tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-600575121886358008.post6288023446496298646..comments2023-04-28T05:53:41.295-04:00Comments on Vintage Leaf Memories - Michael Langlois: Morgan Rielly at Maple Leaf camp? Why would we do that?Michael Langloishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17526281022840514679noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-600575121886358008.post-4631230895460635672012-11-26T11:45:47.284-05:002012-11-26T11:45:47.284-05:00Category 1.
Best players ever 1. Orr 2. Howe 3. Gr...Category 1.<br />Best players ever 1. Orr 2. Howe 3. Gretzky played in NHL as teenagers. I have only seen one highlight goal by Reilly, but looked more like weak defense than superstar.<br /><br />Category 2.<br />When I saw Potvin in Ottawa, he was a man amongst boys.<br /><br />Does Reilly fit either of these categories?<br /><br />In most sports, you learn best by playing against better players. However in hockey, unless you can play at a high level and can take toughness, you are best to be a star in junior for a while.<br />Note: Howie Young told by buddy Whitey Youngberg at 15 in Kitchener Jr A that they were going to try to run him out of the league (and hang in there until he got there). Gretzky always had his protector, not sure Leafs have that person.RLMcCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-600575121886358008.post-52103039214532200662012-11-20T12:05:49.892-05:002012-11-20T12:05:49.892-05:00I, too, was fortunate enough to see Potvin (and fu...I, too, was fortunate enough to see Potvin (and future Leaf Ian Turnbull) play in their last year of junior with Ottawa. I agree with your assessment of Potvin, vis-a-vis what I have seen (though not in person) of Rielly. (It's not that I'm worried about Rielly- he'll be fine! I'd just like to see the organization do what's best for the player, long-term.)<br /><br />And thanks for the kind words regarding the podcast, and the Bester interview, Bobby C.. Glad we can talk hockey sometimes, and not just "lockouts" and CBA stuff.Michael Langloishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17526281022840514679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-600575121886358008.post-22686190636183381892012-11-20T11:52:24.042-05:002012-11-20T11:52:24.042-05:00Funny you should mention Denis Potvin, who I also ...Funny you should mention Denis Potvin, who I also saw play live with the 67’s. My memory on this one is that Potvin was more rounded and complete in junior than Rielly currently is. Rielly is obviously a superior talent, however he needs more work on fundamentals, which should come along, probably relatively quickly, given his intelligence and competitive makeup. PS: Congrats on “Leaf Matters”. Excellent show and loved the Bester interview, a real spotlight on what ails us.<br /><br />Bobby Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13796285286162225158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-600575121886358008.post-73458048264010338602012-11-20T11:38:19.192-05:002012-11-20T11:38:19.192-05:00Thanks for chiming in on this one, Bobby C..
You ...Thanks for chiming in on this one, Bobby C..<br /><br />You happen to live proximate enough to where Rielly plays that you have been able to follow his career somewhat "up close". I appreciate hearing your instincts on this one.<br /><br />To me, there is rarely, if ever, a need to "rush" a young player. Let them develop. Denis Potvin played junior hockey until he was turning 20, basically. He was "too good" for junior hockey, but that worked fine for him, eh? <br /><br />Unless we're talking Bobby Orr- who was physically ready at 18 and beyond ready in terms of skill - I'm happy to wait.<br /><br />Thanks Bobby C.Michael Langloishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17526281022840514679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-600575121886358008.post-68038117967869856512012-11-20T11:15:22.891-05:002012-11-20T11:15:22.891-05:00After seeing Rielly play live (albeit just once) I...After seeing Rielly play live (albeit just once) I did not see an NHL-ready defenseman at all. Boatloads of potential? -- absolutely! The development path that Michael envisions for Reilly is, in my mind, the ideal one.Bobby Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13796285286162225158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-600575121886358008.post-89545863705054370622012-11-19T12:57:35.795-05:002012-11-19T12:57:35.795-05:00Thanks Alex- we'll agree to disagree on this o...Thanks Alex- we'll agree to disagree on this one!<br /><br />I see no point in encouraging an impressionable kid - no matter how mature we think he is - that he may make the big team. A one-week training camp would be enough to convince management he is "better" than what we already have?