He did well on that assist, displacing the checker and creating that shot lane for the defenseman.
He had around 10 minutes of ice time, almost exclusively in offensive situations. On this team, he does tend to look like the odd man out quite a bit. His teammates have experience that he lacks and it kind of shows, and it's telling in how he's receiving sheltered minutes. But having said that, in both games I think he's grown into it, and he really improved on the previous one tonight.
Last time around he struck me as too passive without possession. Positionally sound, but a bit inactive, anticipating the play but not making enough of an effort.
Tonight, there was some of that initially, but a few shifts in he looked more comfortable out there, and I'm glad it paid off for him in the form of an assist.
I hope he'll stay with Luleå for a while, I really can't think of a better environment for him to improve this season, if he makes it. With the injuries to Hållander and Larsson he'll have a bit of a trial session on a regular line ahead and I think what's expected is for him to earn his minutes and to work hard in all three zones, as with the rest of the team. "Bulan" wants to roll four lines that can do it all, Gunler's got to show that he fits into one of them.
