Who really got opportunities with Kopitar in the preseason, though? Brown and Iafallo? You could pretty much say the same about every newcomer. I think seeing him with scorers would benefit us fans to make an evaluation, but remember the coaches see these guys every single day. Maybe what he was showing in practices didn't warrant him being on a scoring line? Read TM's quotes on the guy, he was definitely struggling with some aspects of the NA game. It would have been neat to at least see him with Kovalchuk, but I think the team knew that they might be in for a long adjustment when Porkins came over, and this is just part of the expected acclimation.
Some may see a guy like Lizotte get put on a scoring line and think it's some sort of preferential treatment, when he got put there from busting his ass and making an impression. I didn't notice forwards like Porkins, Grundstrom, and Wagner all that much, but I did notice Lizotte every single time he was on the ice. Same with Amadio, both of them consistently make things happen. Do Porkins and Grundstrom have a higher ceiling? I think that's a safe bet, but they have to show they can actually reach it.
I really hope people aren't saying this but I'll admit I only glossed over that part if so.
Amadio made an impression in the Vancouver game with powerhouse wingers Mario Kempe and Frk. In that same game, Porkins crapped the bed with Eyssimont and Luff.
Lizotte did the same the previous game vs. VGK with Mario Kempe and Tyler Toffoli, everyone's favorite whipping boy.
In Arizona, Amadio DID have better wingers in Grundstrom and Wagner, while Lizotte was more impressive with again, M. Kempe and Frk, while Porkins was actually playing with the NHL squad in LA with JAD and Luff.
There is no pretending any one of those three players enjoyed some significant advantage. This is the first camp in a long time where we can look at this as a whole and almost reach a consensus about who took the job they deserved. Lizotte
earned his spot. Amadio
earned his spot and has a bigger body of work, too. Porkins didn't distinguish himself from anyone. End of story. I see no one is mourning Matt Luff, who suffered a similar fate--where's the cry for Canadian bias?
I think he'll be back, as he certainly has some skill, but it would be disgusting if he were on the roster over others.