Robert Slaney
For the first time in years, the Marlies will be bristling with young talent hoping to make the big club. From top prospect Nazem Kadri to hopeful enforcer Richard Greenop, this Marlies squad should be a team to watch. Let’s take a look at the forward prospects that can be reasonably expected to be on this Marlies team:
As a reminder/lesson as to what the prospect grades indicate: the number represents a player's traditional realistic potential ability on a scale of 1-10 with ten being "generational talent" and one being "borderline minor league player." The letter (A-F) represents the prospect's realistic chances of achieving their number-rated potential, with A being "all but guaranteed to reach potential" and F being "possess very little potential." In the Leafs' ranks, Nazem Kadri tops out the rankings (with Schenn now considered graduated) as an 8.0C, meaning he's a "first line forward" that "may reach potential, but could drop two ratings." Jonas Gustavsson is ranked second in the Leaf ranks as a 7.5B, meaning he's half way between a "journeyman No. 1 goaltender" and flat out "No. 1 goaltender," with the realistic probability of reaching his traditional potential "likely" with the possibility of dropping one rating. Ranked third is Mikhail Stefanovich at 7.5C, which essentially means he's somewhere in between first and second line potential, with the possibility that he could drop as far as two ratings.
A quick update containing some news that surfaced last night... the Maple Leafs have inked 20-year-old left-winger Robert Slaney of the QMJHL's Cape Breton Screaming Eagles to a three-year, entry-level contract, according to the Screaming Eagles' official website.
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