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Toronto Maple Leafs: Prospect Camp Review

By Robb Ellis

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The 2014/15 season was a very painful year for Toronto Maple Leafs fans.

The formula was familiar; we’d seen it several times in the past with this group of players. A promising start followed by an epic collapse. The collapse happened much earlier than usual this time but oddly enough, we kind of expected it. Did we ever really get comfortable even when the Leafs were chasing the Habs down for the division lead in mid-December?

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Maybe a little, but what we didn’t see coming was our team packing it in and giving up which left a bad taste in our mouths. For the first time in years, I found myself wanting the season to “just end!” Good things have been happening since it did. We have watched President Brendan Shanahan, Kyle Dubas, and Mark Hunter turn this organization upside down.

This past weekend, 57 young men made their way to Collingwood, Ontario, two hours north of the city for the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Annual Prospects Camp. I had the opportunity to spend the weekend up there. I was hoping to get to see our prospects on the ice and bring you my analysis. I got that… AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!

ON THE ICE…

Before I get into the action, let me first explain how the camp was structured. Due to the fact that there were close to 60 players in attendance, the Toronto Maple Leafs organization split the players into two separate groups.

Group 1 skated at 9am on both days and consisted of the “older” and more experienced players that were slated to play with the Marlies or compete for spots on the Maple Leafs next season. Basically, if you were turning pro, this is the group you skated in.

GROUP 1 STANDOUTS…

William Nylander

No surprise here. Nylander was the smoothest skater on the ice in this group and showed that he is not that far from being NHL ready. He will move back to his natural position of center after playing on the wing with the Marlies last season. Watching him walk around the camp, he also showed noticeable leadership qualities.

Less than three months ago, Nylander visited Leafs Lunch on TSN 1050 Radio and said that he was now 189 pounds. That would mean that young William has managed to pack on 20 pounds since being drafted a year ago. The picture I took shows that there is absolutely no doubt that he was telling the truth. 

Kasperi Kapanen

Kapanen is not as flashy or smooth as Nylander but there is no mistaking how dangerous he is with the puck. Not sure how you say “dangle” in Finnish but I’m sure Kapanen fans in his homeland have said it many times. Spending a full year in North America (with the Marlies) will go a long way for him this year. Like Nylander, he’ll be in the mix for full-time work with the Leafs in 2016/17.

Frederik Gauthier

Big Freddie G comes exactly as advertised. He’s big… REALLY BIG and very noticeable on and off the ice. He’s no “speed demon” but his size and long legs make him appear slower than he really is. Gauthier won the few draws that he took in the scrimmage effortlessly. Kyle Dubas has said that they want him to develop his offensive game rather then pigeon-holing him as a defensive center and pretty much guaranteed that Gauthier will play with the Marlies next season.

Zach Hyman

One look at Hyman in street clothes at the camp was a prime example of just how much development happens between the ages of 18 and 23. Packing on a noticeable amount of muscle on his 6’1 frame, Hyman showed just why he was such a force this past season with Michigan University.

Defensively responsible but also an offensive threat, Hyman may be one of the players who gives coach Mike Babcock a tough decision to make at training camp in September. I had the opportunity to chat with his dad who told me that “Zach has always been a Leaf fan and bleeds blue and white!” That alone is enough for any of us to pull for him.

Brendan Leipsic

A small as he is (5’10, 177), Leipsic was a noticeable presence on the ice at all times. He’s quick and not afraid to go to “the dirty areas.” He’s surprisingly good around the net too. So what is Brendan going to need to do catch the eye of Mike Babcock? A good plan would be to show himself to be the player that less than a year ago was named the most annoying prospect in hockey by The Hockey News.

Casey Bailey

Like Hyman, Bailey comes to the Leafs after a very successful college season. He is big at 6’3 but would benefit from adding some weight to his 195 pound frame. Still, Bailey stood out in Group 1. He has a big league shot and seems to have worked on his skating stride. Like a lot of the prospects, Bailey will stay in Toronto the rest of the summer while training at the Mastercard Centre. Expect him to start with the Marlies but keep a close eye on him.

Viktor Loov

There’s a lot to love about Viktor Loov. 6’3, 200 pounds that he’s not afraid to throw around. Smooth skater that can handle the puck too. With the exception of the hits, Viktor showed it all this weekend at the prospects camp. He should see big minutes next year with the Marlies in his second full season in North America. The hit below was Loov’s message to the rest of the AHL; keep your head up!

Group 2 skated immediately after Group 1 and consisted of “the kids!” All of the Leafs’ 2015 draft picks were on the ice in this group and gave us a glimpse of just what kind of job Mark Hunter and his staff did preparing for the draft. Ironically enough, it was the Hunter prospects that led the way in this group.

GROUP 2 STANDOUTS…

Mitch Marner

What can I say about this young man that hasn’t already been said? Everything you’ve seen and heard about him is true. His skating stride is natural and effortless. A wizard with the puck and such great vision. Like most of the players in Group 2, it was plain to see what Mitch needs to improve on once he appeared minus his equipment for a ball hockey game on Saturday.

As stated by most, he’s definitely 5’10 but is also surely the 160 pounds that is reported as well. As mentioned earlier, a quick look at the older group shows just how much development happens between the ages of 18 and 23. The Mitch Marner that plays his first regular season game as a Maple Leaf will be much different physically than the one that attended this camp.

Jeremy Bracco

A lot of people knocked Bracco’s size leading up to the draft which is probably why he was still available when the Leafs picked him 61st in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. However, Bracco showed how much of a potential steal he could be with his performance this past weekend. Bracco was noticeable on both sides of the puck during the scrimmage demonstrating a feisty appetite for backchecking and showing a definite nose for the net.

