Biega - don't see where he isn't an every day NHL player. Has to be in consideration for next year. Great bang for the buck. Got to be happy he isn't a UFA next season b/c he might cost you some.
Virtanen - complete passenger. Weak along the boards and again guessing on what to do. Repeat he has to be a real consideration for a trade the next time he goes through a good patch. Him and Goldobin have to be the in the biggest disappointment category.
Gaudette - struggling. Effort is there but he his skill level and skating remain very rough. Gets thrashing and chasing way too much.
Demko - not bad but you can see the nervousness. Trying real hard to prevent rebounds but can see his timing on shots is not always right. Looks a little like he did when he came back from a long absence in Utica. Needs the playing time to get mentally stable. One thing you like is the amount of goal he can cover up.
Sautner - continues to look decent. Last stretch has suggests there is more depth in the system than maybe supposed
Brisebois - have been saying all year in Comet commentaries that I think Brisebois has the most potential of the d-men in Utica and I think he is looking like there may be something here. Needs to gain some more muscle and pick up his skating some (although it's not far off). Sautner at 24 is probably better now but at 21 Brisebois has lot more potential to improve. But he can't plateau at the present level and must gain the strength and wheels to play with more assertiveness. Have to think Poo is not a consideration moving ahead.
Granlund - played well. Had some jump in his skating and worked decently both ways.
Broadly agree but some additions on the following players.
Biega - is an NHL Dman, but gets in a bit of trouble when he gets overmatched. Not someone I would want out there for over 20mins per night regularly, but I agree, he would have had a few offers as a UFA if GMs were paying attention.
Virtanen - has these games, but he also has other games where he really does tilt the direction of play even when he is not scoring. That combo of speed and size is something that no one else in this lineup can bring with the exception of Horvat, And frankly it's something this team could do with more of.
Gaudette - I agree he's struggling a bit, but then I haven't seen much from him in the NHL or AHL this year to suggest he can be more than an average 3rd line centre. He's improved defensively and is slowly gaining Green's trust, but he's not showing high end vision or skill and the play is too often dying on his stick. It is his first year as a pro though, so I expect to see some improvement over the next couple of years, and frankly, him turning into an average third line centre is still a win. But I believe in having strong centre depth to be a contender so I am hoping to see more.
Demko - I thought he looked pretty good, with some smooth post to post work to make saves. But I suppose my expectations for him are pretty low considering how little he's played this year.
Sautner, Breisbois - I agree, and am hoping Sautner makes it as the 4th LHD to open the season next year with Breisbois and Juolevi the first call ups while still on the ELCs. Sautner has shown well and deserves at least a shot, while Breibois is certainly showing some potential. Frustratingly management and coaches don't play young players enough, even if they are not quite ready the experience helps them immensely. That is how you successfully bleed young talent so that eventually they can make the squad with the coaches confidence.
Granlund - Yeah, games like this are great, but if only he was either a bit faster or more physically engaged, he would be more consistently useful. He's the definition of a tweener for me.
