Ryan Wilson: Thoughts From Pittsburgh's Win Over Chicago Thoughts From Pittsburgh's Win Over Chicago

So pissed I could only watch the 1st period because I was excited to get a look at players like Guentzel, Archibald, Prow & Gaunce who were all very underwhelming in that period. From some highlights I saw it looks like Guentzel really picked it up in the 2nd & 3rd period but the only player that really stood out in the 1st was Dea, seems like the puck always finds him no matter where he is on the ice.

The argument against the WCoH is an aversion to international competition due to fear of injury. No one actually dislikes the product.

Preseason games are only a chore to get through when you're team is the defending Stanley Cup champion with almost the exact same roster and you're a legitimate contender to repeat. For most teams, preseason is very intriguing, especially when you have new players to get a first look at, old players to look for positive/negative changes in their game, and open roster spots to be won or lost.

If it were up to me Sid and Geno would just rest and practice until the season started. They should already be in game shape.

I truly think early preseason games are boring and hard to get excited to watch. They truly mean nothing as far as figuring out how a team looks. A few nights ago, I sat through an NHL exhibition at PSU pitting Buffalo and Minnesota. The big names, for the most part, weren't playing. Most of the people were AHL guys battling for maybe the one or two open spots on the roster.

Last night, no Crosby, Malkin, Maatta, Hagelin, Kessel, Bones, Horny, Sheary ... Kane, Toews, Keith, Seabrooke and others. These games are what they are.

An interview with Drouin, he was saying the World Cup is like playoff hockey. I have a feeling the guys in the WC will have a good start to the season, getting in the groove of things with and versus top end talent instead of training camp and preseason.

Preseason games are only a chore to get through when you're team is the defending Stanley Cup champion with almost the exact same roster and you're a legitimate contender to repeat. For most teams, preseason is very intriguing, especially when you have new players to get a first look at, old players to look for positive/negative changes in their game, and open roster spots to be won or lost.
- SpeedBlue91

No, I've been watching hockey my entire life, and over the past 6 years I've watched every one of the Lightning's home preseason games... and they are brutal. No matter what.

No, I've been watching hockey my entire life, and over the past 6 years I've watched every one of the Lightning's home preseason games... and they are brutal. No matter what.
- j.boyd919

Obviously, because you're a Pitt fan first and foremost. I'm a Rangers fan first and secondarily like the Wings and TB, but theres no way in hell I'm watching those two teams preseason games. You usually care if its your team, and if your team has, like I mentioned before, significant roster turnover, returning players to watch either progress or regress, and spots up for grabs. The games may be tough to watch because of less skill on the ice and starters being rusty, but its at the very least intriguing to see how your players are shaping up to be for the upcoming season.

An interview with Drouin, he was saying the World Cup is like playoff hockey. I have a feeling the guys in the WC will have a good start to the season, getting in the groove of things with and versus top end talent instead of training camp and preseason.
- j.boyd919

To me, its play-off hockey minus all the physical play. I'm not saying the intensity isn't there, but look at play-off hockey games versus these games. The physical play pales in comparison to play off games.

The WC is a good idea until a major player sustains an injury that sidelines him for months, if not the year.

I didnt find watching that a chore at all last night. I love watching the young guys in the system because its guys I havent seen play much of at all, or at all. It's nice to watch potential future contributors to the big club. Also...those jerseys....first time seeing them in action

No, I've been watching hockey my entire life, and over the past 6 years I've watched every one of the Lightning's home preseason games... and they are brutal. No matter what.
- j.boyd919

So when guys like Maata, Pouliot were playing in their first preseasons, you weren't excited to see how they looked? Same for Matt Murray and Kapanen, before he was trade? You weren't excited to watch Phil Kessel's first preseason game last year?

Yes, the skill level isn't the same, nor is the intensity. But I enjoy seeing how the young players perform as well as seeing what new FA's bring to the table and how they look with other potential linemates.

So when guys like Maata, Pouliot were playing in their first preseasons, you weren't excited to see how they looked? Same for Matt Murray and Kapanen, before he was trade? You weren't excited to watch Phil Kessel's first preseason game last year?

Yes, the skill level isn't the same, nor is the intensity. But I enjoy seeing how the young players perform as well as seeing what new FA's bring to the table and how they look with other potential linemates.
- jmatchett383

Not that I recall. Honestly, I don't even know if I watched any Pens preseason games last season. (I was living in the office getting ready for the Lightning season) So I don't even know if I had the time to watch them, but I never felt like I was missing anything.

Not that I recall. Honestly, I don't even know if I watched any Pens preseason games last season. (I was living in the office getting ready for the Lightning season) So I don't even know if I had the time to watch them, but I never felt like I was missing anything.
- j.boyd919

I don't know, speaking as a Flyers' fan, I can say that watching all of our prospects and seeing if any look close to making the big club is very exciting. I think that goes for any team if you have a highly-touted prospect or a brand new, shiny, big-time FA.

