JVR-Hayes-Voracek
For 1 preseason game, Hayes definitely looked the part of a big, smart puck possession center who just settles play down. It will be nice to have multiple of those. Good PK work.....1 game down, 600 to go. Voracek and JVR were going half-gear for the most part, but the line cycled well. Voracek was a strong compliment through the NZ, which I'd worry about with Lindblom in his place (all 3 aren't NZ threats). Can Hayes carry those two defensively against non-AHL competition?
Lindblom-Rubtsov-Stewart
Stewart can fight and lay some late hits all he wants, but man did he look slow and did nothing with the puck. Lindblom and Rubtsov had some subtle plays. Not a whole lot stood out, but those two are tenacious forecheckers. Rubtsov certainly didn't stand out as overmatched. Give them a better RW. Lindblom can do more offensively though.
Ratcliffe-O'Reilly-Farabee
Farabee was sort of like Lindblom/Rubtsov. Subtle plays, meat on the bone, was on the puck a fair amount (probably 10x more than his linemates), but he wasn't overmatched. Usual self attacking off-puck. The players he was with did absolute squat though. O'Reilly is whatever as an AHLer in place for Frost. But Ratcliffe needs to be phased out of the roster competition sooner rather than later. Continuing his preseason, he was a black hole -- not sure he made more than 1 play with the puck tonight. He did nothing to create space, got knocked off too easily, was late on most plays, failed on a bunch of passes, and in tight spaces he lost feel for the puck anytime someone was near. Why I'm more down on him than most is because he did this stuff in the OHL too, and I've regularly discussed it. I just worry about him at ES under tight checking/pace of play. Even his skating strength gets nullified.
Sushko-Vorobyev-Crisculo
Sushko actually didn't look bad if they're grooming him for the Hextall anointed 4th line role in a couple years. Simple, nothing standout, but he wasn't lost. Vorobyev looked pretty dang good with the players he was with. Too bad he couldn't play with better players though. He deserves a better shot to showcase. Solid work on the PK will endear him, I'm sure, when it comes to bottom 6/4th line competition.
Ghost-Braun
Ghost was pretty stellar all night, not much more to say. Braun was very strong defensively tonight and complimented him well (like I said a few weeks ago, his ideal partner might be an elite transition guy in Ghost). His ability to pressure at the blue line was super important too for Ghost. Guys like Hagg/AMac can't even do that, and Ghost relies on stopping rushes. Whether he can keep up with the puck under NHL forecheck, I don't know. But he did look good defensively tonight and allowed that pair to get up ice fast with possession shifts.
Zamula-Myers
Zamula was a beaut tonight, and his poise on breakouts and passes in general is something else. He has the makings for a great rush defender too. Even in the cycle, he used his body and massive reach well to take/shield the puck. Myers was the usual. But Zamula -- despite draft pedigree and horrific lack of pro experience! -- has a chance to be here sooner than expected at LD if he keeps it up. Dude just balls out against pros.
Morin-Welinski
Morin was legitimately a disaster the first half with and without the puck. He turned the page the second half and was much better in timing/execution. If his mission was to make the brass forget about Hagg as the #7, I can't say he did. But he did get better.