Impressive
Michaël Bournival was fast and buzzed around all game. He threw a few hits, scored a couple of goals.
Michael McCarron played a good game for a nervous rookie, he showed good offensive awareness and hands, tallied two assists, and generally looked good.
Zemgus Girgensons was a sight out there, speeding around the rink and causing havoc. He also picked up two goals. Kid can fly.
Jarred Tinordi was effective and imposing, threw some big bodychecks, and stood up to Sabres goon Cody McCormick when the latter objected to a clean hit he'd laid on a Sabre. Nice going Jarred.
Martin Reway is a waterbug who seems not to understand that he doesn't belong at an NHL training camp. He's going to make some usually unerringly astute observers look bad if he keeps this up. He's constantly around the puck and dangerous in the offensive zone. He evaded an assassination attempt by Steve Ott.
Martin St-Pierre was a revelation, insofar as he will provide offence and veteranship to a Bulldogs roster that sorely needed it last season. He played smart and made his wingers look good.
The Kid Line of Lars Eller, Alex Galchenyuk and Brendan Gallagher looked dominant against training camp opposition, which is what we'd expect. A promising start.
Mikhail Grigorenko (shootout version): What a talent this kid is. Did you see that move? What hands.
Mixed results
Davis Drewiske tried to play physical, cleared out the front of the net with gusto on a couple of occasions, and had to answer the bell against Sabres goon Cody McCormick, which didn't go well but could have been worse.
Greg Pateryn and Magnus Nygren didn't stand out but didn't embarrass themselves either. They both played special teams and did okay.
Raphaël Diaz wasn't great considering the opposition.
Matt Lashoff has his work cut out for him even to make the Bulldogs roster.
Invisible
Patrick Holland. Sven Andrighetto. Mikhail Grigorenko (game version).
Repulsive
Patrick Kaleta assaulted Alex Galchenyuk, to 'make him accountable' for a clean hit he threw on Jamie McBain. The hit actually looked worse than it was, Alex caught the Sabres defender leaning into a tight turn and off-balance and knocked him down pretty easily. Mr. Kaleta grabbed Alex and tried to goad him into a fight, and then just started punching Alex when he refused. Repugnant behaviour. What does Patrick Kaleta have to do to be expelled from the NHL? The only organization that would tolerate such outright amorality and criminality may be the Canadian Senate. And maybe Wall Street. Gary Bettman is busy making outdoor ice in L.A., so he can't attend to the fact that unskilled thugs are attacking the game's stars. Gary, you simpleton, I know you don't know hockey, but what would the NFL do about this? How does it treat its quarterbacks? Think hard now. Is it a good thing that Pavel Datsyuk gets crosschecked in the throat by Dave Bolland, or a bad thing? Do you need a hint?
Let's say it's a bad thing. Now, should it cause the perpetrator to garner a mild rebuke, or something more serious? Remember, the stars are the players folks tune in for or buy tickets to see play. Not Patrick Kaleta or Dave Bolland. So what should happen to the replaceable plug who attacks the star who generates the revenue to pay that ludicrously high salary of yours? Should he get a slap on the wrist, or something more serious, as well as a significant consequence to the GM and team that brunged him into the league and gave him a job? I know you think it's a difficult question, but it really isn't. Keep thinking. It'll come to you.
Repulsive/Risible
Steve Ott did the "I'm going to grab this guy's head and see if it comes off" thing with Martin St-Pierre. Somehow both got penalties. Apparently Mr. St-Pierre was culpable for putting his face in Steve Ott's dirty stinky gloves. What does Steve Ott have to do to be expelled from the NHL?
No comments:
Post a Comment