how the (frank) to 700 people die by walking over each other?
- Feeling Glucky?

The lord works in mysterious ways..

I once drove probably the nicest looking Topaz in the T dot. Yeah I know, not saying much, but when you're an 18 year old kid driving your first car, you do what you can to mod it up a little.
- Phenom

You should be proud...






So brutal.

I just dont see any point with him playing through the poop show that will be the Leafs season all the while centering a combination of Lupul, Grabner, PAP, Glencross, Boyes or Winning, none of whom will be here when/if the Leafs finally turn the corner.

Much rather a full year of him centering Brown and Kapanen
- walshyleafsfan

Have to also remember this: He will go down there and make others better, such as Brown and Kapanen, helping their development in the process.

Well it certainly didn't hurt Schenn
- walshyleafsfan

It's impossible to ever know, but I'll wager Schenn would have ended up exactly the same as he is now regardless.

Come on, the AHL doesn't magically make players more than what they are

Have to also remember this: He will go down there and make others better, such as Brown and Kapanen, helping their development in the process.
- Phenom

Like Kessel helped Bozak

Where I grew up, the mennonites always used to buy up the cavaliers, grand prixs, civics and neons and just pimp the (frank) out of them

put spoilers, chrome rims, dual exhaust, and a bunch of other unnecessary bullpoop.
- TheThrill

Ugh, I wasn't that bad. Cool paint job, tinted windows, exhaust, stereo system, some stickers and a few performance parts is as far as I went. I wasn't an idiot (or rich).

God I hated those little civics. Still do, to this day They were everywhere!

Have to also remember this: He will go down there and make others better, such as Brown and Kapanen, helping their development in the process.
- Phenom

IMO, the reasons to keep them down in order are:

1) Away from tire fire Leafs
2) Build chemistry between the higher end prospects
3) Work on personal development of game

there's not harm in being patient, no.

Likely Nylander doesn't make the team, but that's due to contracts and Babcock saying ties go to the vets

But watch the games he has played, he's been at least one of the 6 best forwards out there. I'd say much higher.

This is where the balance is.

You guys think that some magical, mystical change is going to happen from them spending more time in the AHL. But if he's better than the majority of the current roster then he should play on the team.

This long-term development model is fantastic for guys like Gauthier, Brown, Timashov, etc. or guys who have really high upside but need serious development time to realize it.

Not for a guy outplaying 90% of his peers in training camp.

that's my take on it anyway
- TheThrill

Just a quick thought on this.
You can talk all you want about nylander outperforming his peers statistically, but now it comes down to more than that.
Back checking, winning face offs as a centre, positioning.
Detroit made Tatar and Nyquist over develop and even forced pulkinnen to stay in the ahl despite him statistically dominating the league.
We keep saying we want the Detroit model, well keeping nylander down for at least the beginning of this year is the Detroit model

It's impossible to ever know, but I'll wager Schenn would have ended up exactly the same as he is now regardless.

Come on, the AHL doesn't magically make players more than what they are
- TheThrill

It doesn't. It can shelter them from NHL teams in cultural transition and let them play leading roles with their peers who they'll hopefully be playing with at the NHL level soon enough and gain confidence while working on aspects of their game like their play without the puck when switching back to Centre at the North American pro level.

It's impossible to ever know, but I'll wager Schenn would have ended up exactly the same as he is now regardless.

Come on, the AHL doesn't magically make players more than what they are
- TheThrill

yes, it does. thats why teams use it as a development league

thrusting someone too quickly into the spotlight only hurts them

skinner.. perfect example.. first season he was on a high.. GREAT.. but when he slipped after his injuries he hadnt been taught how to fight through the adversity of not playing well

Joe thorton had this happen to him as well if you remember.

its not about if the kid is ready when he is playing well.. its about if he is ready to not play well and know how to, and be mature enough, to deal with it.

It's impossible to ever know, but I'll wager Schenn would have ended up exactly the same as he is now regardless.

Come on, the AHL doesn't magically make players more than what they are
- TheThrill

I would disagree. While all NHL players are pretty much elite in their field, some are obviously more elite than others. Confidence can carry you a long long way in professional sports. If you honestly believe you are better than you are it will translate into results. Theres no way Tyler Johnson is actually one of the best players in the league

You should be proud...






So brutal.
- As_I_See_It

Well, I never won trophies, so......

