I may have been sleeping but Marner did not play alongside Nylander, that was Kapanen, except for the power play.
- LeafMan

Sorry, I meant when they were on the ice together on the PP. Seemed like Marner was not really quarterbacking anything there, I'm not sure how to explain it, other than he differed to guys like Nylander in those situations, as for the rest of the game, he looked hesitant. There was just something off with him. I'm not saying he sucked or anything like that, just that he didn't leap out to me like a top 4 pick should. Does this mean anything, likely not, its a rookie tourney. Fair observation? Kapanen was floating a lot.

Once they used their own drafted goalie they got the win, Sparks was outstanding.
- LeafMan

I like Sparks a lot. Seems just to play his game no matter where the Leafs stick him.

Sorry, I meant when they were on the ice together on the PP. Seemed like Marner was not really quarterbacking anything there, I'm not sure how to explain it, other than he differed to guys like Nylander in those situations, as for the rest of the game, he looked hesitant. There was just something off with him. I'm not saying he sucked or anything like that, just that he didn't leap out to me. Fair observation? Kapanen was floating a lot.
- mykokes

Marner had his moments, he was trying to hard to setup everyone instead of shooting, that is what I noticed. Kapanen did not impress at all but it is just two games and a new organization.

Marner had his moments, he was trying to hard to setup everyone instead of shooting, that is what I noticed. Kapanen did not impress at all but it is just two games and a new organization.
- LeafMan

I do think Kapanen is going to be an NHLer. I'm not writing him off based on this tourney at all. It is kind've hard to get into such a tourney when you spent last season in the AHL for example. Even Nylander, who looked good obviously had another gear to give, again, these games mean nothing.

It was nice to see that off the board pick drive the net though on that one play.

I like Sparks a lot. Seems just to play his game no matter where the Leafs stick him.
- mykokes

Between Sparks Bibeau and Gibson it seems like the leafs actually have some decent goalie prospects for once. It'll be interesting to see who's the odd man out for the marlies.

Christ... Cullen has McDavid at 70pts ahead of Tarasenko and Malkin....

I do think Kapanen is going to be an NHLer. I'm not writing him off based on this tourney at all. It is kind've hard to get into such a tourney when you spent last season in the AHL for example. Even Nylander, who looked good obviously had another gear to give, again, these games mean nothing.

It was nice to see that off the board pick drive the net though on that one play.
- mykokes

I think Kapanen has NHL talent but I would say he's probably Fourth on the RW depth chart behind Marner Brown and Bracco. Third if Marner moves to the middle. Now I am basing this all on watching him play two rookie tournament games so I could be way off.

Christ... Cullen has McDavid at 70pts ahead of Tarasenko and Malkin....
- markmark

Well, the bar is set pretty high, it seems.

Christ... Cullen has McDavid at 70pts ahead of Tarasenko and Malkin....
- markmark

I get the feeling the Oilers are going to lose a lot of 9-7 games this year.

Should be fun to watch, though.

I think Kapanen has NHL talent but I would say he's probably Fourth on the RW depth chart behind Marner Brown and Bracco. Third if Marner moves to the middle. Now I am basing this all on watching him play two rookie tournament games so I could be way off.
- HealthyScratch6

From everything that's being reported on him it's actually giving me more optimism for his future. It's seems as though he is being evaluated by a lot people with some sort of "Kessel factor." Reports from before the trade were that he was putting his tools together and developing well but needed to bulk up. Then comes the trade and he goes flying down every depth chart and he gets tagged as "not as good as Kessel" and a 3rd liner if he even makes it.

I think Kapanen has NHL talent but I would say he's probably Fourth on the RW depth chart behind Marner Brown and Bracco. Third if Marner moves to the middle. Now I am basing this all on watching him play two rookie tournament games so I could be way off.
- HealthyScratch6

you ARE way off. Raw Skill, he's higher than Brown and only behind Marner.
Brown is more developed, older, and has more drive to prove himself.

Kapanen almost made the Pens roster out of camp last year. Was the final cut I believe.

I get the feeling the Oilers are going to lose a lot of 9-7 games this year.

Should be fun to watch, though.
- Atomic Wedgie

It will be interesting for sure. It will be like the Ron Wilson Leafs vs the Oilers days!

Well, the bar is set pretty high, it seems.
- Pecafan Fan

I honestly think Washington is going to be the team to rack up a ton of G/A's with their 2nd line this year. Once teams start adjusting and moving the shadow off Ovechkin because of it I think he will light it up and take the scoring title.

I get the feeling the Oilers are going to lose a lot of 9-7 games this year.

