Yeah. I think people are being a bit too harsh on Etem (and that line in general) last night. And a bit too generous on Rodin.
Etem is incredibly frustrating to watch, no doubt about it. He just doesn't have hockey sense. But he did hustle around (awkwardly), was reliable enough defensively, played north-south, had the puck often and moved it to the offensive end numerous times.
It wasn't pretty hockey from that line, but for the most part, it was exactly the type of simple dump and grind hockey you want from a 4th line (which is what that group would ostensibly be penciled in as). It's a positive if you get 8-10 minutes max of that sort of play from them. It's a bit of a drag to watch when you double that and put undue expectations of "creative offense" on them. But that looked like a tuneup for playing a 4th line role together. Where, in the regular season, they can jump on after long stretches on the bench and no real offensive rhythm...move pucks to the right end of the ice, forecheck, grind away down low, occasionally throw pucks toward the net and hope for a bounce.
I think there's probably more value in those players settling in to that sort of game and showing what they can do in that spectrum, than trying to audition for a creative "top line" player role in a preseason game, when they're (hopefully) never going to see anything like those minutes in the actual season.
So you get this perception that they were not good, because they weren't dangling all over the ice making riskier creative plays and being exciting to watch. When they were in reality, probably doing exactly what they're being asked to do - and doing it pretty well. Just way more of it in bulk volume than is entirely pleasant to watch due to the quantity of minutes they got.
That line wasn't playing a dump and chase grind fourth line game though. Dorsett carried the puck a fair bit. He had that weird spin move that lead to a chance off the rush, tried to dangle and cut to the net on another rush. It wasn't what you are describing, at least not what I picture as a fourth line grind style game. They tried things.
Etem played his game, the way he knows he has to, he was just wasn't effective at it. Often driving to the corner and such. He is a bit like a pour mans Raymond.
Granlund just isn't that good of a player. At least in my viewings he is not very good. He is smart and defensively conscious, but he isn't very good.
Though the biggest problem for Etem is probably that Skille played the same type of simple mucker grinder game...but better and with more jump.
Whereas Rodin, i didn't think had a very strong game overall. Beauty finish on the goal, and looked good and confident on the PP with space. But through much of the rest of the game 5v5, i didn't think he looked very dangerous at all. Had some issues with puck battles and traffic, some simple defensive plays, played in a lot of big loops with too much big-ice flyby stuff.
I agree Rodin should be looking to be higher on the roster. It wasn't a perfect game for him by any means but for a first game in what nine months, and first in years in North America, it was a very good game for him.
That's exactly it though. If Granlund plays in the NHL this season, those are the guys he's probably going to spend most of his time playing with. And it's not going to be 20 minutes a night of that. It's going to be half that, like 8-10 minutes a night - contribute well on special teams with the PK for a few extra minutes. Which is where that type of muck 'n grind throw pucks at the net, cycle the puck around below the hashmarks and mind the details defensively type game is appropriate.
Very cringey to watch that for 20 minutes...but as a tuneup for the roles these guys are actually auditioning for, expecting a lot of creative offense is probably looking for the wrong things.
It's also why you wanted to see more from them, as some of the only NHLers, so when they get outplayed by other players, it is very disappointing. For Etem and Dorsett I would say it's one game. For Granlund, I just think we have better options. Mainly Gaunce.