Preseason - what have we learned?

[Over the volcano]

First look at a bunch of the new arrivals and a new chance for the kids to show where they are, some impressed, some not so much.

How has the preseason changed your opinion of some of these guys.

To me the good surprises
Kastelic - ideal 4th liner. Thought he was an afterthought throw in on the Ullmark trade, but looks like a guy to build the bottom of the roster around
Kuntar- he's growing and keeping the motor
Zadorov - has offensive instincts I didn't expect and sees the ice better too
Brazzeau - keep waiting for him to turn into a pumkin
Koepke - kept thinking he was a NHLer out there till they said his name and I thought "who?"


The dissapointments
Tufte - So awkward in his size
Beecher - still seems stuck in second gear
Merkulov - was hoping he'd take a step and seize a spot
Farinacci and Harrison- long shots for sure but I was pulling for them to show something

Everyone else were in the middle somewhere of what I expected- Lysell and Bussi improved the more they played.

What'd you see?

Click to read more...

 

[aguineapig72]

I watched the pre-season with a free trial from Fubo and I still want my money back.

 

[Over the volcano]

I watched the pre-season with a free trial from Fubo and I still want my money back.

Im sorry for your loss

Thoughts and prayers

 

[CellyHard]

The Bruins defense is going to be really good. They are going to make it difficult for teams to score.

Sweezey was impressive. He played simple and physical hockey. I wouldn't be surprised if they keep 8 dman.

Korpi and Bussi may be able to hold the fort down for a little but longterm its questionable. They both played well though.

Forward group is not very talented and a lot of prospects didn't impress me much. They have a glaring top six RW issue but have a lot of quality bottom six players.

I think Koepke makes the team and I think Tyler Johnson gets a contract. They both showed flashes in the preseason and I think it may be necessary to lean on the "vets" to start the year because of the uncertainty of goaltending.

The success of the team hinges on getting Poitras and Lysell to be full time players. They looked the best of the prospect bunch, which is a good sign but they need to start incorporating youth and offensive creativity to the forward group.

 

[Bridges31]

A lot of prospects/rookies really struggled and I’d say the majority of young guys looked really out of place.

 

[JoeIsAStud]

The Bruins defense is going to be really good. They are going to make it difficult for teams to score.

Sweezey was impressive. He played simple and physical hockey. I wouldn't be surprised if they keep 8 dman.

Korpi and Bussi may be able to hold the fort down for a little but longterm its questionable. They both played well though.

Forward group is not very talented and a lot of prospects didn't impress me much. They have a glaring top six RW issue but have a lot of quality bottom six players.

I think Koepke makes the team and I think Tyler Johnson gets a contract. They both showed flashes in the preseason and I think it may be necessary to lean on the "vets" to start the year because of the uncertainty of goaltending.

The success of the team hinges on getting Poitras and Lysell to be full time players. They looked the best of the prospect bunch, which is a good sign but they need to start incorporating youth and offensive creativity to the forward group.

I don't see how they can keep 8 defenseman. I'm not sure they can actually have 23 players on the roster to start the year. And they likely will have 3 goalies on the roster to start the season. Sweezey should go down, because there is almost no risk of him being claimed.

Same thing with Koepke and Johnson, I don't see where there is roster space, Johnson may have to wait until they are able to cut down to 2 goalies before he can be signed

 

[JoeIsAStud]

First look at a bunch of the new arrivals and a new chance for the kids to show where they are, some impressed, some not so much.

How has the preseason changed your opinion of some of these guys.

To me the good surprises
Kastelic - ideal 4th liner. Thought he was an afterthought throw in on the Ullmark trade, but looks like a guy to build the bottom of the roster around
Kuntar- he's growing and keeping the motor
Zadorov - has offensive instincts I didn't expect and sees the ice better too
Brazzeau - keep waiting for him to turn into a pumkin
Koepke - kept thinking he was a NHLer out there till they said his name and I thought "who?"


The dissapointments
Tufte - So awkward in his size
Beecher - still seems stuck in second gear
Merkulov - was hoping he'd take a step and seize a spot
Farinacci and Harrison- long shots for sure but I was pulling for them to show something

Everyone else were in the middle somewhere of what I expected- Lysell and Bussi improved the more they played.

What'd you see?

Harrison had a great preseason in total, I had no expectation that he would be ready for the NHL at this point, but he dominated in the prospect challenge and flashed his skill in NHL preseason, and has shown up for Providence already. He has substantially moved up this preseason in my mind. Still has to show it every night in Providence, and I am expecting 30+ goals from him down there.

Merkulov, I had zero expectations for him, and he delivered on being a zero.

Lysell still doesn't show me nearly enough

 

[ODAAT]

glimpses of positive play from Lysell and Merk but not nearly enough

Actually felt I noticed Harrison and and that Koepke guy far more.

Never heard of that Sweezey guy either, liked his game

 

[Saxon Eric]

Koepke should make it
Brown had a strong camp but...
Lysell half step forward
Geekie I like at wing,hate at Center
Kuntar will get some games
Merkulov firmly in AAAA territory
Max Jones should change his name to Minimum Jones
D should be a strength
Nice rebound by Bussi
Tough cut between Wotherspoon or Sweezy

 

[Pia8988]

Scoring will be a problem

 

[shelbysdad]

From the B's to the Wannabes.....shoot the damn puck. quit looking for the pretty pass, to the guy on the other side of the ice....shoot when open !

and stop trying to pick a corner...95 percent end up over or wide......get it on goal and crash for tips and rebounds

its also impossible to judge people like lysell and merkulov when you play them with people struggling to make the 4th line. Same for the 4th liners, play them with the talent they will play with if they make it

 

[JAD]

From the B's to the Wannabes.....shoot the damn puck. quit looking for the pretty pass, to the guy on the other side of the ice....shoot when open !

and stop trying to pick a corner...95 percent end up over or wide......get it on goal and crash for tips and rebounds

Missing the net , missing hitting corners or small open space tells me they are rushing their shots. Possibly leaving the tip of their stick blade 'open' facing upward when releasing their shot. To improve accuracy curl the stick blade over the top of the puck when releasing. It's something they should have learned in grade school and be second nature. Open blade missing their target tells me they are rushing their shots.
Maybe they need to practice shooting a 100 pucks into a 4 x 4 inch opening until they are hitting their target more than 50 percent of the time.
No ice time for that. Use a tennis ball at home or in hotel rooms ... just learn to hit their target.
Hell, it couldn't hurt.
Why do you think Larry Bird spent so much time just shooting baskets?

 

[PlayMakers]

I feel bad for Bussi. He had such a great opportunity in front of him to stand out and he fell flat. He got better as it went along but I think he was more impressive last preseason.

Lysell too, some games where he was really noticeable and some where he was invisible. I think he's close and don't think folks should give up on him. If he was Canadian he would be going into his second pro season so don't hold the extra year in Providence against him. If they don't keep him for G1 I expect he'll be back up after his first streak of 'good games' in Providence.

I am concerned about the lack of offense. I know it's preseason and you're not getting top effort from your veterans but still, it looked anemic.

I would sign Tyler Johnson. Again, with the offense looking as stagnant as it did I'd keep Johnson around. He did a lot of good things in all 3 zones, he scored, he helped generate offense... maybe he can help PP2.

They can't send Poitras down. He was one of the few players this preseason who generated chances.