Rangers fan, only Wilson feels that way about preseason. I was ver interested to see how Jarry would perform, in particular, because he has a real chance to be MAFs backup until Murray gets back and makes MAF into the backup. I think Jarry looked great, another reason to think that MAF could safely be traded and the Murray/ Jarry tandem will be something we all can get used to seeing. If Jarry splits time between Pitts and WBS this year he should be ready to tak on the backup role full time next year. And we still have Gustavson on the way. Only Tampa is as deep at that position as we are with Bushop, Vas, and Gudlevski. There are a lot of teams that should be looking for a good goaltender.

So when guys like Maata, Pouliot were playing in their first preseasons, you weren't excited to see how they looked? Same for Matt Murray and Kapanen, before he was trade? You weren't excited to watch Phil Kessel's first preseason game last year?

Yes, the skill level isn't the same, nor is the intensity. But I enjoy seeing how the young players perform as well as seeing what new FA's bring to the table and how they look with other potential linemates.
- jmatchett383

To be honest, I don't have close to the same intrigue as I would a regular-season game, especially the early exhibition games. I'm sure the WC has taken away some of the star power in these games thus far, but the early games are essentially highlighted by prospects versus prospects with some degree of veterans out there.

I would have more intrigue if I knew Maatta his rookie year was playing a full Chicago roster in an exhibition game instead of suspects, prospects, guys that will land in the ECHL or AHL, or outright released. You get a general feel how someone looks against better competition, not watered down.

Its like watching a simulated AHL game for the most part to me. The last two or three exhibition games do intrigue me as the final roster spots are still up in the air and the games aren't watered down as far as talent.

To be honest, I don't have close to the same intrigue as I would a regular-season game, especially the early exhibition games. I'm sure the WC has taken away some of the star power in these games thus far, but the early games are essentially highlighted by prospects versus prospects with some degree of veterans out there.

I would have more intrigue if I knew Maatta his rookie year was playing a full Chicago roster in an exhibition game instead of suspects, prospects, guys that will land in the ECHL or AHL, or outright released. You get a general feel how someone looks against better competition, not watered down.

Its like watching a simulated AHL game for the most part to me. The last two or three exhibition games do intrigue me as the final roster spots are still up in the air and the games aren't watered down as far as talent.
- Oneonta Penguin

and this makes Pouliot's showing the other night a little more troubling than say if he looked that way against an almost full of NHL'rs roster...

and this makes Pouliot's showing the other night a little more troubling than say if he looked that way against an almost full of NHL'rs roster...
- MattStrat

Exactly. Detroit didn't have a good lineup out there. Nyqvist, Sheahan, Helm (not great), Green (not what he once was), Erickson were the only names I recognized absent Jimmy Howard. The rest are prospects or suspects. A bad performance by DP in that game takes away a lot of the glow we heard prior. If the kid is going to take the next step to make some degree of positive impact ... that is a game he should thrive in because the opponent talent level wasn't strong. He failed on an easy test #1. The tests become harder as they go.

No, I've been watching hockey my entire life, and over the past 6 years I've watched every one of the Lightning's home preseason games... and they are brutal. No matter what.
- j.boyd919

I'm probably in the minority because I can find something entertaining in any hockey I watch, being involved in youth hockey I spend 5-7 days a week in the local rinks and I can never seem to leave if there's a game about to start, even though most youth hockey is painful to watch from a hockey standpoint I love the enthusiasm & passion they play with(especially the really young ones). I could spend every Saturday & Sunday(and I often do) sitting in a rink watch the kids play even though the actual hockey is pretty brutal most of the time. To me hockey is hockey and I'll be entertained as long as I'm watching hockey, even if it's brutal hockey.

Four Goal Fleury made his first appearance a couple of days ago and Jarry had a shutout Is this what to expect??????????

An interview with Drouin, he was saying the World Cup is like playoff hockey. I have a feeling the guys in the WC will have a good start to the season, getting in the groove of things with and versus top end talent instead of training camp and preseason.
- j.boyd919

I tend to agree. I know many fans are and have been against it because of the risk of injury but at the end of the day the guys that played are going to be miles ahead of the guys that didn't because of the increased intensity of the games as opposed to training camps and preseason games. I honestly expect Sid to set the league on fire the first month of the season and I won't be surprised at all if he has 1 of the best offensive season we've seen in a long time, I'm talking the kind of dominance he played with just prior to the concussion issues.

Four Goal Fleury made his first appearance a couple of days ago and Jarry had a shutout Is this what to expect??????????
- holeinone

Murray gave up 4 goals on 4 shots in his last appearance, should we also expect that type of performance from him as well?

delete

Murray gave up 4 goals on 4 shots in his last appearance, should we also expect that type of performance from him as well?
- jaydogg1974

It is time for Four Goal Fluery to get on with his life's work after Pittsburgh It cannot end soon enough

I'm probably in the minority because I can find something entertaining in any hockey I watch, being involved in youth hockey I spend 5-7 days a week in the local rinks and I can never seem to leave if there's a game about to start, even though most youth hockey is painful to watch from a hockey standpoint I love the enthusiasm & passion they play with(especially the really young ones). I could spend every Saturday & Sunday(and I often do) sitting in a rink watch the kids play even though the actual hockey is pretty brutal most of the time. To me hockey is hockey and I'll be entertained as long as I'm watching hockey, even if it's brutal hockey.
- jaydogg1974

Amen.