Just got home from the game. The best way to sum this game up was that we iced a few NHL caliber players tonight, so anyone seeing this as an accurate respresentation as the team we are going to ice opening night is mistaken.
Tavares & Okposo: Looked like their old selves tonight. They were buzzing all night; Okposo has a nice toe drag goal, and JT was just flat out outmuscling guys around the puck.
Nelson & Strome: Both looked like NHLers tonight. Strome was active all night with creating scoring chances and maintaining possession in the offensive zone. Nelsom is a PUCK HOUND; he belongs on the top line from what I've saw tonight.
Sundstrom & Collberg: I thought these two struggled a bit tonight but showed flashes of potential. Sundstrom was at his best when breaking the puck out of the defensive zone and Collberg was surprisingly active along the boards.
Dal Colle & Ho-Sang: Ho-Sang was the more impressive of the two tonight but that's sort of expected with that way he played compared to Dal Colle. Ho-Sang's skating ability and cuts are already NHL ready as are his hands, but the rest of his game needs maturing. I don't see why he can't become a solid NHL player. Dal Colle needs to add weight and work on his skating. The offensive instincts are there as he made a nice dish to Nelson who got robbed by Subban, but I felt like he couldn't get himself in position to play his game all night.
Persson & Moullierat: AHL players, although I was impressed with Moullierat for a guy who has bounced around the ECHL and AHL quite a bit.
Gallant & Johnston: Gallant was as advertised, he destroyed Caron. As for Johnston, he fought AHL journeyman Chris Breen and left the ice bleeding and went to the locker room.
Onto the defense...
Ness & Pedan: Have no business suiting up in an NHL game
Donovan & Czuczman: They just aren't ready at all. Turnovers after turnover and terrible pinches. They were getting so bad I wanted to look away.
Brennan & Mayfield: Our two best defenseman tonight which isn't saying much. With that said, Brennan will be a bottom pairing guy for us and will be on the top PP, he shoots BOMBS and his wrist shot is sneaky. Mayfield is big, right handed, and physical. He's going to start in the AHL but he could be a solid partner for Hickey on the bottom pair should such sitaution arise. His outlet passes and ability to keep the play alive in the offensive zone stood out as I didn't think he had that in him.
Johnson: Was hung out to dry but got a lot of work and made some nice saves. Definitely an upgrade.
Any other questions let me know!