You mean the Valk that's spent the last two seasons in the ECHL with a few callups the Comets? He's nothing special, he looks good against kids but struggles to have an impact at the AHL level. This could be the season he sticks in the AHL, but he's not going much higher than the middle 6 in the AHL, and that's at best.
I'd say Cassels was probably better, but none of the forwards had a great night.
Just reading through this thread so someone may have already commented on this, but here goes.
Valk is an ECHL player. Does not have the ability to deal with the physicality of the higher leagues. He is pushed off the puck with ease. He is knocked down all over the ice. Loses the battles on the wall for the same reason. His fore check is shrugged off by his opponent. His speed is not effective enough to make a difference.
There is no room for him in the middle in Utica. Chaput, Megna/Gaunce, Cassels, Hamilton, and Zalewski are ahead of him right off the getgo. The last 4 guys were ahead of him there last season along with Vey, Friesen, and TJ Hensick who are now gone. However, the replacements for those last three are better.
Cassels, in spite of his injury and slow half season or longer rehab rate, was way better in the middle than Valk because he could hold his own in the strength department. People's reviews of Cassels in game one in this tourney has revealed that he is a different player already based on his skating.
Sorry, but expect to see Valk as an ECHL guy with the Alaska Aces.