Just a quick thought on this.
You can talk all you want about nylander outperforming his peers statistically, but now it comes down to more than that.
Back checking, winning face offs as a centre, positioning.
Detroit made Tatar and Nyquist over develop and even forced pulkinnen to stay in the ahl despite him statistically dominating the league.
We keep saying we want the Detroit model, well keeping nylander down for at least the beginning of this year is the Detroit model
- ILoveLamp

the game that is played in the preseason is not NHL hockey. it's played at an AHL level. at most.

the game that is played in the preseason is not NHL hockey. it's played at an AHL level. at most.
- DoubleDown

Stop it. Nylander dominated and you know it. Next step, domination of the NHL.

IMO, the reasons to keep them down in order are:

1) Away from tire fire Leafs
2) Build chemistry between the higher end prospects
3) Work on personal development of game
- markmark

Yup. There are so many other aspects than just the offensive flash you see. Even off the ice, Toronto is a different beast altogether. When they say a player needs to be ready, he needs to be ready, for every aspect. Shanny et al know this.

the game that is played in the preseason is not NHL hockey. it's played at an AHL level. at most.
- DoubleDown

Still upset about the big loss eh!?!?

Edit:

Still upset about the big loss eh!?!?

Edit:
- markmark

NHL Player Safety
@NHLPlayerSafety
Buffalo's Jason Akeson will have a hearing tomorrow afternoon for charging/illegal check to the head on Ottawa's Colin Greening.

the game that is played in the preseason is not NHL hockey. it's played at an AHL level. at most.
- DoubleDown

people get way too amped up about guys who have good pre-seasons

here's the thing

1: its usually the younger guys because they are given more prime ice time and are generally already up to speed while the vets take a bit longer

2: 66% of the Ds being iced per team have never seen an NHL game

3: the older veteran forwards who are savvy in shutdown roles typically arent being matched up against the kids

It doesn't. It can shelter them from NHL teams in cultural transition and let them play leading roles with their peers who they'll hopefully be playing with at the NHL level soon enough and gain confidence while working on aspects of their game like their play without the puck when switching back to Centre at the North American pro level.
- 1979AD

Exactly that. If Willie goes down and dominates, which I think he will (I'm predicting top 5 scorer), then he should unequivocally be a Toronto Maple Leaf next season. Nowhere to go but up. I kind of feel the same about Marner if he dominates the O this season, like he's supposed to. With no AHL eligibility, I'd rather him stay with the big club then go back to the OHL next year. But that also depends on his physical and mental maturity level. We can cross that bridge when we get to it I suppose.

Exactly that. If Willie goes down and dominates, which I think he will (I'm predicting top 5 scorer), then he should unequivocally be a Toronto Maple Leaf next season. Nowhere to go but up. I kind of feel the same about Marner if he dominates the O this season, like he's supposed to. With no AHL eligibility, I'd rather him stay with the big club then go back to the OHL next year. But that also depends on his physical and mental maturity level. We can cross that bridge when we get to it I suppose.
- Phenom

there is more to it than just the on ice product tho

how does the kid deal with a slump?

how does he handle himself off ice?

how does he handle disputes with teammates?

whats his locker room attitude?

i think many of us forget that these guys are human beings, young ones, and have to grow intellectually and emotionally as well.. not just physically.

Stop it. Nylander dominated and you know it. Next step, domination of the NHL.
- walshyleafsfan

yes after a partial to full year in the AHL.

I'm going to have to agree with Nylander being sent down. I think its best for his development in the long run plus there is no need to burn a year off his elc until this team has a respectable work ethic, structure on and off the ice, leadership, proper systems etc.

I just don't think its right to demand and expect young players to figure out how to compete in this league until the actual team he's being placed on has figured their poop out. Just my opinion.

there is more to it than just the on ice product tho

how does the kid deal with a slump?

how does he handle himself off ice?

how does he handle disputes with teammates?

whats his locker room attitude?

i think many of us forget that these guys are human beings, young ones, and have to grow intellectually and emotionally as well.. not just physically.
- Dozzer

That's pretty much what I'm saying, Dozz, in less detail.

Exactly that. If Willie goes down and dominates, which I think he will (I'm predicting top 5 scorer), then he should unequivocally be a Toronto Maple Leaf next season. Nowhere to go but up. I kind of feel the same about Marner if he dominates the O this season, like he's supposed to. With no AHL eligibility, I'd rather him stay with the big club then go back to the OHL next year. But that also depends on his physical and mental maturity level. We can cross that bridge when we get to it I suppose.
- Phenom

When was the last time the Leafs had a 19 year old amongst the AHL scoring leaders - never? It's going to be awesome, and he might be bringing guys like Kapanen and Brown up with him next year. To a team that's already comfortable with Babcock's systems and team culture.