines. So many options. The Leafs have never had this many NHL-caliber forwards in my lifetime.