Gushchin didn't seem like he was on the ice that much or if he was, he wasn't doing much with it
The left side is really not very good either. You really don't want Jake Walman to stand out in a good way on your defense because he looks competent with the puck on his stick.
I liked both of them. I'm not sure they're natural fits for each other but they played fine.
They only created one real opportunity but didn’t give much up either. They’re at least solid tonight without the puck and not getting rubbed out easily but the offense wasn’t there except one sequence. I suspect that Gush will get another chance but probably not with Smith.
Really who I think complements Gushchin well would be Wennberg. Unfortunate that we aren't gonna get that.
For everything this game wasn't, their absence was totally noticeable in a good way.Maybe what we really needed were Kunin and Goodrow?
I’d like to see them with Zetterlund but I’d also like to see Celebrini with Gush at some point.
It would've been nice to see them swap Wennberg and Smith. I thought Smith's game tonight would've worked really well with how Eklund and Toffoli were playing.
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I'm glad someone else saw this as well. I still think it's worth giving him a few games in the NHL RS to see if he can handle the real deal.
I more or less agree with all of this. Cardwell stuck out positively for me, but he's not NHL ready. I liked Walman, but acknowledge his flaws.I just got home from the game:
1. Will smith is not hnl ready. Several times guys skated right by him for good offensive chances. He’s obviously got some skill, drew a trip, and looks good on po, but the overall game isn’t nhl ready. I’d rather he be #1C in the ahl to start.
2. I’ve never seen so many terrible giveaways (well, since last March I suppose.) they have no defensive structure and no breakout. I think the shakes came out of the own zone with speed and numbers two or three times all game. They don’t skate hard away from the puck. It’s a big problem, the only exception was Cardwell…
3. The goaltending is solid.
4. Matt Benning is soooo bad.
5. Wennberg has a rough one with he puck exploding off his stick over and over. (Funny note: he gave my son his stick at the end of the game. Guess he agreed
6. The sharks really miss granlund and Celebrini. However, when fully healthy, they will have two good lines. gush needs to play the wing with toffoli and celly and the lund line reunited.
7. I like Walman. He’s quality. Nice addition there.
8. Cardwell is not quite ready either. But soon…
Opening roster lines if I was coach:
Celebrini-toffoli- guchkin
Granlund-zett-eklund
Weinberg-dyllandrea-kostin
Sturm-goodrow-grundstrom
Bailey or whoever
Walman-ruuta
Ferraro-ceci
Banning-thrun
Thompson
