A Winning Habit
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Montreal Canadiens: Scouting the competition for the Rookie Showdown

By Omar L

TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 08: Montreal Canadiens Forward Antoine Waked (97) and Toronto Maple Leafs Defenceman Timothy Liljegren (78) fight for position in front of Toronto Maple Leafs Goalie Ian Scott (70) during the preseason Rookie Tournament game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens on September 08, 2017 at Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto, ON. (Photo by Gerry Angus/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 08: Montreal Canadiens Forward Antoine Waked (97) and Toronto Maple Leafs Defenceman Timothy Liljegren (78) fight for position in front of Toronto Maple Leafs Goalie Ian Scott (70) during the preseason Rookie Tournament game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens on September 08, 2017 at Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto, ON. (Photo by Gerry Angus/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Montreal Canadiens
TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 08: (Photo by Gerry Angus/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

A Calder Atmosphere

A lot of the Leafs roster will be featuring players who were on last season’s Calder Cup-winning Toronto Marlies team. In particular, Jeremy Bracco, Andrew Nielsen, Adam Brooks, Carl Grundstrom, Mason Marchment and Timothy Liljegren. Including Liljegren, the Leafs are only sending two first-round picks to the tournament.

Grundstrom is going to be an interesting draw as he’s yet to play a full AHL season. The 2016 second-round pick has been the end of the season addition for the Marlies two times in a row, and it’s worked both times. His performance in the playoffs last year was a marker of what he could do on a long-term basis as he’s aggressive on the puck and score as well once he establishes position.

Bracco and Brooks are in interesting positions after making their debut with the Marlies. Brooks walked into the AHL as a WHL destroyer coming off back-to-back 100+ point seasons with the Regina Pats. He overcame a slow start to the year and displayed more of a well-rounded game.

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The same story goes for Bracco who came off a Memorial Cup championship with Habs prospect Jeremiah Addison with expectations to be as flashy. Limited minutes cut that short so he’ll be someone looking to show off more of his skill and vision.

The Leafs also have a fairly mobile blueline headed by Liljegren and 2018 picks Rasmus Sandin and Sean Durzi. Sandin played the majority of the year with Hayden Verbeek as part of the Sault St Marie Greyhounds. His playmaking along the blueline is another one of his weapons.

Durzi is a little more dynamic on the ice. He was selected in the second round after being past in the 2017 draft by every team. The Toronto native likes to rush the puck out of his own end and generate a lot of pressure through shots and finding teammates for chances.

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