dudacek

What NS said. Canada is ridiculously deep and is playing everybody, so don’t picture him as always on the ice and controlling the games the way Jack does. But he is on the first PP, he is killing penalties, he is playing against the other team’s best players, and he is leading the team in goals and in assists. I think it is also pretty clear he is becoming the leader and will be the go-to guy when the games get close in a way they haven’t been so far.

This is reasonable. There is a real possibility Eakin will be as bad as he was last year, and I just think that Ralph will favour the vets until the kids are clearly better. What I like about the development of R2 and the additions of Rieder and Sheahan is it means there is both a safety net and an obstacle to guard and spur kids like Asplund, Mitts, Thompson and Cozens and vets like Okposo, Girgensons and Eakin. The worry is that Botterill tried to set up a similar situation last year and it didnt work. Thompson got hurt, Mitts and Asplund weren’t ready, Sobotka/Frolik failed and Vesey and Sheary didn’t take advantage of their opportunity. Olofsson and Lazar were the only forwards to emerge from the pack.

Think so? Now this is likely to change as the season progresses, but I’d say entering the season there are five forwards less likely to be benched: Eichel, Hall, Staal, Reinhart and Skinner More likely: Cozens, Rieder, Lazar, Mittelstadt and Thompson I’d put Kyle in a group that includes Girgs, Eakin and Olofsson, and if pushed Id have him 7th, after Olofsson. I’m not talking about where he plays on the depth chart, I’m talking how likely it is he will be made a healthy scratch. Where do you see him?

I fully admit I wanted Zegras, but Cozens has not made me second guess that pick at all. And his style fills a need better than Zegras right now. I’m convinced he can be a top six RW; I hope he can be an elite 2C. Funny you say that about York. I only casually watched today’s game, but saw he put up a good stat line. I watched the first two games more closely and thought he isn’t the 1D the Americans are using him as. Not even close. He rarely played that hard either.

The Okposo conversation is moot until he’s not one of our top 12. We hope Cozens and Thompson and Eakin and Mitts change things, but he opens the season in the top nine

Watching the games confirms that number is earned. Perfetti has one more point, and has wonderful vision and hands, but he’s been a PP specialist. You can’t overrate the WJC (especially given Rossi’s team), but it is gratifying to see how our picks are performing versus the guys rated around them.

Cozens with 4 goals and 5 assists in 3 games, second to Zegras with 10. Looks like they took away Quinn’s PP assist on the Byfield tip, but he’s still 1/3/4 in 3 and leads all tournament forwards at +8. This is an interesting stat line: Byfield 2/5/7/+7 Stutzle 3/2/5/-5 Raymond 1/2/3/+1 Sanderson 0/1/1/+2 Drysdale 0/2/2/+12 Holtz 0/1/1/+1 Quinn 1/3/4/+8 Rossi 0/0/0/-5 Perfetti 1/4/5/+3 Lundell 2/1/3/+3 Holloway 0/1/1/+3 Mercer 2/3/5/+6 Zary 0/1/1/+4 Jarventie 0/0/0/-1 Peterka 1/4/5/-6 Colangelo 1/0/1/+1 Gunler 3/0/3/+2

Byfield’s line again, this time Pelletier. Quinn didn’t get an assist, but carried the puck in on the rush and threw the check that caused the turnover

Quinn gets his 2nd assist on a Byfield PP goal. Byfield has 4 points. Quinn back on the Byfield line. And he sets up Byfield for his fifth point, Quiinn’s 3rd apple. Very nice pass.

Now Quinn on the 1st line with Cozens and McMichael, sets Dylan up for a good chance. Cozens really looking good.

Looks like Quinn now riding the pine, replaced by Zary. Cozens with the steal and an apple.

Cozens on the PP. Really like him down in the Reinhart spot.

Not sure if he’ll get an assist, but Quinn forces the turnover for Canada’s first. And yes, assist.

I don’t there is any question Zegras is better in the finer skills (hands, IQ) and Cozens in the strength areas (feet and power). It will be interesting to see how their relative strengths and weaknesses translate.

Watching RJ in this tourney, it is very easy to picture him playing 10 years in the NHL as reliable second pair guy. It’s hard to see a guy who skates and protects the puck that well not translating.

We get the cap savings, but he doesn’t get the salary hit? That's a different story then. Is it because of the NMC? And who else might it apply to?

Krueger said they were hoping Quinn and Cozens would play in the 2nd infra squad. Does this mean that’s not the case?

I just wonder what hiding players this way does to team morale? You are taking money out of people’s pockets and not because of their play.

Interesting to hear from Adams and Krueger about Casey this morning. Apparently if COVID hadn’t happened he had earned himself a recall last spring by his play in Rochester. Sounds like they felt he was headed in the right direction, was told he had to earn a spot on the team this year and given the tools to take advantage this summer. Adams emphasized how young Casey was (is?) and really gave me the impression he thinks Casey was given a free pass and needed to be challenged. It seems like he very much in the mix for this year’s roster, and they are as anxious as we are to see what he will bring to camp. Also, he was open to the idea of giving him a shot on the wing, which I know has been suggested on here.

I can’t see Okposo on the taxi squad, because I can’t see Okposo (pending off-season commitment) not being one for the 12 best forwards. That goes double for Skinner.

Wrong thread I guess, but this morning Ralph took some responsibility for Skinner’s problems last year before going on about the need for defensive commitment. He said he and Skinner have had good talks about what needs to be different this year, but didn’t elaborate.

Teams have to pay players who opt out due to legit medical concerns, but not otherwise. Not sure how it would be decided if he is to be paid NHL or AHL rates, if he is being paid.

Does any one have any idea what Ralph’s issue with Larry was? He used him heavily last year, but has made it clear, if indirectly, he didn’t want him back.

I remember the Sabres desperately wanting Sheahan in the 2010 draft, then settling for Pysyk when the Wings grabbed him. I have no idea what his analytics are, but in terms of counting stats, role and play style, he is Johan Larsson. In terms of track record, he would logically slot as our 4C ahead of Lazar. Supports the idea that they want NHL players on the taxi squad.

The context was the relative youth of the group. If I remember correctly, he listed the mobility as a reason they like the group and added the strength as an area where they can, and did, grow. Ralph singled out how well he’s been doing overseas, and how well Bryson and Mittelstadt finished with the Amerks.