<br /><br />Let him star all year in junior, develop, be the best where he is and when the time is truly right, give him a Leaf jersey.Michael Langloishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17526281022840514679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-600575121886358008.post-42455859149243055202012-11-19T12:51:45.060-05:002012-11-19T12:51:45.060-05:00No point telling the kid that he's being broug...No point telling the kid that he's being brought to camp but has no shot at the team. This is direct encouragement to him and a perfectly reasonable thing for Burke to say. <br /><br />If, and it's a big if, there's an NHL season I'm sure he'll be invited to camp but given the expectation that he would need to play well enough to garner a top 4 d slot, otherwise for his development he'd be better off in Junior. Morgan seems like a smart kid, he'll understand that 20-30 mins a night in Junior is better for his development than 8 mins a night/pressbox in the NHL. If he's somehow better then Phaneuf, Gunnar, Liles and Gardiner then he needs to play in the NHL. At this point I doubt he is which gives Leafs management a reasonable excuse to send him to the World Juniors and back to Moose Jaw. <br /><br />It doesn't sound like Moose Jaw has a great team, so there's a good chance if he continues to play like he is, that we'll see him for 9 games late in the season. If we have one.<br /><br />Alex Spicernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-600575121886358008.post-50121592602313930612012-11-19T12:18:56.813-05:002012-11-19T12:18:56.813-05:00Hey, sometimes short and sweet is just fine, Lukas...Hey, sometimes short and sweet is just fine, Lukas. Thanks for taking the time to visit- and post.Michael Langloishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17526281022840514679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-600575121886358008.post-72365317389198010312012-11-19T11:48:22.135-05:002012-11-19T11:48:22.135-05:00All I have to comment on this post Michael is; Agr...All I have to comment on this post Michael is; Agreed!Lukasnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-600575121886358008.post-20896752759885132852012-11-19T11:23:31.949-05:002012-11-19T11:23:31.949-05:00Thanks DP- always good to get your perspective.......Thanks DP- always good to get your perspective....Michael Langloishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17526281022840514679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-600575121886358008.post-43953453381236416712012-11-19T11:20:40.226-05:002012-11-19T11:20:40.226-05:00"Morgan Rielly at Maple Leaf camp? Why would ..."Morgan Rielly at Maple Leaf camp? Why would we do that?"<br /><br />I'm actually ok with it. He's played well. Bring him to camp and let him see how he stacks up against NHL players. Even let him play 6 or 7 games but not 10. <br /><br />My guess is that Burke will want him to have that experience of playing in the world juniors like Burke did with Getzlaf and Perry. <br /><br />Watching the Marlies improve in these past few weeks leads me to believe we will have lots of defencemen that could play for the Leafs. Fraser looks better and cheaper than Komisarek. He certainly fights better. Holzer looks ready to make the jump. Gardiner is improving and more willing to shoot. Ranger looks terrific. He has been top 4 in the NHL in the past. I hope there will be a way to sneak him up.<br /><br />Down in the OHL Biggs has 23 points in 25 games and our 235 lbs "goon' David Broll has 17 points in 23 games. <br /><br />I'm actually quite optimistic these days. I just wonder if Burke will survive long enough to see all these guys succeed as Leafs.<br /> DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-600575121886358008.post-39650463638168231802012-11-19T09:30:45.127-05:002012-11-19T09:30:45.127-05:00We're on the same page, Pete. If they want to...We're on the same page, Pete. If they want to let him come to camp, great. But to make a point of telling the media he may actually make the team, well, that's just a recipe for disaster. Don't know why it's so hard to be - and show - patience with kids. Just let them develop. Thanks Pete.Michael Langloishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17526281022840514679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-600575121886358008.post-91651428071696072392012-11-19T09:26:14.880-05:002012-11-19T09:26:14.880-05:00I hate that I feel as jaded as Jim on the above po...I hate that I feel as jaded as Jim on the above post, but yes I'm starting to lean that way. I really am getting tired of Burke trying to play to the media as much as he does. You'd think in Toronto of all places a GM would want to duck and run from the media on occasion. Whatever Burke is thinking, hoping, or planning, why can't he just let Rielly come to camp and enjoy the experience without the added pressure?<br /><br />We know the history with young defensemen with this franchise. It's always a rare talent that makes an NHL team at 18, usually no more than the top two or three overall draft picks, and its even more rare for a defenseman to succeed this young in the NHL. We also know the undue pressure the media and fans put on the prospects. Burke making these comments is throwing a lighted match on a pool of gasoline.