Darn, no Ovechkin tonight at UC
The Washington Capitals did not bring superstar winger Alex Ovechkin with them for tonight’s exhibition game against the Blackhawks at the United Center.
While the Hawks will go with most of their regulars in their preseason debut, Mike Green, Mike Knuble, Brooks Laich, Chris Clark and Tom Poti are among the only veterans to come with the Capitals.
Jack Skille, Kyle Beach, Bryan Bickell and Danny Bois are those rookies potentially in the Hawks’ lineup. Coach Joel Quenneville planned to settle on a lineup after dressing 25 players for the morning skate.
The 26-year-old Bois was signed as a free agent last summer after racking up 149 penalty minutes in 66 games in the American Hockey League last season at Binghamton.
Bois was the 97th player taken in the 2001 draft by Colorado.
Will this contract set a price level for contract negotiations with Toews and Kane? Kessel signed with Toronto for 5 yrs @ 5.4 per. Similar amount of service and stats are not that far apart.
I think it will and I happen to think JT is worth more than Kessel for sure and Kane about the same as Kessel . Kessel is a great player but staying healthy may be an issue for him. About last night's game did you see Campbell cough up the puck midway thru the third period, just brutal. I know it is early but plays like that will not help Huet get his confidence back. Huet is just not a number one and it showed again last night. By the way Khabby got a shutout in his first game with the Oil the other night.
Any comments as to the strategy involved in such a Short Pre-Season Schedule. Only 6 Exhibition Games in total. The last few will be needed to get the veterans in Game Shape ( which puts them behind what other Teams might be doing ). Could make for a slower start and the loss of some easy points. That also leaves very little oopportunity to evaluate the prospects. Can`t understand why Chicago wouldn`t field a team in the Traverse City Prospects Tournament. Seems to make a lot of sense.
Any reasonable explanations from Management.
Most of the prospects you want to see have already been cut. Appears with a shortened exhibition season and away from this country for a while, it is a role player sort who maybe makes the team at the expense of someone whose salary cap hit is higher.
Tonight Skille, Beach, Niemi, Crawford is basically it. Some fans have seen each of them already, although Beach only in prospects camp. Beach would be a huge surprise to make the team, since he can return to junior. He won't play regularly up here and he still needs to work on some things, notably his skating -- which I think is something you improve over the summer? Players like Aliu, Denis-Pepin, Carlsson, Fallon, Bertram, Davis not enough "time" for a look see this camp. But due to camp scrimmages I assume the staff got a look at their talent and has some ideas about their development. Who can comment on players seen in camp scrimmages.....did you see some talented players? I'm really rooting for Davis in particular. Great review when healthy as a collegian...nothing but inj problems as a pro.
My brief take on some of the guys demoted (I did not see any camp scrimmages this year):
Bertram was a sand and paper grit guy with some skill each of his four years in Hockey East, yet had some problems in the AHL. But he has too much experience and know how international and frozen four play; thinking all along is that he could be a very solid third line player. The kind every team wants. Carlsson is needing to take that next step & looks like he has a good game. Denis-Pepin has a lot of good things about his game, but has to contain speedy forwards. Smart, has great reach but his development maybe stalled as he was among youngsters on collegiate team last two years/he had looked awesome in earliest rookie camps..only issue was needing to see him handle rough stuff and speedy forwards. He is a Chara size minus some bulk and not the shooter Chara is/not a rushing defenseman, but has skills.
Well Dowell and Brophey still are up and a Petiot is around. No great phenoms. But I maintain a hungry Skille, Aliu, even Beech if he somehow found ice up here, could conceivably fit right in on a short term assignment. A minor injury or two, and a Rockford player is recalled as a reward for good/improved performance. The prospects role on this team appears clearly defined this year; if someone has more /other info, would like to hear your thoughts. Attn, ST Bowman: why not send your prospects to the Traverse City Tournament (pre exhibition season) ? I bet Jacukel and REALWIZ would concur. There's some prospect info, Steve Rain & chgsporsfan.
HP53 just wondering if Barker gets moved, it is due to the fact that management views Hjalmarsson as the young guy who steps up behind Keith and Seabrook (let's just leave Campbell out of this -- leave him as on the econd pair and not ever on a top pair). There may be some cap crunching reasoning if Barker would go ahead of Hjalmarsson. Still pondering whether a Versteeg and Barker go for --- what ? if it happens, your guess for what we receive.