There's no rush with Vilmanis, he's 20. Let him marinate in Charlotte. Getting him experience playing against men in the AHL is probably the correct move. Samoskevich is just further ahead skill wise, age wise, and consistency wise.
Not disputing that… And that should be the strategy, yes.
But still… Kid did everything we asked of him, and more this training camp, yet he ends up on the outside looking.
Mackie did what ? He was injured on the first or second day and came back for the last pre-season game to his gift-wrapped spot on the third-line… Wow ! Talk about earning your spot after a hard-battle in training camp…
I’ve seen veteran captains in the NHL with less secured jobs than Samoskevich this year, it’s crazy.
Rooting for Samo, but he did nothing in the last two weeks to earn a spot over Vilmanis or Giles, and I find it disgusting… Because of the culture we tried so hard to establish…
I won’t get over that… Mackie must come out on fire the first few games or else he will be my scapegoat for years…
I never thought PoMo or BZ would have favorites in those kind of situations. They do, and I’m disappointed.