[McGran] Leafs divided into two groups … one is very Marlies-ish … the other very Leafs-ish
#Leafs divided into two groups … one is very Marlies-ish … the other very Leafs-ish pic.twitter.com/dAuLxF6Fi4
— Kevin McGran (@kevin_mcgran) September 26, 2023
by malliabu
13 Comments
[imgur mirror](https://i.imgur.com/9X7zqyU.jpg)
No Jarnkrok in the list. Hasn’t played in either of our first two games as well.
Love to see Easton Cowan on the Leafs-ish list
Wow was Cowan that impressive? I wasn’t able to watch any of the games so far. I’m just shocked that a guy that was widely seen as a reach at the Leafs pick seems to be getting recognized above some more established prospects we have
Must be a validating feeling for Cowan to see they’ve kept him around longer ***and*** that they have him on the Leafs lineup, not the Marlies one.
Exciting for Cowan.
I don’t think he becomes a mainstay this season but gotta be a major confidence boost.
What a confidence boost for Cowan. I like it. Smart play by the coaching staff.
At this rate, Cowan has to be playing himself into consideration for the World Juniors, right? It’d be sick if both he and Nifty Mintens made the team
The fact that Cowan is a C prospect is such a boost for this team. He could develop into a legit 2/3C option which we’ve lacked for a bit now.
Only 24 hours ago Cowan in group 2 would have been a huge surprise, but now it would feel like an injustice for him to be *not* be there. I’m still skeptical he makes the opening day roster but he definitely deserves the opportunity.
I’m not sure if what I heard on the radio this morning was a suggestion, or an actual comment on the Leafs’ direction. Apparently the coaches want the final roster ASAP.
In the past, we’d traditionally see the final roster for the last pre-season game or two. I think coaches believe that this isn’t enough time to whip the final group into shape. Therefore, we could start seeing pretty much the final roster together from here on.
My guess would be the next two pre-season games will be split between groups 1 and 2. Group 1 is obviously the people generally considered to be fighting for a roster spot. I’m sure it by absolutely no means says that players can’t jump from one list to the other.
I kind of like it this way myself. I like the fact that all the players fighting to make the team are on one roster, so it’s up to them to step up and win themselves a roster spot. If they do, there’s not going to be any sort of “Oh, well Holmberg got in because he played pre-season games with Matthews and Marner”.
And then on the other side of the coin, the coaches now have two weeks to start drilling into the group that will take to the ice vs the Montreal Canadiens, and get them into shape. It’s not going to guarantee the Leafs anything on opening night, but they should be a more cohesive unit by that time. Give the new lines more time to gel.
You love to see it! But We don’t want to rush Cowan. Let him feast in the O. Make Team Canada than comeback next year for another shot. It should be a weaker Calder class anyhow next season.
Robertson looked like a Marlie last night. Hope he proves me wrong moving forward…