Just got back from Day 2.
I've got a new favorite from the lower rounds after today...hello Anton Karlsson forechecking machine.
Karlsson, Domi & Dvorak were the best line today. Karlsson is a forechecking machine, Dvorak made some nice plays and Domi had some great passes, very quick to the puck and nearly knocked the helmet off of Langhamer with a quick onetimer.
Second best line was Samuelsson, Gaudet & Bunting. Bunting scored a tip in...Samuelsson is just a freak in board battles, insane that he stripped so many pucks today and then made plays. He's gonna need to work on quickness, but he's going to be very good, a monster on the half wall. Gaudet is a player as well, I see what Tippett sees in him...but he'll need some AHL time. Bunting played well, really like him
Unfortunately for Perlini and Kulda they were centered by MacInnis who did not play well, had a hard time keeping up with the play and was lost defensively...ugh!!!! However, Perlini does everything with his head up, great to see, this dude is fast, wait until he gets invited to pro camp...oooooh he's going to be good, lightening quick shot. Kulda was good as well, but MacInnis kept screwing things up.
Other than those guys, players that had a good scrimmage were LaPlante, omg, hardest working player, Mads Eller was good, Larraza made some nice plays and whoever said above that Westlund made some plays as well was correct. Mayo moved the puck well, but he's gonna have to get stronger, but like watching Murphy the puck was always tape to tape with Mayo...unlike most all the other defenders who kept passing to the body rather than stick.
Here are the guys that didn't have a good scrimmage:
Soleway and Holland (#70) and Melindy didn't play well, Playfair's kid and Fejes.
In goal, Langhamer is awesome...he'll get 1 more year with Medicine Hat and then I'd expect him to be in Portland, the kid's got game...thank goodness we've got him...as Domingue looks to have hit a plateau and Visentin is the only current goalie who looks to be pro material unless Lee gets his game back.
So Summary:
Domi - lightening quick, good vision, should be in NHL
Samuelsson - great on the puck, good possession skills, needs to only work on quickness, will need to be in AHL for at least 1 season
Perlini - powerful stride, very fast, always has his head up (I'm thinking he can play center, not sure if Verhaeghe is coming back, but maybe they can get Niagara to move him) extremely quick shot and on target. The kid's stride is remarkable fluid, think Lisin light but at 6'3''. Needs to work on battle skills, probably needs 2 years, 1 more in Niagara and then 1 year in the AHL to round out his game. But he's the only prospect I see with 40 goal potential.
MacInnis - project, project, project. The bottom of all the new guys, the kid is big, but needs to work on skating, and quickness, until then, he doesn't have particularly good hands and was inefficient in many facets. Hope they give Perlini/Kulda someone else to work w/tomorrow.
Dvorak - looked good, worked extremely well with Domi & Karlsson, I see 3rd line center...with 2nd line center upside.
Karlsson - hard working, reported skating issues are unfounded, the kid definitely can improve, but he's not bad. Extremely effective on the forecheck, and played great defense...the kid is definitely pro material...hope he gets to play with McDavid this year...he'll make McDavid look good...with his offensive zone possession skills.
Bunting - looked good with Sammy & Gaudet, good speed, looks quick, nice hands, he's got 3rd line upside.
Westlund - much better today, made some nice plays and played physical. One of the better D today...the was one of the very few D that were noticeable...other than for noticing all the mistakes.
Eller - had a good game as well, made some nice plays with LaPlante.
LaPlante - hardest working guy on the ice along w/Gaudet...can definitely see him in a 4th line energy roll.
Gaudet - as advertised, looked really good between Samuelsson and Bunting...the kid is in the same mold as Vitale with less speed
Kulda - it's too bad they had MaInnis, need to probably switch that line up tomorrow, but the kid can play, nice work in the offensive zone, needs to work on the defense