theProdigy223
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- Jul 4, 2013
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Been to every home opener since 2011 and there was an energy and excitement in the building I've never seen before on an opening day. It was really striking. Fans are pumped for this team and with good reason.
There was also not a doubt in my mind that we would win that game when we went down 4-3. Definitely not used to that feeling given this team's track record over the years. Usually it's the opposite and you're just waiting for the lead to get blown in spectacular fashion. But you could tell by the energy on the ice and in the stands that there was no way we were losing.
THE GOOD
Zibanejad is a star offensively and defensively. His skating is something that stood out to me. He's not the fastest guy but he has a powerful burst and knows when to use it. His vision is incredible and is never out of position. Purging the older players over the past couple of years has him playing with a new level of confidence.
Panarin - Ive never seen a player that small be so difficult to knock off the puck. It's not just the elusiveness but his body position and leverage is unbelievable. He's a special player with the puck on his stick and he's going to be fun to watch. Him and Zib are a legitimate 1-2 punch that teams will need to account for.
Kakko is an adult. Cool and collected. Had a few real good chances. We need to get him a real center.
Trouba - as advertised. The most complete defenseman we've had in a long time. Physicality, vision, gap control, first pass, he did it all. If Skjei wasn't a dumpster fire out there he would have looked even better.
The bottom 6 - they all had fairly decent games (minus Lias tripping over the camera cord during intros - come on dude). Fast never misses a chance to sit down in front of a slap shot. Howden looks stronger thank god because he was a marshmallow last year. Liked him going to the net where the game winner was sitting for him. Lemieux needs more ice time but until Names is gone not sure he's going to get it. Smith as a 4th line winger actually not bad (contract aside).
THE BAD
Every defenseman besides Trouba. Good lord.
Skjei looked like a baby giraffe. Tony is great with the puck but loses gap control pretty much every time and got walked around the edge twice. Yes WPG has speed on the wings but he was way too late opening his hips both times. Staal is an ok player who can still make a good exist pass and probably had the best game of the 5. But he might be the slowest skater in the league. What's noticeable in person is how often he doesnt even try to go for a loose puck or pinch. At least he's self aware. Also takes him about 2 minutes to change direction.
Fox and Hajek had a brutal game as a pairing. You pair two rookies together and this is what you get, but I also don't want Fox stuck with Staal either who will kill the temp Fox wants to play with. Fully confident they will both get better, but that was an ugly debut.
Strome - seems like a decent guy but has absolutely no business in the top 6 much less centering our fastest skater and top rookie. He's slow and has no vision. He brought the whole line down and just to remind everyone how out of place he is took 2 penalties before I finished my first beer. Put him back in the bottom 6 or get him off the team.
D zone exits - hard to tell how much of it was WPG being strong through the neutral zone, but we had a lot of trouble getting through. To me it seemed like a lot of unforced errors. To0 much passing to spots with our guy a step either a step behind or ahead. Timing was clearly off. Obviously something that happens with new faces but needs to get cleaned up ASAP
Lias - how the hell do you trip over the camera cord??????
Dancing Larry - time to hang them up dude.
This is going to be a fun season. Once this D gels and we get a real center for the second line, look out.
There was also not a doubt in my mind that we would win that game when we went down 4-3. Definitely not used to that feeling given this team's track record over the years. Usually it's the opposite and you're just waiting for the lead to get blown in spectacular fashion. But you could tell by the energy on the ice and in the stands that there was no way we were losing.
THE GOOD
Zibanejad is a star offensively and defensively. His skating is something that stood out to me. He's not the fastest guy but he has a powerful burst and knows when to use it. His vision is incredible and is never out of position. Purging the older players over the past couple of years has him playing with a new level of confidence.
Panarin - Ive never seen a player that small be so difficult to knock off the puck. It's not just the elusiveness but his body position and leverage is unbelievable. He's a special player with the puck on his stick and he's going to be fun to watch. Him and Zib are a legitimate 1-2 punch that teams will need to account for.
Kakko is an adult. Cool and collected. Had a few real good chances. We need to get him a real center.
Trouba - as advertised. The most complete defenseman we've had in a long time. Physicality, vision, gap control, first pass, he did it all. If Skjei wasn't a dumpster fire out there he would have looked even better.
The bottom 6 - they all had fairly decent games (minus Lias tripping over the camera cord during intros - come on dude). Fast never misses a chance to sit down in front of a slap shot. Howden looks stronger thank god because he was a marshmallow last year. Liked him going to the net where the game winner was sitting for him. Lemieux needs more ice time but until Names is gone not sure he's going to get it. Smith as a 4th line winger actually not bad (contract aside).
THE BAD
Every defenseman besides Trouba. Good lord.
Skjei looked like a baby giraffe. Tony is great with the puck but loses gap control pretty much every time and got walked around the edge twice. Yes WPG has speed on the wings but he was way too late opening his hips both times. Staal is an ok player who can still make a good exist pass and probably had the best game of the 5. But he might be the slowest skater in the league. What's noticeable in person is how often he doesnt even try to go for a loose puck or pinch. At least he's self aware. Also takes him about 2 minutes to change direction.
Fox and Hajek had a brutal game as a pairing. You pair two rookies together and this is what you get, but I also don't want Fox stuck with Staal either who will kill the temp Fox wants to play with. Fully confident they will both get better, but that was an ugly debut.
Strome - seems like a decent guy but has absolutely no business in the top 6 much less centering our fastest skater and top rookie. He's slow and has no vision. He brought the whole line down and just to remind everyone how out of place he is took 2 penalties before I finished my first beer. Put him back in the bottom 6 or get him off the team.
D zone exits - hard to tell how much of it was WPG being strong through the neutral zone, but we had a lot of trouble getting through. To me it seemed like a lot of unforced errors. To0 much passing to spots with our guy a step either a step behind or ahead. Timing was clearly off. Obviously something that happens with new faces but needs to get cleaned up ASAP
Lias - how the hell do you trip over the camera cord??????
Dancing Larry - time to hang them up dude.
This is going to be a fun season. Once this D gels and we get a real center for the second line, look out.
