Biggest takeaway from this one is how bad Joulevi looked. The same problems that have cropped up throughout his years since the draft were on display tonight They include:
- getting easily bumped off the puck deep in his end with him often falling to the ice
- getting beat wide because of his clunky feet
- backing in on everything because of fear of getting beat wide (at one point backing up right behind the goal line)
- despite backing off, not getting to the puck quick enough to make a play and having to throw the puck around the boards unloading his problems on to someone else
- losing his check in his end and standing around
I've said play him so we can assess him. And this game contributes to that assessment. And I'd say right now he is miserably failing.
There have been so many, over the years, who out of hope Joulevi can be player or who get miffed that someone might have done better than us in the draft, that are willing to make constant excuses and alibis for this player. If he makes a pass that your ordinary NHL defenseman makes 10 times a game they are praising it to the heavens. If he has a few ordinary shifts were he doesn't screw up too much they are saying how steady he is. Few, seemingly, want to accept the reality that this player, at this point, is an absolute bust. There is nothing he has done since he was drafted that indicates that he close to NHL material. I watched him in Utica and honestly he wasn't much good there either. He lost out to Rafferty on the power play and often have huge problems defensively. He just hasn't in any way shown he is NHL material.
Hughes's game was sort of microcosm of his season. Brilliant at times offensive but also some rough shifts in his end. Times in the third when he just went to another level. Continues to be someone to get excited about even given a very difficult season defensively.
Gadjovich never got a chance to show anything. Did ok in the fight but probably should have re-thunk getting into it. Fear that he will be taken in the ED are IMO way overblown. Seattle will know about his skating.
Graovac is making a case for a good look next year. Should be tried on the PK. If he can do that he should move ahead of Beagle.
Boyd looking increasing suspect defensively. Questionable whether the team should bring him back. Would only be on a two way.
Vesey had an excellent game and actually looked talented. You wonder if he has any future with the team. Again on a two way maybe - he is someone who would star in Abbotsford.
TANK is never safe with this team. You sometimes get your hopes up but then always get harpooned by this bunch. In this game Calgary just tried to fatten their stats in the third and forgot about defense leaving Markstrom on his own. One of the chief culprit was Tkachuk, who, despite being a hugely better choice than Joulevi, is not near living up to the bucks the Flames are paying him.
