Well once again it's preseason so need to keep these results in perspective. Vets will do what they feel they need to to get ready as much as the fans may not always like it.
I once again liked our aggressiveness and shape in the nz and Oz. Our forecheck was real good we looked to have an actual breakout strategy.
After seeing a game of our top 6 I still am not liking the configuration much. Granted it's preseason but many of the things I thought would be issues were. The top line has three players who all want to have the puck on their stick. I felt this pretty much rendered Mark as the support player tonight as Fly and KFC had the puck most of the time. Perhaps they work this out better moving forward but I feel we can't afford to have any of those three playing a largely supporting role on a line.
The second line was interesting to watch. Perfetti essentially made that line his and started Imposing his will on the game but he didn't have a forward who knew where to get open infront of the net. He was essentially playing the role Blake has traditionally played on the line and I think Blake is going to have learn to adapt his game to adapt to Cole. He was still making largely playmaking routes tonight. Dubois will help but I think we need to rejig the lines a bit to get better balance and overlap of skills.
Players:
Of the vets, Morrissey and Conner looked fairly sharp and engaged. The rest had various levels of rust/engagement, they just need to be ready for puck drop.
Cole was once again excellent. His play off the puck was very good again and forces turnovers and low percentage plays with his positioning and timing. He flashed a tonne of skill in traffic tonight and what I liked is he wasn't looking to defer to the vet in Wheeler. He was imposing his will on the game. He's going to be an excellent player sooner then later.
Heinola: Had a rough first half of the game but then settled and started making better reads all over the ice. He was activating at the appropriate times, he was moving the puck with poise and assertiveness. Also was happy with his gap and his physical play. He is one player who really reads well off of Cole. I think he's given himself the early lead for that last spot.
Lundmark I felt acquitted himself quite well tonight. He played his usual steady game and moved the puck smartly. There is some elements of DeMelo in his play.
Samberg was very meh, he was not moving the puck all that well and was just so so in his end. He is going to need to be much better moving forward to win that spot.
The Moose line was all hungry and played their hearts out. Torgoson with perhaps the best game of his life. He was doing everything he needs to do be successful. He was hard on pucks, using his size to both separate pucks and to shield pucks. He then got open and used his good shot. He's earned himself another game but he should go down and get lots of minutes and reps in order to get consistent playing this type of game. He's got skills we need though.
Essymont making a strong case for the fourth line.
Good post.
On the first line, I agree that Scheif, Ehlers and Connor could probably be more effective with one of them on another line. I'm thinking that Connor plays well with Perfetti and Dubois. However, I also understand that the Schief/Wheeler trio should finally be split up. How about Perfetti playing with Scheif and Ehlers? Perfetti is very much like a young Schiefele, but he is more of a playmaker/quarterback. This would allow Schiefele to use his great snap shot more often.
Still not sold on Heinola. I actually like Chisholm's game more at this point, but again... preseason doesn't mean a whole lot.
I agree with your take on Samberg. I think the best we'll get from him is a solid stay at home d-man. I would be okay with that if he develops a much needed mean streak.
Torgs played well. It's nice to see a big guy with good hands around the net. Of all the forward prospects and Moose guys, he intrigues me the most. How about him with Appleton and Lowry. Now, that's a very big trio with decent hands for a third line.
Everybody loves Essy's effort. I still think he's a career AHL player who will be an injury call up at best. There's no way a guy like Barron will lose his job to him. I think you'll see Barron and Gagne moving all over the lines this year depending on injuries. If Torgs doesn't make the line-up, one of them will find a spot on the third line.
