How serious do you take preseason games?

[dudacek]

If i took preseason seriously, I'd expect most of these things to come true this year:

1) Alex Tuch and/or Tage Thompson will put too much pressure on themselves, struggle to find a groove, and regress

2) Casey Mittelstadt will have a career year — 70+ points and good 2-way play

3) JJ Peterka will take an obvious step forward

4) Victor Olofsson will be elsewhere before the trade deadline

5) Peyton Krebs and Jordan Greenway will emerge as those useful, complementary 3rd-line-level players that all good teams seem to have

6) Zach Benson will remain a Sabre for the entire year

7) Owen Power will have a sophomore slump

8. Henri Jokiharju will have a career year and settle nicely into a solid 2nd-pairing guy

9) Connor Clifton will be a large disappointment

10) UPL will be ejected early and Levi/Comrie will emerge as surprisingly solid 50/30 split in net

Curious to see how many, if any, actually come true. It might make me take next year's preseason more (or less) seriously.

Edited October 11, 2023 by dudacek

[GASabresIUFAN]

Pre-season hockey is like pre-season baseball.  The early games are meaningless other than seeing if any of the kids will make a run at a roster spot.  The final couple of games, when the rosters look more like an NHL rosters, can give at least a little indications if the team is ready for the season.  The site’s response to the last two games with their bad D and goaltending certainly left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth.

That said, Pitt dominated the Sabres, and now a week later they get beat by an allegedly bad Chicago team to open the season.  If the Sabres play like they are capable of, these game shouldn’t mean anything.
 

 

[shrader]

7 hours ago, dudacek said:

10) UPL will be ejected early and Levi/Comrie will emerge as surprisingly solid 50/30 split in net

Is it an empty net the other 20% of the time? Not a good sign. 

[GASabresIUFAN]

48 minutes ago, shrader said:

Is it an empty net the other 20% of the time? Not a good sign. 

I think he means games played.  

[bg17]

The Oilers gave up a total of 4 goals in their final 3 preseason games. Preseason games are meaningless. 

[Doohicksie]

Not as serious as the regular season ones. 😄