An Interview with Scott Mitchell

With the NHL Entry Draft coming up on Friday, I’ve had the chance to talk to Scott Mitchell, the Toronto Maple Leafs prospect guru at hockeysfuture.com.

Among the topics we discussed were the Leafs top prospects, and of course the upcoming draft.

DH: Scott, there was quite a bit of movement when hockeysfuture.com announced the Maple Leafs Spring 2008 prospect rankings.  The usual suspects were near the top; Pogge, Kulemin, Tlusty, and Stralman, but there was also quite a few big drops as well.

Is there any insight you can give us as to why, despite being called up to the NHL, Jeremy Williams plummeted, going from the 6^th ranked prospect, down to the 15^th slot?

SM: The drop by Williams was partly due to prospects that were once ranked behind him improving their own status; and in part due to the fact that Williams seem to be a one-dimensional player, who may never round into the top-six forward he needs to be in order to fulfill expectations.

He looks to be more in the Lonny Bohonos or Brandon Bochenski mix— a guy who bounces around and plays well in spurts, but can never consistently put a season or two together and establish himself. 

This year is his absolute last chance as a Leaf.

He will graduate as a HockeysFuture.com prospect next year as well.

There isn't one guy from six to 15 that didn't have a better year than Williams, and guys like Frattin and Winnett have much more pro upside due to their all-around play.

DH: A couple players on this list intrigue not only myself, but a lot of the loyal Leafs Nation members.

I was wondering if you could give us some insight on what each of these players will bring to the team, and when we may possibly see them in Blue and White.

I'll begin by asking you about Dmitri Vorobiev, who appears to be a tremendous talent, but when can Leafs fans expect to see him?

SM: Right now it looks like Leafs fans won't be seeing Vorobiev at all.

He is very comfortable in Russia and looks like he will be staying for the time being.

Due to the lack of a transfer agreement with Russia the Leafs will not lose his rights, but it doesn't look like he will be in North America anytime soon.

Vorobiev was on Russia's World Championship team in Quebec/Halifax, but showed no interest in a longer stay and I believe the Leafs aren't negotiating with him at the moment.

DH: There are two little guys in the pipeline that are beginning to make some big noise and they are Tyler Ruegsegger and Chris DiDomenico, who took considerable jumps in the spring ranking.

What is it about their game that has made them jump so quickly, and will their size keep them from the NHL?

SM: Ruegsegger is a legitimate NHL prospect, while DiDomenico is well on his way to becoming one.

Both players have a very similar skill sets.

Both are not great straight line speed guys but, especially in Ruegsegger's case, make up for it with exceptional shiftiness.  Ruegsegger is one of the most dangerous one-on-one players in the NCAA.

In the new NHL, it is not so much their size that will hold them back as their skating.  DiDomenico is a long-range prospect and has lots of time to bring his skating up to par, while Ruegsegger will lead the University of Denver this year and then jump the Marlies next season.

DH: Ranked No. 18 on the Maple Leafs prospect list is another interesting player, Korbinian Holzer.  Obviously he has a lot of work to do ahead of him, but quite a few fans are very high on this big German defender.

What is his status?

The Maple Leafs could not sign him, but they do still hold his rights, correct?

SM: In addition to the lack of a Russia transfer agreement, the IIHF transfer agreement recently expired, meaning all Euro prospects are in limbo right now.  The Leafs did not lose his rights and won't until a new agreement is in place. 

At that time there will be a window where they will be able to sign him if they wish to do so.

Holzer is an interesting prospect.  He's a lanky defender with size, length and some offensive upside.  He played in the top German league as one of the youngest players in the GEL, but I'm sure Leafs brass would like to see him in North America. He had an impressive rookie camp.

DH: What prospects do you think the Maple Leafs will invite to training camp, and of them, who do you think has the best chance to grab a roster spot out of camp?

Are there any Marlies from this past year you think fit into the Maple Leafs plans next season?

SM: Tlusty, Stralman and Kulemin will all have Leaf jobs in the fall.

Robbie Earl, John Mitchell, Jeremy Williams and Justin Pogge will all be in the mix, but it is tough to say right now because the makeup of the roster will change greatly between nor and training camp.

Pogge could be given a shot at the backup job if Cliff Fletcher et al don't feel there is a backup out there who is better.

Look at the Josh Harding/Nik Backstrom situation in Minnesota as an example.

Toskala would be the clear No. 1, but Pogge could get valuable 20-25 games under his belt.  It's hard to get a read on what they want to do right now.

Oreskovic and Foster will also be given chances to prove themselves as this will be one of the most open training camps in recent history.

DH: Are there any prospects out there on the Maple Leafs radar that, maybe not many people are talking about, but could end up being a real dark horse?

SM: I'm high on three NCAA prospects.

