L K
Well-known member
I didn't think the team looked terrible in the Montreal game (although the underlying metrics did). Obviously they looked much better last night. It's still preseason games. Its still meaningless hockey.
Usually October hockey is pretty terrible with high scoring/bad defensive efforts. I think the team has looked remarkably decent for having a new coach and trying to integrate half a roster of new players.
The biggest things are we have already seen how good Gavin can be. He's a rookie. He's going to be pushed around. He's also going to have moments where he dominates the game because his skill level is so high.
Matthews and Tanev easily have to be the biggest standouts of camp so far though. Tanev looks every bit as stabilizing as we need him to be. And Matthews...oh man. His skating looks better in a straight line...but he also has his hands/wrists back at least right now. He's doing those creative stick lifts again.
Knies has to be the most disappointing regular so far. He looks slow. I feel like he would play better down a few pounds where he can still truck through guys but be more up tempo. Now it's also preseason so I'm going to give it time but he's the guy who hasn't really shown much so far. All the high end regulars have all done at least something to show they are ready to have a better season.
Usually October hockey is pretty terrible with high scoring/bad defensive efforts. I think the team has looked remarkably decent for having a new coach and trying to integrate half a roster of new players.
The biggest things are we have already seen how good Gavin can be. He's a rookie. He's going to be pushed around. He's also going to have moments where he dominates the game because his skill level is so high.
Matthews and Tanev easily have to be the biggest standouts of camp so far though. Tanev looks every bit as stabilizing as we need him to be. And Matthews...oh man. His skating looks better in a straight line...but he also has his hands/wrists back at least right now. He's doing those creative stick lifts again.
Knies has to be the most disappointing regular so far. He looks slow. I feel like he would play better down a few pounds where he can still truck through guys but be more up tempo. Now it's also preseason so I'm going to give it time but he's the guy who hasn't really shown much so far. All the high end regulars have all done at least something to show they are ready to have a better season.
