bustaheims
Well-known member
Per TSN.
Dale Mitchell to ANA for Mark Fraser
- Thread starter bustaheims
- Start date
maplesyrup
New member
Replaces depth on D (even if he's only maybe a 6/7 guy) for a guy who likely never makes the NHL... Seems good.
BlueWhiteBlood
New member
D
Mark Fraser
Age: 25
Date of birth: September 29, 1986
Place of birth: Ottawa, Ont, Canada
Ht: 6-4 Wt: 220
Shoots: L
Salary: $550,000
NHL Seasons: 3
Drafted by New Jersey in 2005 (3/84).
Acquired in a trade with New Jersey in 2011.
ASSETS: Has good size, mobility and the ability to play a physical game from the back end. Usually plays it safe in the defensive zone.
FLAWS: Doesn't have a lot of scoring potential, so he's never going to play regular minutes on the power play. Needs to show greater defensive consistency.
CAREER POTENTIAL: Physical depth defenseman.
Mark Fraser
Age: 25
Date of birth: September 29, 1986
Place of birth: Ottawa, Ont, Canada
Ht: 6-4 Wt: 220
Shoots: L
Salary: $550,000
NHL Seasons: 3
Drafted by New Jersey in 2005 (3/84).
Acquired in a trade with New Jersey in 2011.
ASSETS: Has good size, mobility and the ability to play a physical game from the back end. Usually plays it safe in the defensive zone.
FLAWS: Doesn't have a lot of scoring potential, so he's never going to play regular minutes on the power play. Needs to show greater defensive consistency.
CAREER POTENTIAL: Physical depth defenseman.
bustaheims
Well-known member
Little bit of depth for the Marlies for a Calder Cup run. That's about it.
maplesyrup
New member
Fraser has played 98 NHL games and is still only 25. I'm guessing he gets some time with the Leafs.
#1PilarFan
New member
Go Marlies!
Captain Canuck
Member
The way I see these 2 Leaf deals today are to help the Marlies make a run for the Calder.
BlueWhiteBlood
New member
cw said:
Are you being sarcastic?
BlueWhiteBlood said:
Nope. He'll help the Marlies - I mean depth for them more than the NHL. He'd probably be behind Holzer and maybe others in terms of a defensive dman callup but he probably wouldn't embarrass himself in the NHL with 98 NHL GP, +2. He's a pretty good size, 6'4" 220lbs, reportedly with decent mobility so he's not going to get pushed around. He's had 41 pro fights - watched a few of them - he's not bad.
He's been paid $500+k in the AHL the last two seasons on two separate contracts.
I've read a number of reports on him and he seems decent enough.
I feel they basically bought him because of his contract and they only gave up Dale Mitchell (ECHLer) to get him.
BlueWhiteBlood
New member
cw said:
Oh okay, I wasn't sure there. I agree with everything you stated here. He's not Keith Aulie, but he's a suitable replacement for the AHL team. Maybe he fills a role on a call up basis or something, but for Mitchell, I believe it was a pretty good move by Burke.
BlueWhiteBlood said:
The Marlies have added Ashton.
The Leafs will be sending Gardiner down briefly so he can be placed on the AHL Clear Day (playoff roster). I presume they'll do the same with Frattin.
Recently, they got Deschamps for Caputi and he seems to be on fire.
With Fraser added, they've got good depth in every position for a good playoff run. Might be the best AHL team the Leafs have had in decades - currently their 2nd or 3rd best win% during their history in the AHL. They're in a great position to win their division and still have an outside shot to top their conference standings.
If the Leafs don't make the playoffs, we may have something truly worthy of following this spring.
BlueWhiteBlood
New member
cw said:
I believe they did do that yesterday with Frattin also.
Mitchell was going nowhere a while ago, so Burke using him to land this guy, virtually replacing most of what Aulie was bringing was a very good move. He may even have some NHL injury call-up in him, if the need arises. What I like about him is that he has NHL experience, but also that he is big and a bit nasty.
For sure.
BlueWhiteBlood said:
I tried to look at video of him when I was looking into him because I didn't know much about him.
Unfortunately, most of the video was of his fights (he has a consistent and effective technique of jabbing with the hand that has a hold of his opponents sweater). So I tried to look at him before the fight started. From those glimpses, he does seem to move pretty well for a big guy. I couldn't conclude much on his hockey sense, etc.
He was third on the Syracuse Crunch in +/- (+13), handily leading all their dmen. For a guy who doesn't score much, that's a credible result. Couple that with his +2 over 98 NHL games and it's hard to conclude the guy is a bum as a defensive dman. He looks close to a NHL fringe defensive dman. And he's only 25.
From the Marlies perspective, they gave up Aulie and effectively got Ashton and with this deal, Fraser, who looks roughly comparable in style, size and current AHL ability to Aulie without as much NHL upside/pedigree.
BlueWhiteBlood
New member
cw said:
As much as I think Aulie had good upside, the two moves Burke made appeared to me to be good asset management. He took the advice of his management and scouting teams and added pieces that make the organization stronger overall IMO.
Carter/ Frazer > Mitchell/ Aulie is the way I see it. Aulie is probably better than Frazer overall, but Carter is going to be tons better than Mitchell ever dreamed of being I think.
BlueWhiteBlood
New member
cw said:ECHLer Mitchell was just a substitution for "future considerations" (and to free a NHL contract) when they "bought" Fraser.
Pretty much. I also like this part of Burke as he is giving a chance for Mitchell to try and make it somewhere else, regardless of whether you, I or the organization believes he can do it. I think the players like that about him and I certainly respect it.
Eakins says Fraser will be paired with Holzer. Describes him as a physical stay-at-home veteran that opponents won't want to mess with.
http://www.fan590.com/ondemand/media.jsp?content=20120228_132610_11680
Eakins feels he now has 8 dmen that he's comfortable with in the AHL. Gardiner would make nine if the Leafs don't make the playoffs.
http://www.fan590.com/ondemand/media.jsp?content=20120228_132610_11680
Eakins feels he now has 8 dmen that he's comfortable with in the AHL. Gardiner would make nine if the Leafs don't make the playoffs.