The Toronto Marlies Notebook: A Tale of Two Teams

Jeremy Bracco

In the first notebook, I suggested the Marlies had scratched Jeremy Bracco to provide him with the opportunity to observe the nuances of the professional game from a unique vantage point. Initially, this strategy seemed to work, as Bracco found the scoresheet in just his 2^nd AHL game.

However, despite his otherwise encouraging performance, Bracco was listed as a scratch for both of the Marlies weekend games. Now, they were playing back to back, meaning reinforcements to relieve fatigued players were inevitably coming. Unfortunately, Bracco wasn’t deployed, and that is undoubtedly troubling.

A young player of Bracco’s ilk needs to experience tangible game action in order to develop an offensive rhythm. Failing to crack the lineup, even on the tail end of back-to-backs, suggests something unbeknownst to the public may be brewing behind closed doors. That something cannot be good for Bracco. If this truly is the case, then he is perilously close to failing the first true test he’s been given at the professional level.

At least four wingers currently on the Marlies roster rank above Bracco on the Leafs depth chart. He needs to get his stuff together quick, or risk being forgotten.

Andrew Nielsen

Let’s hop in a time machine and travel back to exactly one year from today.

Travis Dermott and Andrew Nielsen are currently seen as the crown jewels of the Leafs farm system. Both were late round picks, and yet each player had seemingly taken massive strides forward in their development, all in the span of a year’s time. In fact, it was becoming apparent that Leafs management considered them well on their way to carving out NHL roles in the near future. What a time to be alive.

Jumping back to present day, it’s remarkable to witness just how much has changed.

Since then, Dermott has only continued his ascension, rounding into a dependable two-way defender that fans can get excited about, while also nearly earning a spot on the Leafs blueline out of training camp this year in the process.

On the other hand, Nielsen spent his time doing nothing but tumble down the rungs of the organizational depth chart. Since witnessing him in action this weekend, I feel the need to pass along a message. If you happen to be a Nielsen fan, cherish him. Because it’s beginning to look as if his days in Toronto are numbered.

Standing Still

Nielsen is a thoroughly frustrating prospect. If you’ve ever coached minor hockey, you’ve undoubtedly had a player who possessed a world of talent and yet seemed to willfully ignore any aspect of playing defence. Nielsen is that player. Watching someone as blessed with offensive talent as he is seemingly refuse to play a defensively responsible game is positively maddening.

Yes, he does bring immense offensive value, visibly sparking a struggling Marlies power play unit (we’ll get to that) when he draws into the lineup. But, that’s the thing. He hasn’t drawn into the lineup much of late. Considering that he was once thought of as knocking on the NHL’s door, that’s a red flag.

With Martin Marincin’s arrival, Nielsen has now officially been booted from the team’s top six. To make matters worse, Calle Rosen is currently on route to Ricoh as we speak. With all these new faces, it’s starting to look like Nielsen’s path to consistent minutes is only going to get harder.

Breathe

In spite of this, it’s important to remember that Nielsen is still just 20 years old. If everyone had given up on me when I was 20, there’s no way you’d be reading this article right now. Now, that may be a good thing, depending on whether or not you’re a fan of my work. But, trust me, I’m a way bigger mess than he is. He’s still young.

What troubles me most regarding Nielsen is that, since being drafted, his defensive development has remained completely stagnant. If he’s yet to make any positive strides there, I wonder if he ever will.

Andreas Johnsson

I have no idea what to make of this scratch. When I asked Sheldon Keefe about it following Sunday’s game, he insisted that it was neither injury or performance related. Andreas Johnsson has been one of the best Marlies this season, with four points in five games. He’s been on fire, looking positively electric during his pre-season stint with the Leafs as well.

Johnsson’s ascension through the Maple Leafs organization is a fascinating one. Funny enough, he was originally a 7^th round pick in 2012, with his stock drastically dropped from what was originally projected. Unbeknownst to anyone, Johnsson’s fall actually resulted from a previously undiagnosed struggle with sports asthma. When watching him in games, most scouts concluded that, with Johnsson constantly gasping for breath, he must have been out of shape. Little did they know that his asthma had caused his lungs to simply lack the capacity required of a high-performance athlete.

