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GDT: PS #6 - 09/26/17 | RANGERS @ flyers | 7:00 PM - MSG, NHLN

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And I don't know if this is just a preseason thing, but AV is OBSESSED with dump ins all of a sudden.

It started getting creepy the second half of last year, and in preseason they cranked it up to 11.

In six games, I can count our controlled entries on one hand.
 
The more I watch the replay of the OT winner, the weirder it is.

It like...is shot onto the tip of Pavelec's glove, which then goes into the post, and then back out and hits the tip of his glove AGAIN, and then goes in the net.

Super weird.
 
Yes, J. Gorton mention they will discuss what is best for the newly drafted kids - unless one get a 3rd line center role I don`t see the point to use the kids in a full season in NHL. And their shedule is so rough due to draft year anyway so not ideal pre season in that regard.
 
My thoughts on the game:

Neal Pionk still impresses me with his defensive game. Very good mobility and takes away ice really well. A good example was in the 2nd when Weise (?) came in on him in the right corner picking up a bouncing puck. Pionk lost his balance a bit. As Weise left the corner and moved towards the center of the ice, Pionk got back on him and just took away all his ice and the puck ended up in the left corner where we could win it.

Branden Smith played a gritty game, but he looked more sluggish than last season. Hope he isn't a "contract year" player...

Ryan Graves looks so much more comfortable at LD than RD. Like his game. The one thing that could improve is his cooperation with his D partner with the puck. I.e. where the main responsiblity to move the puck is left to his partner, and he can more of a needle-stick type of offensive player.

Vinnie Lettiari does not quite cut it by my book. My biggest concern is that he doesn't quite have the motor to stay on top of the puck when the play heads up and down the ice. He is also smart and have natural hockey sense, but its not like he has a great understanding of the game. This shows in how he is good at finding pucks and doing good things with it, but

But this is hockey, not some kind of desk product. Its decided on the ice and Vinnie has delivered. Reminds me a bit of a young Callahan in that sense, i.e. just getting the job done. Cally was a really early cut from his first camp, scored in the AHL, and hanged in there in the NHL when he got a shot. Even if he is on the verge, I would be leaning towards giving him a shot.

I like Tony DeAngelo. I think he should make it out of camp like Pionk. The regular season is improved compared to the pre-season, but things also settle down a lot which would help someone like TDA a lot. Same partner, mostly same forwards infront of you. More of a clear job description. Over a period, you must be able to accept a few ups and downs with a player like him, but he has it.

I also think it is important that we threat a kid like him very delicately. The AHL got a lot of thugs running around and a lot of dump and chase type of hockey, don't think its the best for someone like him. And any PMD deserving the label must take a lot of risks in their game and play with very small marginals. Its definitely a recipe for disaster to require that these guys should rid themselves of all mistakes before they make it like you might do with a 2-way guy, it would only result in them taking less and less chances, losing their offensive game, confidence etc.

I like Fontaine, he is still a little raw, and I don't think you get quite PK/versatility impact from him to warrant a spot. Will be a lot better in a year or two, OTOH so could the competition...

I think Jimmy Vesey was excellent. Many point at his age and say that we shouldn't expect much development, but I don't agree. Hockey don't work like that, I see no reason for why he couldn't be better this year than last year and I would also expect him to be better next year than this year. The kid will become a very solid player.

Filip Chytil is sooooo impressive, but he definitely also looked a bit gassed after back-to-back games. He is taking some hits. If it was up to me we shouldn't gamble on rushing him.

I thought Kevin Hayes was very good. JT Miller had a so-so game, think he should play center this season.

Boo Nieves didn't win a spot IMO.

Buch looks better, like expected.
 
And yeah I forgot, thought Desharnais looked OK too. And I think Carey can take a shift too.

Problem is that of many of the players competing for a spot, many don't scream PK specialists....
 
Grabner, Desharnais, Pionk, Vesey, Hayes were good. Not just the goals for the first two but they were making stuff happen.

Deangelo had moments both good and bad

Pavelec, I'm not much of a goalie evaluation person but I thought he was decent, yet not handling the puck or rebounds.

The others, I did not find all that fun to watch. I saw lots of bad coverage, Letttieri while I like his game in terms of pressure, he has no idea where he is supposed to go or do in the D zone, then again that is no uncommon for a youth, or really within this system*

*The system? I'm not sure I get it. I am with MH there, they are built one way, they have talents that could work towards that, but they are not playing that way. The only thing I liked, the D moved the puck with some short nice passes in their own zone instead of constantly trying to chip it out, it's a work in progress but it's something.

Add Graves to who I thought was also decent.
 
Flyers seemed to take it to Chytil more physically in these last two games than the Devils and Islanders did in the first four.
 