He’s not as smooth as his buddy Marner skating-wise but his long stride makes him “deceptively fast.” Bracco was the hero in the Group 2 scrimmage scoring the winner in 3 on 3 overtime to win it for the white side. I don’t usually make predictions but I’m going to go off the map here and say: “This kid is gonna be a big NHL star!”

Dmytro Timashov 

A few weeks ago, I wrote that Timashov could be a huge steal for the Leafs in the 5th-round of this year’s NHL Entry Draft. Timashov had 19 goals and 90 points in only 66 games with the Quebec Remparts and was named QMJHL’s Rookie of the Year. His performance this weekend made him easily the biggest surprise for me. Everytime this kid had the puck… something good happened. There is absolutely no doubt that Timashov will go back to the Q and dominate next year hopefully setting up the chance for a future career as a Toronto Maple Leaf.

Martins Dzierkals

Dzierkals was  taken by the Leafs in the 3rd-round (68th overall) of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. A quick glance over at hockeydb.com reveals absolutely NO STATS about the player at all. Watching him this weekend though, it became clear that the Leafs did their homework.

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This kid has great potential. He can skate and has a nose for the net. Very noticeable on the ice and worked well playing alongside Timashov. We should all look forward to seeing Dzierkals develop with Rouyn-Noranda of the QMJHL next season.

Andrew Nielson

Neilson comes as advertised at 6’3, 207 pounds but I was surprised at how mobile he actually was. He is a very strong skater which is a rare thing in a big-bodied defenceman. This kid will only get better as he gains experience as a veteran with the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the WHL next season.

The other 4 2015 draft picks also had good camps. Defensemen Travis Dermott of the Erie Otters and Stephen Desrocher of the Oshawa Generals didn’t really “stand out” but that is sometimes a good thing for young rearguards. Swedish defenceman Jesper Lindgren is a very smooth skater but will have to add some muscle to his lanky (6’0, 161) frame in the next couple of years. Forward Nikita Korostelev was relatively unnoticeable but I later learned that he was nursing a shoulder injury during the camp.

CAMP NOTEBOOK…

Popularity Contest…

William Nylander, Mitch Marner, Kasperi Kapanen, and Frederik Gauthier were the most popular prospects being singled out by fans for autographs and photographs.

How “Swede” it is…

William Nylander, Viktor Loov, and Andreas Johnson hung out together during lunch the off-ice session on Saturday. Kasperi Kapanen must have been knighted as an “honorary swede” as he seemed to also find his way into the group. Johnson, upon seeing my “Tre Kronor” t-shirt, stopped to ask me “You are from Sweden?” I told him no but asked if he liked my shirt. “I do,” he said and gave me the thumbs up.

The Gang’s All Here…

With the exception of Brendan Shanahan and Mike Babcock, most of the other important Leafs staff members were present on the weekend including assistant general manager Kyle Dubas, director of player personnel Mark Hunter, director of amateur scouting Dave Morrison, and Marlies coaches Sheldon Keefe, Gord Dineen, and A.J McLean.

Dubas was very visible throughout the weekend watching all the action on and off ice. At around 11:30 am Sunday morning, the assistant general manager answered his cell phone in the lobby before trotting out the front door of the arena.

A few hours later, it was announced that he had traded forward Jamie Devane to the Nashville Predators for Taylor Beck. Obviously I can’t be sure but I may have in fact been standing just a few feet away from him when he laid the groundwork on the deal.

OHL Rivals Eating Lunch Together…

I spotted Stephen Desrocher of the Memorial Cup winning Oshawa Generals and Travis Dermott of arch-rival Erie Otters eating lunch together in the bleachers on Saturday. Just two months ago, the two competed against each other in the OHL Final proving that most battles are indeed left on the ice.

Big Freddie’s Feet…  

I couldn’t help but notice the size of Frederik Gauthier’s feet as he walked past me in a pair of flip-flops. I later overheard a Leafs official tell another that the 6’4 Gauthier wears a size 14 skate.

A New Leafs Fan?…

When the players were made available to the public I had the opportunity to ask Red Deer Rebel Andrew Nielson the question that is on the mind of every Leafs fan. Does he really dislike the Toronto Maple Leafs? He does still have a Calgary Flames Dion Phaneuf jersey hanging on his wall at home but assured me that he is now a Leaf fan.

The Bracco and Marner Show…

Mitch Marner and Jeremy Bracco have known each other for years. They seemed to be inseparable at the camp. At one point, as they were getting ready for an interview with Leafs TV, Bracco stopped the camera to fix Marner’s hair.

The Truth About Kapanen…

Contrary to the beliefs of a certain Toronto writer, Kaspari Kapanen IS indeed 6-feet tall. This was confirmed as I stood right beside him (I’m also 6’0) in the lobby of Central Park Arena.

For “Petes” Sake…

Defenceman Cameron Lizotte of the Peterborough Petes, who went undrafted, was invited to the camp and showed a mean streak running into anyone who dared to come near his goaltender. Still only 17, Lizotte hopes to gain experience from the camp and hopes at another chance next year as he re-enters the draft. Lizotte is well-known to internet users after this video of him blocking shots to protect a late lead went viral.

All Good Things Must Come To An End…

Words can’t express how great it was to see this group of prospects on and off the ice. Kudos to the Toronto Maple Leafs Organization for putting together a first class camp. I got the feeling that the players were genuinely having a great time together much like minor hockey players would at any summer hockey camp in the country. Regardless of where the path of their hockey careers leads them, I’m sure this an experience that they will never forget- and neither will I.

If you have any questions or comments about the camp then send me an email at: retoronto71@gmail.com or hit me up on twitter @robb_ellis

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