AHL [May-06]: Maurices Marlies

Maurice's Marlies (posted 5.1.06)

by David Burstyn

Paul Maurice has had a very positive effect on many Toronto Marlie players this season. Due to a rash of injuries to the parent club, the Toronto Maple Leafs many players under the guidance and tutelage of coach Maurice have been able to step in and contribute at the NHL. Mckeen's was on hand for a recent contest at Ricoh Coliseum and files these notes on several star players.

Alexander Suglobov (Tor), RW

Acquired at the trading dead line for Ken Klee from the New Jersey Devils .. technically he is a very average skater but he does have explosive speed within a few strides .. he is very shifty and dynamic and is certainly not afraid to shoot the puck .. he has good power in his shot .. while he is not overly physical and needs to seriously develop some upper body strength he did engage in a fight in the third period showing that he can and will drop the gloves when needed .. he has good offensive skills as his vision makes him dangerous on the PP and is very slick in close often able to bury a puck in the goal crease with a quick flick of the wrist .. defensively he is often found outside the zone waiting for a two line pass to spring him open, had a few break aways as a result .. the Leafs are on a youth kick and he appears to be factored into their rebuilding plans, expect to see Suglobov in and out of the Leafs roster next season as it may take him a little more seasoning to produce at the NHL level.

Martin Sagat (Tor), LW

Displayed much more confidence in his ability to handle the puck and make plays than he did at the beginning of the year .. skating is good but he does not have extra gear separation and his body sways which may reduce his speed .. he employs a very wide open stance while skating which allows him to shift and pivot easier thus increasing his passing options .. he was used on defence throughout the game and was very effective logging the puck up the ice and making a good first pass .. sees the ice very well as the point man on the PP .. he made many nice passes throughout the contest to create ample scoring chances however he seems to lack finishing ability .. Coach Maurice has really entrusted Sagat with many offensive responsibilities and his ability to elevate his game is a compliment to his skill set and to effective coaching.

John Mitchell (Tor), C

The youngest Marlie forward on the roster .. his game is still raw and that is almost to be expected of Mitchell at this stage in his development .. a decent skater who excels in his play along the boards as his big sturdy frame is able to out muscle players .. offensively he still lacks the proper positioning but is slowly picking his spots better, he sees the occasional PP shift .. his confidence is improving and next season he should be a little more adjusted to the speed and tempo of the professional game.

John Pohl (Tor), C

Pohl was called up several times throughout the season by the Maple Leafs largely due to his offensive ability and his sheer determination at the AHL level .. he has a bit of a mean streak and is not afraid to stick his opponent in an effort to gain positional advantage .. readily parks himself in front of the net and it takes a fair bit of abuse to remove him from this area .. he is fearless in driving to the net and trying to make plays .. his positioning in the offensive zone is top notch .. he is always moving his feet, makes good passes and than moves to open ice in an attempt to create something .. he can play any style of game, whether it is a cycle game or an open ice game and thrives in either environment .. decent foot work and skating .. he is able to make good decisions in traffic .. Pohl, in his limited NHL action showed that he has a knack for scoring goals when he is given proper ice time, should Maurice get the Leafs heading coaching job, Pohl could very well be honing his craft at the NHL level as he did everything that was expected of him at the AHL level and was a player Maurice relied upon heavily this season.

Brett Engelhardt (Tor), LW

A physically aggressive player he competes hard for loose pucks and show cases the work ethic that every player should exhibit .. offensively he does not have the best skills but due to his maturing game and seasoning in the AHL he did manage to double every single offensive category this season from his total's last year .. plays well along the boards as he possesses good balance and strength .. decent vision and quick bursts of speed help to contribute to any offensive success .. a good role player that will be able to service the Marlie organization for a long time.