Leafs Prospects Scouting Reports

[Corn Flake]

Some scouting reports on Maple Leafs prospects I am working on over at Maple Leafs Hot Stove (shared per Rick's request). Some of  you may or may not know I was a partner at McKeen's for several years and have been researching/scouting/writing about prospects since 2000 (with some long breaks in between thanks to life getting in the way).

Check em out:

http://mapleleafshotstove.com/prospects/

Down the right hand side. 2-3 new ones going up per week. Mostly CHL/AHL focused so far.  Hope to have them all reviewed by December if I can get enough video of the Euro players.

 

[maplesyrup]

Right on. Thanks.

 

[Champ Kind]

That's great, Corn, thank you.

Hey, with those credentials you might actually know what you're talking about.  Maybe.  Who knew?  ;D

 

[Corn Flake]

That's great, Corn, thank you.

Hey, with those credentials you might actually know what you're talking about.  Maybe.  Who knew?  ;D

I learned from one of the best in the business at McKeen's. ... I just haven't been doing much of it over the past few years.  Trying to fire up the engines again with this work.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Good job! I knew you were at McKeen's, we've talked about that, good to see you jumping back in the saddle.

 

[Champ Kind]

Corn, which prospect (s) are you most high on?  I know you've spoken really well about Holzer, but who do you see making an impact with the Leafs in the near future?

 

[Corn Flake]

Corn, which prospect (s) are you most high on?  I know you've spoken really well about Holzer, but who do you see making an impact with the Leafs in the near future?

I don't feel like I have seen enough of each one to rank them yet, but Rielly is for sure the #1 prospect on the list, almost without a doubt. The player he reminds me of the most is Brian Leetch.  I don't like making comparisons - especially ones that lofty - but honestly he has many very comparable attributes - no way of knowing if he can have even half the career of Leetch... just saying the skill set and approach to the game is similar.

Kadri comes in second in my books even if he is considered by many to not be a prospect anymore (a notion I don't agree with).

The player who has opened my eyes the most since I started researching my reports is Percy.  He has rocketed up my list and although he is that somewhat unsexy stay-at-home type of player, he is an absolute rock on the blueline and just oozes a calm, collected and natural leadership presence. A Sylvan Lefebvre clone in the making, IMO.. but probably a better skater.  I'd say Percy could very well be about a sure a thing as the Leafs have right now, even if that means he ends up a 4/5 d-man, he will be a helluva good one.

I might even have those 3 guys as my 1-2-3 in order, if I'm mashing together a potential + chances of success type of rating.

edit: when people snicker at the idea of comparing Rielly to Leetch, I show them things like this (which happen a lot) http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/jrhockey-buzzing-the-net/toronto-maple-leafs-pick-morgan-rielly-snipes-sick-133413258.html

His ability to step on the gas and blow by defenders at the OHL level is ridiculous.  He is simply dominating this year.  Not bad for a guy who barely played last year.

 

[Corn Flake]

Good job! I knew you were at McKeen's, we've talked about that, good to see you jumping back in the saddle.

Thanks.  I missed it... a lot.

 

[Fanatic]

Some scouting reports on Maple Leafs prospects I am working on over at Maple Leafs Hot Stove (shared per Rick's request). Some of  you may or may not know I was a partner at McKeen's for several years and have been researching/scouting/writing about prospects since 2000 (with some long breaks in between thanks to life getting in the way).

Check em out:

http://mapleleafshotstove.com/prospects/

Down the right hand side. 2-3 new ones going up per week. Mostly CHL/AHL focused so far.  Hope to have them all reviewed by December if I can get enough video of the Euro players.

Worthy of much applause. Thanks.

 

[Champ Kind]

Corn, which prospect (s) are you most high on?  I know you've spoken really well about Holzer, but who do you see making an impact with the Leafs in the near future?

I don't feel like I have seen enough of each one to rank them yet, but Rielly is for sure the #1 prospect on the list, almost without a doubt. The player he reminds me of the most is Brian Leetch.  I don't like making comparisons - especially ones that lofty - but honestly he has many very comparable attributes - no way of knowing if he can have even half the career of Leetch... just saying the skill set and approach to the game is similar.

Kadri comes in second in my books even if he is considered by many to not be a prospect anymore (a notion I don't agree with).

The player who has opened my eyes the most since I started researching my reports is Percy.  He has rocketed up my list and although he is that somewhat unsexy stay-at-home type of player, he is an absolute rock on the blueline and just oozes a calm, collected and natural leadership presence. A Sylvan Lefebvre clone in the making, IMO.. but probably a better skater.  I'd say Percy could very well be about a sure a thing as the Leafs have right now, even if that means he ends up a 4/5 d-man, he will be a helluva good one.

I might even have those 3 guys as my 1-2-3 in order, if I'm mashing together a potential + chances of success type of rating.

edit: when people snicker at the idea of comparing Rielly to Leetch, I show them things like this (which happen a lot) http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/jrhockey-buzzing-the-net/toronto-maple-leafs-pick-morgan-rielly-snipes-sick-133413258.html

His ability to step on the gas and blow by defenders at the OHL level is ridiculous.  He is simply dominating this year.  Not bad for a guy who barely played last year.

