To complete our look back at the 2011-12 Maple Leafs, we evaluate a young prospect who was acquired at the trade deadline and may have not been ready for prime time, their enforcer and the organization’s top prospect, who has yet to make a significant impact three years ago.
Note: Reviews of Jussi Rynnas, Colton Orr and Ryan Hamilton were not done since they played less than 5 games with the club
Carter Ashton – Winger: The 21 year old son of well travelled ex-NHLer Brent Ashton was acquired from Tampa at the trade deadline for defenseman Keith Aulie. A late first rounder in 2009, he had played well in the AHL with Norfolk and briefly with the Marlies, scoring 21 goals and 17 assists in 63 games.
He was recalled in early March after Joffrey Lupul’s season ending shoulder injury and played mostly third line duty. Although he displayed the speed and size necessary to play in the league, the former Lightning first rounder would have likely been sent back to the AHL had the Leafs not used up their four post-deadline recalls. He did not register a point in 15 NHL games and was -10 in that small window. Currently he is on the injured list after suffering a concussion during the first round of the AHL playoffs. He could be a good player in time, but perhaps needs one more year in the AHL to round out his game.
Grade: D-
Projection: AHL Top six forward
Jay Rosehill – Winger: The 26 year old Rosehill was given the role of the Leafs primary enforcer by default after Colton Orr was unable to play and eventually waived, a role that was not a necessity with the speed centric, offensive style of Ron Wilson. He got into the lineup only 16 times with Wilson behind the bench. When Randy Carlyle took over,
Rosehill’s presence was deemed more necessary and he played in 15 of the last 23 games, but he saw less than five minutes ice time on most nights and fought only six times the whole season. He was sent down at the end of the season and is currently playing regularly for the Marlies in the AHL playoffs.
The one-dimensional fourth line enforcer is an anachronism in the NHL and Rosehill has never shown any ability to be anything more than that.
Grade: D-
Projection: AHL Enforcer
Nazem Kadri – Winger: Kadri’s effort to make the Leafs was derailed by a knee ligament injury in the pre-season. His game and offensive skill set are conducive to playing a top six role at the NHL level, but his inconsistencies defensively still make that a dangerous proposition.
After returning to the lineup, he played only three times before being demoted to the AHL. He was recalled in late December when Colby Armstrong was re-injured and scored four goals in 16 games, but when his defensive struggles reappeared, he was again sent down by Ron Wilson. Kadri enjoyed a solid year with the Marlies, scoring 18 goals and 22 assists in 48 games and averaging over a point per game so far on their playoff run, but more progress was expected at the pro level from the 2009 7th overall pick.
The six players ahead on Kadri in his draft class(Tavares, Hedman, Duchene, Kane, B. Schenn and Ekman-Larsson) have achieved higher levels of success three years into the pro careers and one of the biggest questions ahead for the organization is whether the club with Randy Carlyle at the reins will give him one more chance to make his mark or will he be used as a piece in a deal to bring an impact player to Toronto over the summer.
Grade: D
Projection: Traded to another NHL team
*******
The Toronto Marlies were methodical in their 5-0 victory over the Oklahoma City Barons in Game One of the Calder Cup Western Conference Finals last night. A crowd of more than 2,500 at Cox Convention Center saw the Marlies win their fifth consecutive playoff game, as Ben Scrivens made 31 saves for his second shutout of the playoffs.
Marcel Mueller and Nicolas Deschamps scored in the opening period to give Toronto a 2-0 lead. Matt Frattin netted his sixth goal of the playoffs(his fifth in six games) in the middle frame to extend the lead to 3-0.
Joe Colborne, who returned to the lineup after suffering a lower body injury in the Abbotsford series, scored his first goal in 31 games to put the game out of reach and Jake Gardiner added his second of the post-season.
The Marlies continued their impressive post-season penalty killing record, as they held the Barons scoreless on six power play chances. They have only allowed one goal in 42 man advantage opportunities.
Game Two of the series is tonight at 8PM on Leafs TV and AM 640.
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