You never think you'd get a Russian forward who can play defense.

Love the kid's game and attitude and wholeheartedly agree that the Leafs scouting staff did a heck of a job finding a 6'3 guy with wheels, edges, moves and a shot that is committed to playing a 200-foot game. I would argue he is the best or second best penalty killing forward on the Leafs right now (not including an injured Hyman). I guess my concern here, what will he want/need to resign with the Leafs. Early success on a last year of an ELC (feels like deja vu here) has not bode well for the Leafs and for a Dubas negotiation, especially considering how tight the cap is moving forward.

As for Ceci, I think he is overmatched playing against opposing teams' top lines. That said, I think he has performed amicably considering that assignment. He's not a top pairing D, and I think he'd play better playing against weaker player (other teams' 3rd and 4th line guys). However, he's done pretty solid work, and ironically, it's been more of Rielly playing bad D and giving up pucks, which may indirectly mask some of Ceci's less obvious errors or defensive laps. It will be interesting to see if the return of Dermott can alleviate some of this pressure, once he returns.

When Miki is on the ice he definitely exhibits a 'will to win' and asserts himself as a visible threat to be reckoned with - as is case with Marchand, Backstrom, MacKinnon, Eichel to name but a few. Todate, only Moore & Kapanen have demonstrated similar glimmers of capacity. For all the hype surrounding the 'superior skill levels' of Matty/Mitch/Willy, imo none of them have as yet asserted themselves as 'dominant forces' to be reckoned with. While too early to jump to conclusions, at this juncture, it promises to be a long season - heavily reliant upon the reliability (continued good health) of Freddy.

It's tough to predict Miki's salary next year, but if the trend continues, and given that contract negotiation is not Dubas' strong suit, I can't see him being signed below the Kapanen or Johnsson contracts. We'll have to unload one of our wingers at some point, and it will be interesting to see which one.

Agree re: Kapanen. The way he reacted to early season adversity these past few games is admirable.

Ceci has unfortunately become the Gardiner of years past already, i.e. the team's scapegoat who's actually playing well. That he leads the team in +/- doesn't surprise me. At one point Ceci messed up a zone exit tonight against the Sharks, but he returned to the other side and cut a passing lane to end the threat, repairing his mistake. Not something Sportsnet announcers would ever emphasize. But it's the attitude I like to see in our D: being aware of their errors, and taking responsibility for them. Gravel did a similar mistake before saving a goal in an open net on the same sequence tonight.

You mean like Datsyuk or Fedorov?

Kid is as much as gone unless they will be able to pull Lebanc on him. Some other Team will be thankfull to TML scouts and Dubarelli to handle out Premium contracts.....and to some ppl that were attacking me for saying to shelter Mikheyev on 4th Line so he gets less chances to shine and to sign him Moore-type of contract next year and enjoy him for two more year.....well....at least you will have chance to watch him in blue for 82 Games

.....but hey....maybe they can re-sign him and you play Marincin - Holl as 2nd Pair next year......

...or...or...keep bringing them in on a yearly basis and allow other Teams to build on TML cap crunch.....

Haha well I can tell you that Mihkeyev's agent loves playing hardball and is tough to deal with. That said, Kucherov is also his client, and as we all know Kucherov took a very reasonable "bridge deal" even though he probably could have gotten more. I guess my point is, Leafs would want to "Trevor Moore" him or, as you put it "Kevin Lablanc" him to a cheap next contract, where perhaps his play, and especially his play to date, indicates he should be getting more of a Kapanen/Johnson second contract, which would definitely hurt the Leafs' cap and their ability to resign at least one of Muzzin or Barrie plus make additional upgrades, which I am sure will be needed once we again lose to Boston in the first round of these 2019-20 playoffs :P

Fair points! Watching Leafs vs Boston was telling. IMO, Dubas needs to trade Hyman now (Good player but far too much$ for a limited skill set) ...and, unfortunately, to keep a close watch on Willy's (other's?) 'level of intensity'. Sadly, Leafs appear to have encouraged a culture of too many primadonnas skating around and opportunistically seeking to add to their point totals - rather than to engaging in the game. IMO, this includes 'no hit' Rielly. In Leafs vs Boston each Bruin meticulously finished every play by initiating a 'conscious' body contact/hit against their opposing Leafs' player. Think they have been instructed to do this? By comparison, the Leafs avoid contact - and will soon become known as the team avoiding contact in a contact sport!.

Those occasions are very rare though. Look at Malkin. There's a reason why the Russians have not been able to beat Canada in any tournament.