AHL: Toronto Marlies Report

The Toronto Marlies hosted the Quad City Flames recently, prior to games against Rochester – twice – and San Antonio, splitting the four games 2-2. Jeremy Williams scored the game-winner in both wins. With the NHL Maple Leafs pillaging the Baby Buds for warm bodies to round out there own roster decimated by injuries, the Marlies lost Robbie Earl, Kris Newbury and Ben Ondrus within the last two weeks. Toronto is in first place in their division based on a hot start but has slowed down recently. The group is more focused defensively, and has ridden the stellar work of Justin Pogge and Scott Clemmensen to drastically improve this season - one season removed from missing the AHL playoffs. McKeen's was on hand and offers notes on several prospects in the Maple Leafs system.

Justin Pogge G, Toronto Marlies

Shared duties with Clemmensen early in the season and during a recent eight-game road trip, but has taken over the mantle of the core duties with the Baby Buds .. maturity has increased by leaps season-over-season and his confidence is on display on the ice, as he comes out hard to challenge shooters, takes away shooting angles with better positioning in the crease relative to the play and much-improved rebound control .. hybrid-style goaltending is coupled with the good split-second, decision-making in whether to drop to his knees or stay on his feet, which comes with experience and understanding the speed of the professional levels .. tried to cheat getting across post-to-post, as the opposition's forward crept in from the boards along the goal line, thinking he would go behind the net, and the forward stuffed it in over his sprawled pads before he could react to the sudden change of tactics .. competitive spirit and prepares as if he is starting every game .. Gilbert has indicated his own confidence in the young netminder, as well as his teammates making starts an easier decision .. looking more and more NHL-ready each game.

Robbie Earl LW, Toronto Marlies

Former NCAA player at the University of Wisconsin made his NHL debut with the Maple Leafs in which the speed demon has not looked out of place, including flanking Leafs captain Mats Sundin and Marlies call-up, Jiri Tlusty .. dynamic speedster on both sides of the puck, with growing maturity in his defensive game after being used in shorthanded situations last season .. uses his body well in calculated checking, while throwing his stick in the passing lanes forcing the opposition into alternate plays that sometimes result in a turnover .. has worked on the first-step acceleration that slowed him down in his rookie season and takes off quicker off the mark .. stole the puck from a defenseman at the Marlies blueline, corralled a bouncing puck and moved in with Jay Harrison coming straight from the penalty box on a 2-on-1, where he drew the defenseman to him and passed it across for the Marlies first goal .. has learned to pick his spots with an amount of physical force, but uses smart positioning to force the opposition to hurry plays .. works well along the boards and has not used many dead stops in the middle of the play, constantly idling in a lower gear before unleashing a swift skating stride on forays into the offensive zone .. coach Gilbert described Earl as a 'real student of the game' and has asked him to shoot the puck more, instead of the tendency of making one too many moves to get in close and having the puck stolen.

Kris Newbury C, Toronto Marlies

Ever feisty, going after anyone in opposition threads, providing a spark almost every time he is on the ice .. has decent hands for the AHL, which may not translate into NHL success, but could be a decent fourth liner on a rebuilding Toronto team .. scored his first NHL goal this season against Montreal on a wicked slapper from the point .. tough guy, amassing a huge amount of PIM's .. a drawback to the 5-foot-10 pivot is if when he cannot catch the man for a bodycheck, he could lazily use his stick and is often caught doing so, almost begging for a needless penalty .. can lapse into a lazy approach to defense, along with questionable decisions to make an attempt at a big hit, for the sake of the attempt instead forcing a play or finishing his check .. can add some spark to the NHL Maple Leafs as a fourth-line energy player.

Jeremy Williams RW, Toronto Marlies

Played the point on the powerplay on the first unit looking comfortable with the frame of mind to pinch in deep when spotting an opportunity or dropping out of the zone if the play breaks the other way .. a rare burst of top-end speed, creating an odd-man rush in the second period with the streaking Batagglia, when Williams broke away from his check, and got the pass across for a scoring opportunity (Battaglia bobbled it, otherwise Williams was in alone) .. excellent snap and slapshots, although he needs to improve his breakaway speed .. also could improve first-step acceleration .. lethal in the slot .. does not have magic hands to incorporate a dipsy-doodle in his stickhandling, and will most likely be relegated to a shooting role .. cycles well, not afraid of getting dirty in the corners, but his 5-foot-11, 186-pound frame does not handle the physical work along the wall to be effective most of the time .. can be knocked off the puck rather easily at times, while on occasion, deliver a big hit along the boards .. has scored a goal in each of the two NHL games he has appeared in, and shows flashes of offensive brilliance, only in too few spurts to be considered a top-six forward having an impact in the NHL.

