Thing about Tocchet hockey is it requires the players to play really freaking hard. I don’t think it makes sense for the vets to actually do that in preseason. As long as they are going hard in practice then it’s fine.Meh. Expected road preseason loss but the reason you would have expected they lose (D with 0 pro games on each pairing) was actually the furthest thing from the issue.
- Elias Petterson sleepwalked through this 2nd straight preseason game. If it was a guy you knew would crank it up on opening day you wouldn't be concerned but when it's a guy who went AWOL for the last 30 games last year seeing the same sort of non-compete and poor body language is concerning.
- top 2 lines sucked which is mildly concerning because they were a JT Miller away from being basically the regular top-6. Kiefer Sherwood was *by far* the best of the bunch which is good for Sherwood but bad for everyone else. Barely noticed Debrusk.
- best thing about this game was the performance of the 3 young defenders but in particular Christian Felton who made everything look easy despite playing with an ogre of a partner. Great skating and edgework, great poise and handling of the forecheck, did everything quickly and accurately. Also made one great cross-seam pass to Boeser for one of the team's better chances tonight. If he can go to Abbotsford and do this for a month, he's going to jump into the team's top 5 or 7 prospects.
- likewise Kudryatsev and Mynio were also both very good. Best game I've ever seen Kudryatsev play and it was against the best competition I've seen him play against so that's a hell of a good thing. Mynio was soft on his coverage on the 3-1 goal but otherwise skated well, made a good recovery on a breakaway chance against.
- worst thing about this game was the alarming performance of Derek Forbort. Dude looks like he can barely skate, echoes of Danny Dekeyser a couple years ago. Just an absolute pylon, was the player most at fault on both of the first two goals, handled the puck like a grenade and was generally deferring to his rookie partner with 0 pro games. Ew ew ew. He was better on the PK which is I guess his calling card but getting wrecked by the half-strength stinky Kraken in a preseason game is not a good sign.
- Myers was the best of the veterans. When a guy is 34 you always wonder if his skating will have broken coming back for a new season but he's skating as well as ever. Hopefully he can age like a Chara.
- Pius Suter is a utility winger who you play at C in a pinch, not a regular C on your top 3 lines.
- Blais was a bit better and threw a couple decent hits but again you want to see his feet moving more on the forecheck. A couple times there were dump-ins and THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE HERE FOR BE A WRECKING BALL and he's cruising in at 60%.
- Nathan Smith looks exactly like other Nathan Smith but in Jay Beagle's jersey. None of this is good.
- go away, Klimovich.
- Bains and Sasson had good energy tonight although both looked a bit smallish/weak on the puck and had trouble penetrating into dangerous areas (giggity).
- Lankinen was ... okish. Both of the first two goals looked bad although both were (very slight) deflections. Not going to comment too much as he's had a crazy week.
Thing about Tocchet hockey is it requires the players to play really freaking hard. I don’t think it makes sense for the vets to actually do that in preseason. As long as they are going hard in practice then it’s fine.
We saw the same thing last preseason, seems like everything is ass and once the season started, everyone just dialed the intensity up to 11.
Myers has been playing like he gives a s***, which I admire. Good leadership.Meh. Expected road preseason loss but the reason you would have expected they lose (D with 0 pro games on each pairing) was actually the furthest thing from the issue.
- Elias Petterson sleepwalked through this 2nd straight preseason game. If it was a guy you knew would crank it up on opening day you wouldn't be concerned but when it's a guy who went AWOL for the last 30 games last year seeing the same sort of non-compete and poor body language is concerning.
- top 2 lines sucked which is mildly concerning because they were a JT Miller away from being basically the regular top-6. Kiefer Sherwood was *by far* the best of the bunch which is good for Sherwood but bad for everyone else. Barely noticed Debrusk.
- best thing about this game was the performance of the 3 young defenders but in particular Christian Felton who made everything look easy despite playing with an ogre of a partner. Great skating and edgework, great poise and handling of the forecheck, did everything quickly and accurately. Also made one great cross-seam pass to Boeser for one of the team's better chances tonight. If he can go to Abbotsford and do this for a month, he's going to jump into the team's top 5 or 7 prospects.
