http://mapleleafs.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=487080&navid=tor-home-dl
Player Position Alex Berry Forward Jesse Blacker Defence Tyler Bozak Forward Joel Champagne Forward Jamie Devane Forward Andrew Engelage Goaltender Stefano Giliati Forward Richard Greenop Forward Carl Gunnarsson Defence Jonas Gustavsson Goaltender Christian Hanson Forward Nazem Kadri Forward John Kurtz Forward Simon Lacroix Defence Brandon Manning Defence Juraj Mikus Defence Dale Mitchell Forward James Reimer Goaltender Greg Scott Forward Robert Slaney Forward Barron Smith Defence Viktor Stalberg Forward Mikhail Stefanovich Forward Adam Wallace Defence
Players who are on invitation include Andrew Engelage (OHL), John Kurtz (OHL), Simon Lacroix (QMJHL), Brandon Manning (WHL), and Adam Wallace (OHL).
Engelage, Kurtz, and Lacroix all have the opporunity to turn pro due to their ages (20-years-old). They will be looking to land contracts with either the Maple Leafs or the Marlies.
Engelage has a good chance of landing a contract based on his play last season (46 wins, 4 losses) and the lack of young goaltending depth in the Leafs system. The Leafs have Gustavsson, Reimer and Rollheiser in the system, but with Gustavsson playing back-up to Toskala, Reimer on the Marlies and Rollheiser playing in the NCAA the Leafs need some pro depth on Reading (ECHL). I feel Engelage can fill that role.
Kurtz is a big body, two-way forward who also may have a chance to land a contract - but he'll have to be a standout at the tournament. With the influx of youth that has been brought in over the summer there just seems like theres no room on the Marlies for Kurtz at the moment. That's not to say he can't play in the ECHL but even then the Leafs will have their own drafted and signed players possibly filling out the Reading roster due to young Marlie depth on forward. Also, Kurtz also has the option of returning to junior (OHL) as an overager which may be the best thing for him.
With the lack of puck-moving defenders on the Marlies, the door is open for Lacroix to grab a pro contract. The former Islander prospect tallied 50 points last season in the QMJHL. Although he's another player who has the choice to return back to junior as an overager, Leaf brass will likely be keeping an eye on the offensive-defender during this rookie tournament. He'd be a low-risk signing for the Marlies to make. He has good size at 6'2 and though he needs to put on muscle it's nothing that can't be worked on.
I'll be attending this rookie tournament for games on Wednesday and Thursday. It's exciting to see all the new prospects finally play. It should be a tough two games as prospects battle for the attention of their respective managment groups.
