This weekend was the Leafs vs Habs Rookie Showcase, and the Leafs won both games while we got to learn some things about the players who were there.

Reminder, Ben Danford was hurt after a hit in training camp and was held out – no firm word on his condition.

Fraser Minten was hit in the corner (hard to see on air) and did not play the third period of game two.

There were lots of goals and good performances. Some interesting choices by players, and not a lot of dramatic surprises, just some small ones.

Easton Cowan and Fraser Minten are the class of the group. They took home first star honours in the two games, which made it fun to hear the sour-voiced announcement of their names followed by the boos.

Hard on their heels was Nikita Grebenkin who played in just game one, but was outstanding. He has all the pro habits right down to knowing just how much you can cross-check in a net-front scrum after the whistle.

Behind him I would put Cade Webber, Roni Hirvonen and Topi Niemelä. They all have something that keeps them from being complete players with for-sure NHL futures, but they all played very, very well. I was mostly surprised by Webber's puck handling and his offensive instincts, but he needs help defending rushes against. I was very impressed with Niemelä's skating, but he did show that one medium-hard hit in the corner and you have the puck off him. This is, in my opinion, a deal-breaker lack in his game. Horvonen is just always good positionally, and he makes some top notch defensive plays at need. Put him with some shooters and you get some good results he's not creating on his own.

Next were Braeden Kressler, Ty Voit, and Noah Chadwick. None were outstanding, but all of them looked a little better than just good in junior players. Chadwick just had no offensive sparkle though, and that's surprising.

Miroslav Holinka was kind of just there except every once in a while he'd do some really smart thing. He's a project for sure, and maybe way too young for this kind of event.

All the goalies were fine. Dennis Hildeby was really pressured, the other two less so. I didn't see anyone who should be getting a contract out of the invites particularly.

And that was the rookies for this year. The top line of Cowan, Minten and Grebenkin on Saturday played like an AHL top line in a Calder Cup final. They were so far and away the best players on the ice, Owen Beck had to keep checking his draft position in the intermissions.

Also, Cowan does trick shots:

All the reporters have been asking about him and the line from Gruden has been things like "it's a journey", so don't expect too much early on from Niemelä

In other news:

I'll be a bit sentimental maybe even maudlin for a moment. I thought Columbus needed a good man, someone who would care deeply about his teammates. And they found a great one. Sometimes it's not about the stats, you know.

Söderström was one of the glut of defenders on the Yotes that led them to trade Conor Timmins for Curtis Douglas because they were going to waive him.

Happy Monday everyone. Training Camp medicals are Wednesday and the first preseason game is Sunday, so I hope you're ready for three solid weeks of arguing about Mitch Marner.

From The Branches