Ben Winnett and Matt Frattin were overlooked last season as freshman on a loaded Michagan and North Dakota squad, respectively.

Winnett is more of an all-round player who could be a great third liner in the NHL one day.  Think Todd Marchant.  Frattin should see more ice time this year, as well.

He has great offensive instincts and UND is known for churning out top end offensive players.

Viktor Stalberg is a Swedish kid playing for the University of Vermont.  He is a good skater with a lot of size and isn't afraid to head to the net.  He put up 10 goals and 13 assists in 39 games this past year.  Next season could be his coming out party on a team devoid of offensive talent.

DH: They are all important, but you could argue that this is the most important draft in recent memory for the Maple Leafs.

So, far they have ten selections, and with rumors running rampant of draft day deals to add more selections, what do you think the strategy of the Maple Leafs will be this year at the draft table?

SM: This is the most important draft for the Leafs since they drafted Wendel Clark.  The Leafs will be looking for top-flight offensive talent and big, mobile defenseman.

They kind of got unlucky with the seventh pick as there is a consensus top-six and the Leafs would love to have any of them.  If one of the big defenseman fall— Doughty, Bogosian, Schenn or Pietrangelo— the Leafs will snap them up.

If not, a skilled forward such as Hodgson, Wilson or Boedker.  They desperately need offensive creativity up front and big, skilled defenseman on the back end.  Not just big, but big and skilled.

DH: This year is a very deep draft pool no doubt, and there are plenty of great players that will be available at the 7^th overall selection, which is Toronto's first in the draft. 

Who, in your opinion, would be the best prospect for the Maple Leafs to take with their first round choice?

SM: I see Colin Wilson being the pick with the need for centers in the organization.

He tested very well at the combine and his size, position, and bloodlines are advantageous.  His skating is just average but it's not that bad.

Hodgson is also a possibility.

I don't see them taking Boedker personally, I think they would love to add a Ron Wilson type and Colin Wilson fits the bill.  After, it will be best-player-available for nine picks, with a goalie being taken in the later rounds.

I'm sure they will move veteran players at the draft table for more picks if they can.

DH: With so many questions surrounding the management of the Maple Leafs, who will be running the draft from a Toronto standpoint? 

Of course, it is safe to assume that Dave Morrison and his team will be a huge part of the Maple Leafs drafting regime, but how much input will General Manager, Cliff Fletcher, and the head coach Ron Wilson have on this years choices?

SM: When Fletcher was hired, this is what they talked about all through the trading deadline and the end of the season.  They were "evaluating what they had."

This meant talking to scouts, management and figuring out what they had in the system, what they needed and how they were going to get it.

I'm pretty sure Fletcher had a good idea he would be in place through the draft, at least, and he, Morrison and assistant general managers Mike Penny and Jeff Jackson, have devised a solid draft plan.

I would think the final say would come down to Morrison and his scouts.  Ron Wilson has enough of a track record— Fletcher knows what his type of player is.

DH: Hockeysfuture.com ranks the Maple Leafs 19^th out of the thirty NHL teams as far as their prospects go.

Do you think this is a fair assessment, and in your mind, are the Maple Leafs on the rise?

If not, what do they have to do to get there?

SM: I would say that is a generous assessment.

I don't really put too much stock into where a team is ranked out of 30 teams, because it is very subjective.

Would a team rather produce ten average NHL players in three years or would they rather four or five All-Star caliber players?

Personally, I would take the top-end players and then fill in around them.  This is why this draft is so huge for Toronto— they need to find high end players— top-six forwards and top four defensemen.

If you find those, it makes the Ponikarovskys and Stajans of the world look that much better when they are in the roles they are suited for.  This draft is key for the Leafs to move into the top half of the league, in terms of prospect stables.

With 10 picks and more to be had in trades, they have every chance.

DH: Aside from Vesa Toskala, who played very well in his first year with the Maple Leafs, their goaltending depth is very thin.

After struggling a bit last year, how do you think Justin Pogge fared this year in the AHL?

Also, I was wondering your thoughts on James Reimer, and with that in mind, should the Maple Leafs draft a goalie this draft, and if so who should they look at?

SM: Pogge has all the time in the world to develop.

He made strides this year, but he wasn't the dominant goalie he was in junior.  He seemed to have lost concentration and his mechanics during year one, but he got some of that back last year.

He's a top end prospects and has all the skills in the world.  He's always been a late bloomer.  This year will be big.

Reimer is a solid prospect.

He's a big goalie with god quickness.  His M.O. is to challenge shooters.  He struggled with a high ankle sprain last year and was shut down for good in January.

Personally, I hope they send him back to junior to play out his overage season.  Red Deer would likely deal him to a contender at some point and he could get his confidence back, after essentially what was a lost season.

He's likely a career backup at the NHL level.