Just a short one today. The Flames and Jets are on tap tonight. Lets jump into it.
Not much for expected lineup, but here is the roster courtesy of Pat Steinberg.
Here are rosters for tonight’s preseason game in Winnipeg. Dustin Wolf expected to get the start in net.#Flames and Jets at 6 pm. No morning skate, so lines and pairings at warmup. pic.twitter.com/ebQNQLiUn8
— Pat Steinberg (@Fan960Steinberg) October 2, 2024
Cool Down, Kid You have to wonder why Sam Honzek isn’t dressing for tonight’s game. With a highlight goal on Monday, consistently sitting at the top of preseason scoring, and the fanbase starting to build expectations – maybe this is the organization letting the hype die down a bit. Fans are starting to wonder why the 19 year old isn’t being considered more for a spot in the lineup on opening night.
There is a case to be made for taking things in either direction. Honzek is only getting stronger and faster. Maybe a start on the Wranglers is the best course of action.
Then again, momentum doesn’t grow on trees. You only have to look to 2019 first round pick Jakob Pelletier to wonder if he could have been accelerated earlier.
Jump back to February 24, 2023. Amid a season where Darryl Sutter played nothing but hardball with younger players trying to break on to the roster. Pelletier recorded a goal and an assist in each game of a back to back against Arizona and Vegas.
What if Darryl had given him a couple weeks in the top six as a reward? We might not be talking about Jakob’s fall from grace this preseason. Confidence is just so important when it comes to producing offence.
Then again, maybe tonight is a reward for Honzek. It looks like most of the opening night roster doesn’t have to fly to Winnipeg today.
Sorry, Solo Ilya Solovyov, among others, has been waived and re-assigned to the Wranglers. Not really a surprise. The 24 year old defenceman was on the ice for all three goals against on Monday. His advanced metrics aren’t flattering either.
Plenty of time for the Belarusian defender. It’s not the end of the world to have a rough camp at his age.
Bubble Roster The Flames squad playing tonight is absolutely packed with players that could make the roster. Miromanov and Mantha aside, every one of these guys should be going to the wall in an attempt to prove they’re worthy of consideration next time a spot opens up.
Let’s see who rises to the challenge.
Puck drop is around 6:10 p.m. MST.
It’s not often you get two assists and manage to play your way out of a contract in the same night. That appears to be the case with Tyson Barrie.
— TrevorNeufeld (@Trevor_Neufeld) October 1, 2024