<br /><br />I really do hope that they for once don't cave to media and fan pressure, and make the proper hockey decision to allow Rielly to develop before pushing him into the NHL.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01132821459482341621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-600575121886358008.post-42709718186440332632012-11-18T23:38:02.217-05:002012-11-18T23:38:02.217-05:00Your point about the importance of the World Junio...Your point about the importance of the World Juniors is a very good one, InTimeFor62. All prospects should be brought along thoughtfully but the fact that Rielly is a premier talent is all the more reason to show patience.<br /><br />I just don't believe kids ever need to be rushed into the NHL, and you've well expressed some of the reasons why. Thanks InTimeFor62.Michael Langloishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17526281022840514679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-600575121886358008.post-10077233488218507732012-11-18T23:28:31.380-05:002012-11-18T23:28:31.380-05:00I imagine that such a Burke-proclamation may be in...I imagine that such a Burke-proclamation may be intended to keep Rielly encouraged and 'pump his tires' a bit, however, it seems to be more likely that this pronouncement has more to do with Burke's role in the 'entertainment industry' (that he mentioned in his business speech a while ago).<br /><br />It boggles the mind that with a ready-made 'excuse' to keep Rielly in the Junior ranks (namely, the late start, if at all, to the season), that we are even contemplating bringing Rielly to a shortened (no pre-season game?) camp. <br /><br />If Rielly really were to 'impress' I would still hope that the team preferred to make him available for the world junior championships no matter what. I would hope they might only consider the 9-game treatment at the end of the season! Let him put in a near full season in Juniors to develop and strengthen after a major injury, let his contract slide into a full season rookie campaign in 2013-14 and give him the 9-game taste at season end (if the situation makes sense for the TEAM more than the player).<br /><br />This may be the best we can hope for in dysfunctional leafland... I prefer your 2 years in Junior plus some games with the Marlies following that... even if Rielly's skills turn out to blow us away at a shortened camp, I want him to play in the World Jr's and stay down fo the rest of the year. If he's out of the playoff picture, then a call-up to the Marlies for the playoffs might be a good test to see how a 19 year old does playing against men! <br /><br />If Rielly is kept with the big club, he will probably do well, but I believe we will lower his ceiling unjustifiably!<br /><br />We've waited this long... I can wait for him a little longer!InTimeFor62noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-600575121886358008.post-43373761772440759432012-11-18T22:13:04.804-05:002012-11-18T22:13:04.804-05:00I hear you loud and clear, Jim- but for now, I'...I hear you loud and clear, Jim- but for now, I'll hope that common sense prevails!Michael Langloishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17526281022840514679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-600575121886358008.post-31429485768229636312012-11-18T21:56:38.263-05:002012-11-18T21:56:38.263-05:00Michael,
You know that I love your work here at V...Michael,<br /><br />You know that I love your work here at VLM. But, expecting the management team of the Maple Leafs to do the right thing for a players career development, at the possible expense of their own aggrandizement, is foolhardy thinking. Burke needs Rielly on the big club sooner, not later. It is the evidence he needs to bolster his reputation as a builder of NHL teams. His drafting is so astute that he is able to get the only player in the world who is currently capable of being in the League as an 18 year old. He would not benefit in the least from another year of junior, and then at least 2 years of the AHL. He needs to be on the big club as soon as possible so that Burke can spend time next year rushing another kid in and out of the lineup. Meanwhile, telling everyone with a microphone and a camera that every game is a tryout. That is, until they find out that the player in questions development has stalled, and since they have already used up his entry level contract time, they need to trade him away. This cycle will continue in Toronto, until someone wakes the hell up. That, on my part is foolhardy thinking. No one associated with this team is ever going to wake the hell up. There is a quote I knew once, about history and repeating it. Burke has me too fed up with his shenanigans to bother to try and remember it.Jimnoreply@blogger.com