Leafs prospect says he's ready to turn pro this season
After a year in th OJHL, followed by 3 seasons with the OHL's Flint Firebirds, undrafted forward and Leafs prospect Braeden Kressler believes that he is finally ready to make the jump to the pro ranks.
Kressler isn't he largest body you'll find, at just 5'9 and 170 lbs, but he has shown tangible improvements in his game over the last couple of years, culminating in a 25-goal, 52-point campaign last season in just 47 games.
Kressler was one of many Leafs prospects and invitees at summer development camp last week. Attending development camp not only gave Kressler a chance to skate with many of his fellow Leafs prospects, but also to meet some of the staff and learn a few new tricks that he'll be able to practice throughout the summer in hopes of being just a little sharper in the fall when training camp opens up.
"You've got the best staff in the league that are supporting you and telling you all the right things, so if you just take all that away from each day at these camps and bring them into the rest of the summer, and then into training camp, I think it's awesome.
I want to do really good there [at training camp]. It can be an easy game when you've got those players like (John) Tavares, (Mitch) Marner, (Auston) Matthews all around you and you can really excel your game. I'm just excited for that type of style.
It is exciting to be at that level and see what the pros are doing, and hopefully, I can bring that next year." - Braeden Kressler following Leafs development camp
I want to do really good there [at training camp]. It can be an easy game when you've got those players like (John) Tavares, (Mitch) Marner, (Auston) Matthews all around you and you can really excel your game. I'm just excited for that type of style.
It is exciting to be at that level and see what the pros are doing, and hopefully, I can bring that next year." - Braeden Kressler following Leafs development camp
Kressler is likely bound for either the Newfoundland Growlers (ECHL) or the Toronto Marlies (AHL) next season and also said that he's excited for the opportunity to play with Marlies captain Logan Shaw. At 20 years of age, Kressler will likely play a couple of seasons with the Growlers and/or Marlies before ever getting a crack at NHL ice, but hey - not every path to the NHL is created equal.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 11 | 59 ANSWERS Leafs prospect says he's ready to turn pro this season Where is the best spot for Braeden Kressler this season? | ||
| ECHL - Growlers | 9 | 15.3 % |
| AHL - Marlies | 22 | 37.3 % |
| NHL - Leafs | 8 | 13.6 % |
| Who?? | 20 | 33.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
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