- likewise Kudryatsev and Mynio were also both very good. Best game I've ever seen Kudryatsev play and it was against the best competition I've seen him play against so that's a hell of a good thing. Mynio was soft on his coverage on the 3-1 goal but otherwise skated well, made a good recovery on a breakaway chance against.
- worst thing about this game was the alarming performance of Derek Forbort. Dude looks like he can barely skate, echoes of Danny Dekeyser a couple years ago. Just an absolute pylon, was the player most at fault on both of the first two goals, handled the puck like a grenade and was generally deferring to his rookie partner with 0 pro games. Ew ew ew. He was better on the PK which is I guess his calling card but getting wrecked by the half-strength stinky Kraken in a preseason game is not a good sign.
- Myers was the best of the veterans. When a guy is 34 you always wonder if his skating will have broken coming back for a new season but he's skating as well as ever. Hopefully he can age like a Chara.
- Pius Suter is a utility winger who you play at C in a pinch, not a regular C on your top 3 lines.
- Blais was a bit better and threw a couple decent hits but again you want to see his feet moving more on the forecheck. A couple times there were dump-ins and THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE HERE FOR BE A WRECKING BALL and he's cruising in at 60%.
- Nathan Smith looks exactly like other Nathan Smith but in Jay Beagle's jersey. None of this is good.
- go away, Klimovich.
- Bains and Sasson had good energy tonight although both looked a bit smallish/weak on the puck and had trouble penetrating into dangerous areas (giggity).
- Lankinen was ... okish. Both of the first two goals looked bad although both were (very slight) deflections. Not going to comment too much as he's had a crazy week.
Myers has been playing like he gives a s***, which I admire. Good leadership.
Dude was one of the first ones to show up to early camp. I think he’s showing he cares in different ways.For sure.
Pettersson is the only one I'm legitimately concerned about, given the way he completely checked out last year. I was really hoping to see some fire from someone with a point to prove right from the start of things this year.
He just hates the Kraken hahaMyers has been playing like he gives a s***, which I admire. Good leadership.
Dude was one of the first ones to show up to early camp. I think he’s showing he cares in different ways.
It’s the f***ing preseason, just f***ing let it go. Every vet is treating it like a cardio session for a reason.I want him to show he cares by moving his f***ing feet and wanting the puck and wanting to be a difference maker.
I said about Kravtsov last year that there's a difference between 'trying' and 'competing'. f***ing compete. You're paid a lot of money to.
It’s the f***ing preseason, just f***ing let it go. Every vet is treating it like a cardio session for a reason.
It’s the f***ing preseason, just f***ing let it go. Every vet is treating it like a cardio session for a reason.
I do agree he probably should pick up the pace, but I am also in agreement that it’s just preseason, I’m kind of in the middle.When you quit on your team the previous year but get an $11 million contract anyway, it's not 'just the f***ing preseason' for you.
Any other player, yeah. But this guy has used up a lot of rope at this point.
Dude stop with the whole quit on your team narrative. He played through an injury and surprisingly his drop in play maps almost 1 to 1 when he got his injury.When you quit on your team the previous year but get an $11 million contract anyway, it's not 'just the f***ing preseason' for you.
Any other player, yeah. This guy has used up a lot of rope at this point.
Yeah we already had reports that Toc has been running some pretty intense practice sessions so it makes sense the vets look like they are treating this like a cardio session.Hehe remember OJ? Can't even handle a cardio session.
In any case, yeah it's not a big deal. I believe our boys will get into form when the bell tolls.
Up until then, let our coaching staff work out the roster.
I do agree he probably should pick up the pace, but I am also in agreement that it’s just preseason, I’m kind of in the middle.
I just wanna see more assertive play honestly
What about Boeser.If I was looking for a new contract I'd want to look a little better.For sure.
Pettersson is the only one I'm legitimately concerned about, given the way he completely checked out last year. I was really hoping to see some fire from someone with a point to prove right from the start of things this year.
- worst thing about this game was the alarming performance of Derek Forbort. Dude looks like he can barely skate, echoes of Danny Dekeyser a couple years ago. Just an absolute pylon, was the player most at fault on both of the first two goals, handled the puck like a grenade and was generally deferring to his rookie partner with 0 pro games. Ew ew ew. He was better on the PK which is I guess his calling card but getting wrecked by the half-strength stinky Kraken in a preseason game is not a good sign.