Toronto Marlies Notebook: Weekend Field Trip

Andrew Neilsen

I’ve written about him before, but he’s worth mentioning again.

Andrew Neilsen is essentially good at one thing: generating offence. That makes his goal total, which is precisely zero, 20 games into the season, all the more troubling.

Yes, Neilsen is only 20 years old. He’s waaaaay too young to give up on. However, the biggest knock on his game has always been that he’s a one-dimensional player. And when you’re a one-dimensional player, you better perform that dimension to the best of your abilities.

I’m fine when developing players struggle. It’s part of the process.

Liljegren’s first game at September’s Rookie Tournament was likely the worst game I’ve ever seen a defenseman play. Yet, the developmental strides he’s made since are so vast, the Grand Canyon would be jealous.

With Neilsen, he’s just kind of stayed stagnant. And that is not okay. Most of the time, his play can be summed up like this:

That’s not me, btw. Just a guy with the same name who watches the Marlies. Small world.

Neilsen will never be a defensive stalwart, but that doesn’t mean he can ignore the defensive end of the game completely. Neilsen possesses incredible offensive gifts. Gifts so extreme that Sheldon Keefe has begun bucking the traditional “one D, four forwards” PP structure in order to get him extra time on the man advantage.

The talent is there, and I have a feeling he will make strides one day. However, in an organization so deep that Kasperi Kapanen, a bonafide NHL player, can’t crack the NHL, the clock is ticking.