Should be fun to watch, though.
- Atomic Wedgie

The leafs and Sabers were some pretty crappy defensive teams last year, and I dont think they had many 9-7 games.

you ARE way off. Raw Skill, he's higher than Brown and only behind Marner.
Brown is more developed, older, and has more drive to prove himself.

Kapanen almost made the Pens roster out of camp last year. Was the final cut I believe.
- ILoveLamp

I agree 100% but I think because of Brown's drive and work ethic he's going to carve out a nice career for himself as a guy who can move up and down the lineup playing playing on a scoring line with good players or putting up some points on a defensively responsible 3rd line. Kapanen is all offense so he'll have to beat out Marner Bracco for one of the top 6 RW roles.

Yup, Marner and Nylander were both utilized as centres during the rookie tournament. Neither played wing, except on the PP.

I actually think that is why Marner looked a little out of position. I know he played a bit of Centre during the season, but not as much as Nylander did in Sweden. Nylander looks far and away better than everyone else on the ice.

Rodewald and Brouillard had stand out tournaments for the Leafs.

Disappointed in Kapanen, but we will see what he brings as the season progresses.
- ILoveLamp

Kapanen looks exactly like what he was advertised in Pittsburgh. A top level prospect that has made no progression and is on his way to becoming a bust.

Sorry, I meant when they were on the ice together on the PP. Seemed like Marner was not really quarterbacking anything there, I'm not sure how to explain it, other than he differed to guys like Nylander in those situations, as for the rest of the game, he looked hesitant. There was just something off with him. I'm not saying he sucked or anything like that, just that he didn't leap out to me like a top 4 pick should. Does this mean anything, likely not, its a rookie tourney. Fair observation? Kapanen was floating a lot.
- mykokes

are you talking game 1 or 3? in Game 1 he seemed a bit lost, was just throwing the puck to open ice for turnovers more often then naught.

Last night vs the Pens, he was much better, one reason he might not look like he is quarter backing the PP is the puck isn't on his stick long, he finds open lanes and makes crisp passes faster than anyone else on the ice. He doesn't hang on to the puck and skate in circles 3-4 times before trying to make a play.

EDIT: The way I look at it is that Nylander is smooth and skilled, he gets the puck and uses skill/poise to make play that is more often good than bad.

Marner plays the game 1 -2 moves ahead of everyone else. He gets the puck and is making a pass to a guy you didn't even know was open. Sometimes that guy doesn't even know he is open and is not expecting the pass.

I get the feeling the Oilers are going to lose a lot of 9-7 games this year.

Should be fun to watch, though.
- Atomic Wedgie

I think the Oilers make the playoffs easily.

you ARE way off. Raw Skill, he's higher than Brown and only behind Marner.
Brown is more developed, older, and has more drive to prove himself.

Kapanen almost made the Pens roster out of camp last year. Was the final cut I believe.
- ILoveLamp

This just means they wanted to give him more time to show them something given his draft position.

He didn't. He hasn't shown much here either.

Kapanen looks exactly like what he was advertised in Pittsburgh. A top level prospect that has made no progression and is on his way to becoming a bust.
- Aetherial

Yikes

Harsh

nah.. not over a mic joke.. i can surely "stand" that


- Dozzer

OMG, and I got in poop..

This was the review of KK after game 1...from another Blog site

- Kasperi Kapanen looked very strong. He is unlikely to ever have the totals of Nylander or Marner, but his stick handling, skating (particularly his top speed), and playmaking stood out a lot in this game.

This was the review of KK after game 1...from another Blog site

- Kasperi Kapanen looked very strong. He is unlikely to ever have the totals of Nylander or Marner, but his stick handling, skating (particularly his top speed), and playmaking stood out a lot in this game.
- senstroll

Without looking it up or searching, this smells of PPP website.

This just means they wanted to give him more time to show them something given his draft position.

He didn't. He hasn't shown much here either.
- Aetherial

You know he's 19 right? I would call 5 points in 7 AHL playoff games above average for an 18 yo. Questioning his commitment to this rookie tournament is quite different then taking the extreme point of view and considering him a bust. Let's give him some time before we start pulling the same old Leaf fan crap on him.

You know he's 19 right? I would call 5 points in 7 AHL playoff games above average for an 18 yo. Questioning his commitment to this rookie tournament is quite different then taking the extreme point of view and considering him a bust. Let's give him some time before we start pulling the same old Leaf fan crap on him.
- mykokes

If I was ranking the top three forwards at the tournament, it would be Nylander, Rodewald and Soshnikov.