My notes on today's scrimmage:
Best forward on whites: Reway. Man-boy has serious chops. Not fast in terms of flat out speed--he has a very short stride. But is he quick. And tricky. Wow.
Best forward on reds: Thomas. Very smart player. Ryder-like in his ability to find the seams and has a very quick shot. But faster than Ryder...no, much faster. Odds on favorite fill in if Gionta is not available to start the season.
Collberg was invisible until the third when he started to become more involved. Quiet night for Hudon. Bournival is a very good skater but was not really that threatening. McCarron is obviously huge and equally obviously not ready. He's a project. Looking forward to following him in the OHL. Tarnasky seems to know how to play his game--goes to the net. I wouldn't be shocked if he gets a look later in the season. Fournier is a big guy and likes to be involved. We'll see if he can keep up to the pace in the AHL. Gregoire and other new guys...not much to say.
As for the vets, Pacioretti looks like his champing at the bit. Very physical. Showed no signs of injury at all. Gonna have a good season. Plekanec looks ready. As usual.
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On D, Murray is huge...and quietly competent. Diaz looked very agile. Nygren got caught up ice in the first--bonehead play. Settled down though. Looks much bigger on the ice than Diaz and plays accordingly. Tinordi was very solid. Smooth. Calm. Ditto for Pateryn who laid a very big hip check on Blunden (if my memory serves me well). Lashoff distinguished himself by taking an unnecessary penalty and making a couple of bad defensive choices. May not be around for long.
Gorges looked very good. Took the puck away from some of the flashy young guys. No fuss no musss. PK was clearly pacing himself, but when he chose to open up the machine you could see who the best player on the ice really was.
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Now for the goaltending. Price was good. Only gave up one goal but still spent more time on his knees than I would have liked. Budaj let in a couple including a real softy from Fournier. Fucale looked very professional both in the warmup and the scrimmage despite getting run over repeatedly by Paccioretti.
Goalie of the game: Tokarski. Made some excellent, acrobatic saves. Very promising.