Explosion

All it took for him to get back on track was receiving proper treatment for his ailment. Once healthy, Johnsson exploded, with his success culminating in being named SHL Rookie of the Year in 2014. By the way, previous SHL ROY winners include Henrik Zetterberg, Mattias Ekholm, Loui Eriksson, Nicklas Backstrom and Victor Hedman. Not bad company to keep.

The Leafs brass are undoubtedly high on Johnsson, making these scratches that much more confusing. I don’t want to speculate, as I have nothing to base them on, but his absence could be attributed to anything from maintenance days to handling a personal issue. It’ll be interesting to see whether or not he suits up for the Marlies upcoming stretch against Laval. If he doesn’t, then there really will be some red flags.

Power Play Problems

The Marlies power play, in both games, looked atrocious. Despite Charlotte being in the midst of playing three games in three nights, they still managed to neutralize what should be a dominant man advantage attack. With Nielsen out of the lineup on Saturday, it was Vincent LoVerde who quarterbacked the first unit. Now, I’ve been very impressed with LoVerde’s play so far. He happens to be a responsible defender who clearly has earned the undying trust of his coach. He just shouldn’t run a power play.

What did spark the PP, and in the process, my heart, was Timothy Liljegren. I simply cannot stop fawning over this kid. He’s just so darn good. Big Time Timmy continued a dynamic offensive stretch by expertly finding the red-hot Mason Marchment with a brilliant feed as he was streaking back door. Watch this play and witness the magic for yourself:

Most 19-year-olds are never that patient. Believe me, I was one just two years ago. What makes this play so impressive is seeing that Liljegren stopped, surveyed his options, and then fed a crisp, flat pass to the streaking Marchment, all in a split second. The steps he’s taken since his debut in the Rookie Tournament are nothing short of monumental. I am beyond excited to see what he can do for the Leafs moving forward.

Goaltending Update

I’m just going to come right out and say it. If any of the Leafs goaltenders suffer an injury, it’ll be Garret Sparks who gets the first call. He was phenomenal on Saturday, stopping all 24 shots that he faced. With the shutout, Sparks actually tied Antoine Bibeau for most shutouts in Marlies history with eight. Included in those 24 saves was an excellent read on a penalty shot, which he turned aside with ease. All in all, Sparks has looked miles better this season.

When I asked Sparks what is behind his improved play, he told me that he actually spent his summer actively trying to shed weight. As a result, he entered camp having dropped 2% body fat, all while experiencing no muscle mass loss. The results of his weight loss are undeniably visible in his play this season. Sparks is far more mobile, moving laterally from post-to-post with far more ease than past seasons. Lateral movement is essential for goaltenders and can be the difference between posting a shutout and allowing two goals.

Now, while the results don’t look as pretty for Calvin Pickard, his performance on Sunday was commendable. The Marlies defence seemingly decided not to show up, leaving Pickard to fend for himself once the puck dropped.

What impressed me most about Pickard’s performance was how adept he was at finding pucks through the screen. Charlotte essentially set up shop in front of the Marlies net, and yet Pickard consistently made saves through traffic. His reaction time is at an NHL level, but, despite allowing five goals against, he gave his team a chance to win. That’s really all you can ask from your backup goaltender.

Quick Notes

• Kasperi Kapanen has had a slow start but really turned on the jets this weekend. His speed is breathtaking, making him a threat on both the PP and PK. There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that he’s NHL ready.
• Mason Marchment has played fantastic of late. He potted two goals on Saturday, with one coming from a beautiful shot placed perfectly in the top corner. He may not be an NHL player, but he’s someone I’m keeping my eye on.
• The Justin Holl – Rinat Valiev pairing was nothing short of atrocious on Sunday. Both players were on the ice for all five goals against, excluding the empty-netter that made it six. It’ll be interesting to see whether or not Keefe splits them up in the future.
• Dmytro Timashov is on fire, scoring in both games. He may be small, but boy, can he forecheck. If I were the GM of an offensively challenged NHL team *cough* Montreal *cough* I’d call up the Leafs to see if he’s available.