Post-Game Talk: Preseason GM04| Vancouver Canucks lose to Calgary Flames | 2-4 (Lekkerimaki & Raty)

[TruGr1t]

Think there should be quite a few cuts. Forwards look pretty set, I think Raty has made it, and when Blueger is back, it likely means cycling Suter to wing. Lekkerimaki sent down as there's enough NHL winger depth you don't really need him and he looks better served spending some time in the minors.

Will be interesting to see how the wingers shake out on the final roster. Heinen, Hoglander, and Sprong could all end up on Pettersson's wing, I think.

 

[wonton15]

The longer I watch this, the funnier it gets. Sums up preseason.

 

[Rick Rocket]

I'm super happy for Raty, he looks like he's really improved and best make the team over anyone.

Also, was that Soucy high sticking call real or was that a dream?

 

[VanJack]

Raty is easily the story of this training camp. You forget that at 16 years old he was considered a 'teen prodigy' in Finnish hockey, the equivalent of guys like Bedard and Cellebrini in Canada.

And while it was a bumpy road over the next four seasons, you can see now why he was one of the most highly rated prospects in the world and even in the conversation to be a 'first overall pick; before he hit the wall a bit in his draft year.

Lamoriello rarely let an impact prospect go during his many years in the NHL; but he may have lost that edge with Raty. He's a face-off demon, and two-way center that every contending team needs playing down in the lineup, at least to start his career.

 

[David71]

i noticed raty was trying to win faceoffs by switching it curve side on the right circle before switching back to his natural handiness. malhotra effect?

 

[nuxnux1]

Give Lekkerimaki 9 games imo, rotate him and Sprong a bit and see who sticks there

 

[David71]

cut at least 10-15 guys.

 

[LordBacon]

Kesler controlled trade partners didn’t he?

Yes but he didnt force Benning to get Sbisa instead of Theodore, Benning actually insisted to get Sbisa instead.

 

[jd22]

Yes but he didnt force Benning to get Sbisa instead of Theodore, Benning actually insisted to get Sbisa instead.

Stop, stop, he's already dead!

 

[LemonSauceD]

i noticed raty was trying to win faceoffs by switching it curve side on the right circle before switching back to his natural handiness. malhotra effect?

He’s been doing that since his arrival to NA IICR.

 

[JT Milker]

If Lekkerimaki wasn’t a top prospect drafted with a high pick, no one would be advocating to keep him on the team this year.

And the 9 game rule does not apply, he’s 20. His ELC is starting this year no matter what.

 

[Billy Kvcmu]

The longer I watch this, the funnier it gets. Sums up preseason.

Rick “Mhm, yeah, totally. I see.. ok..yup…thanks”

Stop, stop, he's already dead!

No we gonna keep going.

Hey, Dylan Guenther just signed an 8 years deal in Utah, I can see that his pick was not originally owned by Arizona. How did they get that pick?

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

Lamoriello rarely let an impact prospect go during his many years in the NHL; but he may have lost that edge with Raty.

in no particular order, top five youngsters lou lam has given us over the years: raty, brendan morrison, kirk mclean, greg adams, vadim sharifijanov

 

[Bojack Horvatman]

I know everybody wants to see their favourite prospects make the NHL, but are some people in a rush for Lekkerimaki to play in the NHL? Am I the only one who has seen this movie before with McCann, Virtanen, Hoglander, and Podkolzin? All played for this organization at 19-20 but later needed to be sent to the AHL to play a more rounded game. Let him cook. Let him play a lot of minutes, and learn the defensive game without fear of getting benched. If he’s torching the AHL in 40 games or something then you can look to call him up. We have great forward depth. There is no need to rush him.

 

[thecupismine]

Have to think Raty has forced his way onto the team. Would be a bit crazy to worry about losing someone like Aman as the reason to not keep him up - he's the definition of a filler forward at this point & is the exact kind of guy you can get on waivers anytime.

It's nice that he knows the system and can slot in seamlessly, but you can't say that there's battles for training camp in any sort of serious way if you cut Raty for him afterwards. There's a slot open in the top 12 forwards until Joshua is ready to come back, at which point they can re-evaluate the situation. For now it looks like:

Heinen-Miller-Boeser
Debrusk-Petey-Sprong
Hoglander-Raty-Garland
Suter-Blueger-Sherwood
PDG

(Don't get caught up in the line combos, just trying to show the 13 forwards who I think make the cut.)

With Raty's emergence I wonder if they try Suter up the lineup with Miller again, and give Heinen a chance with Petey & Debrusk. Lots of line shuffling to do, should try to make a lot of cuts before the next game so they can work some of it out before the season starts.

 

[LuckyDay]

Hmm...EP26 is also 6'2", same as EP40 but he's 187lbs vs 176libs. He looked a lot smaller to me.
He hasn't looked great in the preseason except for that one hit last night where he took out the guy bigger than him.

What Silov needs to do is somehow stay positionally sound when he can't see the expected pointed shot rather than move to find out - or at least move in the direction he covers the most net. Looking around the short side made his left wide open.

And we need to get guys who can legitimately clear people in front of him or not get there in the first place.

What do you think of reversing the stick on the faceoff? Seems to work but it telegraphs your only play with it. Will it last?

 

[ManVanFan]

Regular season started yet?

 

[Forsbergaura21]

How did Tolopilo look?

Any chance he gets into some games this year?