Ola said:
My thoughts on the game:

Neal Pionk still impresses me with his defensive game. Very good mobility and takes away ice really well. A good example was in the 2nd when Weise (?) came in on him in the right corner picking up a bouncing puck. Pionk lost his balance a bit. As Weise left the corner and moved towards the center of the ice, Pionk got back on him and just took away all his ice and the puck ended up in the left corner where we could win it.

Branden Smith played a gritty game, but he looked more sluggish than last season. Hope he isn't a "contract year" player...

Ryan Graves looks so much more comfortable at LD than RD. Like his game. The one thing that could improve is his cooperation with his D partner with the puck. I.e. where the main responsiblity to move the puck is left to his partner, and he can more of a needle-stick type of offensive player.

Vinnie Lettiari does not quite cut it by my book. My biggest concern is that he doesn't quite have the motor to stay on top of the puck when the play heads up and down the ice. He is also smart and have natural hockey sense, but its not like he has a great understanding of the game. This shows in how he is good at finding pucks and doing good things with it, but

But this is hockey, not some kind of desk product. Its decided on the ice and Vinnie has delivered. Reminds me a bit of a young Callahan in that sense, i.e. just getting the job done. Cally was a really early cut from his first camp, scored in the AHL, and hanged in there in the NHL when he got a shot. Even if he is on the verge, I would be leaning towards giving him a shot.

I like Tony DeAngelo. I think he should make it out of camp like Pionk. The regular season is improved compared to the pre-season, but things also settle down a lot which would help someone like TDA a lot. Same partner, mostly same forwards infront of you. More of a clear job description. Over a period, you must be able to accept a few ups and downs with a player like him, but he has it.

I also think it is important that we threat a kid like him very delicately. The AHL got a lot of thugs running around and a lot of dump and chase type of hockey, don't think its the best for someone like him. And any PMD deserving the label must take a lot of risks in their game and play with very small marginals. Its definitely a recipe for disaster to require that these guys should rid themselves of all mistakes before they make it like you might do with a 2-way guy, it would only result in them taking less and less chances, losing their offensive game, confidence etc.

I like Fontaine, he is still a little raw, and I don't think you get quite PK/versatility impact from him to warrant a spot. Will be a lot better in a year or two, OTOH so could the competition...

I think Jimmy Vesey was excellent. Many point at his age and say that we shouldn't expect much development, but I don't agree. Hockey don't work like that, I see no reason for why he couldn't be better this year than last year and I would also expect him to be better next year than this year. The kid will become a very solid player.

Filip Chytil is sooooo impressive, but he definitely also looked a bit gassed after back-to-back games. He is taking some hits. If it was up to me we shouldn't gamble on rushing him.

I thought Kevin Hayes was very good. JT Miller had a so-so game, think he should play center this season.

Boo Nieves didn't win a spot IMO.

Buch looks better, like expected.
Click to expand...

Have to disagree about Lettieri. I thought he played very well. He made that pass from the end wall to the point to Desharnais on the power play goal. Their line with Vesey buzzed all night 5 on 5. Lettieri seems very comfortable as to where he should be or needs to go on th ice. At least offensively. Three on one rush by that line and Lettieri knew where to go and got a dangerous shot on goal out of it. There was a sequence along our half right wall and he's trying to get the puck out by chipping. That didn't work, so he just bull rushed over his man and sprung a breakout. Great second effort to stay on the puck. D and systems can be taught, but he's looking good in terms of raw ability.

I agree that Nieves did not impress. I like Farmham's will and compete, but he's going to get cut. Skjei had a shaky game, I thought.
 
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With the way DeAngelo, Pionk, and Graves have shown themselves, it would be a crying shame to see Staal and Holden back there on opening night.
 
I think Holden is your 7th to start the season.

Pionk and Graves together on first pair in Hartford under a new coach will be good for them both.
 
will1066 said:
With the way DeAngelo, Pionk, and Graves have shown themselves, it would be a crying shame to see Staal and Holden back there on opening night.
Click to expand...

Staal will be there. It won't be any different with AV, just going to have to get used to it and hope for the best.
 
Chief Ranger said:
Staal will be there. It won't be any different with AV, just going to have to get used to it and hope for the best.
Click to expand...

I would be absolutely stunned if ANY coach benched the 2nd longest tenured player on the team, assistant captain, with the big contract out of the gates. He has to give him a chance in the regular season. The question is whether he'll then have the guts to bench him when he continues to flail 10-20 games in...
 
Chief Ranger said:
Staal will be there. It won't be any different with AV, just going to have to get used to it and hope for the best.
Click to expand...

It's so ****** as a fan to know that your favorite team isn't icing their best lineup. Get rid of the names on the back of the jerseys, and he would've been one of the first guys cut.
 
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