Phil Oreskovic D, Toronto Marlies

Stay-at-home rearguard will not win many races with a lumbering, slow skating stride, but does have a good work ethic .. played a simpler game tonight than in previous viewings, as if mandated to keep things simple on the blueline, quietly performing his role, not doing anything flashy .. protects teammates as a scrum ensued next to Pogge after a shot on goal .. played the policeman role and was penalized on the play, but made sure to get the message across that blatant shots at the Marlies goalie and teammates by the opposition will not be tolerated .. skating leaves a lot to be desired, although it seems to have improved switching from forward to backwards transition .. paired with Walser, who is a much better skater and can cover up should there be a reason to .. unless there is an improvement in his skating ability,(affecting his forward and backward strides, as well as lateral movement) it is unlikely the 6-foot-3, 217-pound blueliner gets a sniff in the NHL.

Jay Harrison D, Toronto Marlies

Questionable penalty on a lazy defensive effort was neutralized with a goal coming out of the box, on a 2-on-1 with Earl .. many Leafs fans use the Harrison experiment on the big club to see if he is not something that could help their struggling blueline, and the truth is he will not be getting his shot due to sketchy defensive decisions, issues with urgency and the ability to move with the pace of the game .. seems content to be the leader with an 'A' and gives a lot of effort, but has not been able to catch a groove on a consistent basis to merit a recall .. physical blueliner, likes to play the body, can be caught out of position getting physical and leaving his area for the sake of hitting someone .. mental mistakes lead to turnovers and missed assignments .. has to toughen up mentally to be considered an NHL blueliner.

Alex Foster C, Toronto Marlies

Good along the boards and physical for his size (5-11, 195) .. skilled forward with good vision and creative hands finding teammates, and quick feet on the forecheck, as well as a favorite of coach Gilbert .. bit of an awkward skater, wide stride, low to the ground with many strides for the speed he generates, but it works for him .. gets his diminutive frame held back, but battles through checks every step of the way .. not very effective against big strong defensemen battling for a spot, while being able to maneuver around them with the right touch of speed .. energetic player does not stop moving his feet, although could be better at locating open ice and becoming an outlet .. digs hard along the wall, but out-muscled on too many occasions .. seems to be a career AHLer at this point.

John Mitchell C, Toronto Marlies

Improved skating (stops/starts, cutting across into another direction) and work ethic on the forecheck, constantly moving to force the play in another direction, or cause turnovers, or to force opposition into making decisions early .. stronger along the boards and although he could impose more for his size (6-2, 197), he picks his spots like Leveille .. uses improved cutting from the wing to the net similar to Glenn Anderson, only not anywhere close to the latter's ability .. learning to use his size and dig into the defender to get through to the net .. has more offensive touch than last season, playing a more offensive role this season, thanks to a good start to the season .. has shown drastic improvement in both work ethic and skating ability, and is learning to incorporate both into a more-rounded game .. could make a debut with the Leafs if they end up going to a youth movement, but likely a third-line center at best in the NHL.

Brent Aubin RW, Toronto Marlies

Short legs, lots of pumping with decent acceleration while lacking top-end speed .. good vision and decision-making, spotting Battaglia from the half boards streaking into the slot, and putting a low, hard shot on goal for a rebound that just missed .. goes hard to the net, and finds open ice well – although he stops moving his feet – keeping himself in a position to receive a pass, or make a play .. takes the opportunity to impose a physical presence despite a smallish frame (5-9, 185) .. can show more dedication on the backcheck and picking up a man in the defensive zone .. has to round out his defensive play in order to make the jump to the next level, which at this point is not likely.

Michel Leveille LW, Toronto Marlies

Decent skater, picks and chooses physical intensity, but skates hard each shift .. aware defensively, looking for his man in defensive zone coverage .. size is an issue (5-9, 190 pounds), as he does not perform well in 1-on-1 battles with bigger defensemen .. half-hearted efforts take him out of the play, instead of digging deeper on occasion .. skates constantly in the offensive zone, and keeps moving his feet, but does not show the same resolve backchecking .. diminutive winger is not going to dazzle with defensive work, making him a healthy scratch on many nights.

Reid Cashman D, Toronto Marlies

Call-up from the ECHL affiliate Columbus Inferno, had powerplay time on the point where he manned the right side .. almost turned the puck over at the blueline in attempt to keep it in the offensive zone, gambling the opposition penalty killer would not be in a spot to get the puck .. good intention, less than stellar execution .. uses his head, wanting to rush, but realizing his defensive responsibilities, he didn't, working out well, because if he had taken off there would have been an odd-man rush the other way .. does not respond to intimidation from the opposition, during the play or in scrums after the whistle .. offensive blueliner uses good positioning and excellent vision for outlet passes and off the point in the offensive zone, although could improve his skating ability.