After a game like this you can get a little carried away with praise. Coyotes kind of fell apart so things probably looked better than they will be when the real season grind starts. Still there were tons of positives.
The Good
Luongo - probably the most important aspects of the game was the compete from Luongo. Looked very focused and more agile than in recent times with the team. Getting a solid season out of Luongo is huge for this club.
Edler - hopefully can keep this up. Expecting OEL to dominate but instead Edler was great. Truly the best player in this game.
Tanev - gets to the puck so quickly and gave room for Edler to move up with the puck. Could be the key to an improved season out of Edler
Weber - there are things to not like (like his laying his stick on the ice to block passes and his lack of physical play down low in his end) but he was extremely mobile and illustrated a cannon of a shot. To me, he is every bit as good as Ballard and at a lot less the cost. (not that this is a high recommendation)
Horvat - I think he is emerging as the best of the young prospects. He is so solid on his skates (never gets knocked to the ice) and even at 18 looks physically able to handle this league. Plays with head up and shows poise with the puck. Off this game is on the team.
Sestito - looked no where as awkward tonight and actually did a good job of getting the puck out of his end and in moving the puck around. Plays like this and he will be decent on the 4th line. The Coyotes are probably a better match up for Sestitio since they lack some of the speed the Oilers have. Goal was a little fluky but he was going quickly and hard to the net. Also liked Richardson in this game. Very good wheels and showed good defensive coverage.
Santorelli - hard to see how he doesn't make the team. Again showed good hands and good wheels. A player that looks like he can play up and down the line up.
Hansen looked good with the Sedins. To me Hansen has better balance than in earlier years and is skating stronger. (not running on the ice like before). Might be ready for a break out season.
Thought the Higgins/Kesler/Burrows line was good although they seemed to play in spurts and sometimes seemed to have it in neutral. Really have not seen the old Kesler yet and hope he can turn it up a notch when the real games start. Still his line was effective.
I think there is little to criticize off this game. Alberts had his bad moments but also had some nice stretches of play.
Would say Gaunce might have struggled a little with the speed but again he showed a very good stick in tight quarters. Might ask yourself if he should be ahead of Weise on the depth chart. Sacrifice some toughness but gain a far better overall player.
The Good
Luongo - probably the most important aspects of the game was the compete from Luongo. Looked very focused and more agile than in recent times with the team. Getting a solid season out of Luongo is huge for this club.
Edler - hopefully can keep this up. Expecting OEL to dominate but instead Edler was great. Truly the best player in this game.
Tanev - gets to the puck so quickly and gave room for Edler to move up with the puck. Could be the key to an improved season out of Edler
Weber - there are things to not like (like his laying his stick on the ice to block passes and his lack of physical play down low in his end) but he was extremely mobile and illustrated a cannon of a shot. To me, he is every bit as good as Ballard and at a lot less the cost. (not that this is a high recommendation)
Horvat - I think he is emerging as the best of the young prospects. He is so solid on his skates (never gets knocked to the ice) and even at 18 looks physically able to handle this league. Plays with head up and shows poise with the puck. Off this game is on the team.
Sestito - looked no where as awkward tonight and actually did a good job of getting the puck out of his end and in moving the puck around. Plays like this and he will be decent on the 4th line. The Coyotes are probably a better match up for Sestitio since they lack some of the speed the Oilers have. Goal was a little fluky but he was going quickly and hard to the net. Also liked Richardson in this game. Very good wheels and showed good defensive coverage.
Santorelli - hard to see how he doesn't make the team. Again showed good hands and good wheels. A player that looks like he can play up and down the line up.
Hansen looked good with the Sedins. To me Hansen has better balance than in earlier years and is skating stronger. (not running on the ice like before). Might be ready for a break out season.
Thought the Higgins/Kesler/Burrows line was good although they seemed to play in spurts and sometimes seemed to have it in neutral. Really have not seen the old Kesler yet and hope he can turn it up a notch when the real games start. Still his line was effective.
I think there is little to criticize off this game. Alberts had his bad moments but also had some nice stretches of play.
Would say Gaunce might have struggled a little with the speed but again he showed a very good stick in tight quarters. Might ask yourself if he should be ahead of Weise on the depth chart. Sacrifice some toughness but gain a far better overall player.