Your opinion on Percy is a real pleasant and welcome surprise.  What are your thoughts about Jesse Blacker and Joe Colborne?  From my peripheral perspective, I really like Colborne.  At best, he's a big first-line playmaking centre while, at worst, he's a Joel Otto - big body in the third line centre position.  I just wonder if my suspicions have any substance.

 

[Corn Flake]

Your opinion on Percy is a real pleasant and welcome surprise.  What are your thoughts about Jesse Blacker and Joe Colborne?  From my peripheral perspective, I really like Colborne.  At best, he's a big first-line playmaking centre while, at worst, he's a Joel Otto - big body in the third line centre position.  I just wonder if my suspicions have any substance.

Blacker is one of my next profiles I'm doing... I have  a stack of notes but not quite there yet.  Haven't paid much attention to him this year to be honest. Will be shortly. I do think there are several prospects who are better than him overall. 

Big Joe - I think he's a playmaking 2nd line centre who should be able to translate to the NHL, but I don't think he's aggressive enough overall to be a top line guy.  I don't think he would pan out in a Joel Otto role.  Otto was rugged, snarly and a serious pain in the arse to play against, with defense first focus. 

 

[Bender]

I'm surprised McKegg is a considered a third liner in your books. Wasn't he a high scorer in junior? I assumed he was 2nd line.

 

[Corn Flake]

I'm surprised McKegg is a considered a third liner in your books. Wasn't he a high scorer in junior? I assumed he was 2nd line.

That is kind of where I see him headed right now, but projections are really difficult and borderline pointless ... many 3rd line players were good producers in junior, but as they climb the ranks the offense can wane.  I think once he gets to the NHL level his role will meld into more of a energy/forechecking/go-get-the-puck kind of player because he has that in spades, but I don't think his shot is elusive enough to be a dangerous scorer.  But he could very well parlay that energy game into a 25 dirty goals a year kind of career - almost like a Darcy Tucker without the psycho streak.  Until early this year a lot of people didn't even see him as an NHL caliber player.  He's climbing in a lot of charts and he could climb a lot more in mine, depending on how his first full AHL season.

 

[Redleaf]

Some scouting reports on Maple Leafs prospects I am working on over at Maple Leafs Hot Stove (shared per Rick's request). Some of  you may or may not know I was a partner at McKeen's for several years and have been researching/scouting/writing about prospects since 2000 (with some long breaks in between thanks to life getting in the way).

Check em out:

http://mapleleafshotstove.com/prospects/

Down the right hand side. 2-3 new ones going up per week. Mostly CHL/AHL focused so far.  Hope to have them all reviewed by December if I can get enough video of the Euro players.

Did not know this about you CF. I'll have to be much more critical of your posts now.

 

[maplesyrup]

Only one man's opinion but this tweet made me happy;

Corey Pronman ‏@coreypronman
At the draft I said it's a coin flip but lean Rielly. I maintain that. RT @biggsbrownross: Is Ryan Murray still better than Morgan Rielly?

 

[Justin]

Only one man's opinion but this tweet made me happy;

Corey Pronman ‏@coreypronman
At the draft I said it's a coin flip but lean Rielly. I maintain that. RT @biggsbrownross: Is Ryan Murray still better than Morgan Rielly?

The Leafs had Reilly ranked as their #1 prospect heading into the draft, ahead of Yakupov, Murray, and the rest. They think he's something (really) special.

 

[Corn Flake]

Only one man's opinion but this tweet made me happy;

Corey Pronman ‏@coreypronman
At the draft I said it's a coin flip but lean Rielly. I maintain that. RT @biggsbrownross: Is Ryan Murray still better than Morgan Rielly?

Okaaaay, although I clearly remember him leaning heavily toward Murray at the draft and for a long while after.  Quite heavily. 

One's opinion can change, that's for sure, and Rielly is causing a lot of people to do that so far this year.

 

[Corn Flake]

Only one man's opinion but this tweet made me happy;

Corey Pronman ‏@coreypronman
At the draft I said it's a coin flip but lean Rielly. I maintain that. RT @biggsbrownross: Is Ryan Murray still better than Morgan Rielly?

The Leafs had Reilly ranked as their #1 prospect heading into the draft, ahead of Yakupov, Murray, and the rest. They think he's something (really) special.

My editor wouldn't let me name names in the projections as far as who he reminded me of but I had Brian Leetch in there and I maintain that Rielly is a very very similar player.  Whether he reaches those heights - time will tell, but he has the same size, skill set, personality and approach to the game that Leetch did.

 

[maplesyrup]

I know we Leaf fans get all dizzy with out prospects and everything but it genuinely seems we've got a gem here. - Or, I'm dizzy. 

 

[Redleaf]

I know we Leaf fans get all dizzy with out prospects and everything but it genuinely seems we've got a gem here. - Or, I'm dizzy. 

I still wonder who'll end up being the better NHL defenseman..Morgan Rielly or Justin Schultz....hmmm...