Update: According to their official team web page, the Coyotes have cut the following players. No Alarms and No Surprises.
• Brendan Burke, Goalie • Greg Carey, Center • Justin Hache, Defense, • Marek Langhamer, Goalie • Mark Louis, Defense • James Melindy, Defense • Patrick McNeill, Defense • Evan Oberg, Defense • Eric Selleck, Forward
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Last night was the first chance I had to watch the Coyotes so far this year. While the team ended up losing in OT, results aren't really what we are concerned about in the pre-season.
What we do care about is seeing our team and trying to figure out who should make the roster when games start for real in October. Unfortunately, that in itself presents some problems. For starters, it's only half the team. Secondly, it's hard to know if any of your judgements are accurate since some players on the ice are not and never will be NHL players. Therefore, it can be easy to look good in September, but there is no gaurantee that that will translate to the regular season.
Further adding to the confusion is the fact that the arena the game played in last night is more suited to hosting an Atom Hockey Tournement than NHL hockey. The camera angles were just awful and it was fairly distracting.
Some thoughts I had with those qualifications in mind:
1. Max Domi looks very fast. He didn't put up any points last night, but he had a couple of chances and most importantly, he looks like an NHL player. At this point - and keep in mind I am a little biased because I am a huge fan of his - but at this point I would be shocked if he didn't make the team.
The same goes with Samuelson, who I thought also looked good last night. I absolutely cannot wait to watch these guys for a few more gamese and see if they live up the hype.
2. The player who impressed me the most was Lauri Korpikoski. Despite being assured a roster spot, this guy not only blocked a shot, he then tried to lay down in front of another one right afterwards, even though it became clear the first one really hurt him. The guy is a warrior and I think one of the most under appreciated players in the NHL.
3. As Don Maloney noted in the second intermission, the player he was most impressed with was Tobias Rieder. Rieder looked fast and dangerous all night. The former Edmonton pick put up 28 goals last year with the Portland Pirates and being signeled out by your GM on national TV is always a good sign. I don't necessarily know if he will make the team, but he is now definately on the radar.
4. Pre-season is a little boring! As excited as I was to see the first game of hockey of the season, by the third period I came to the realization that caring about who wins adds an entire dimension to a hockey game and is crucial in determining how intersting the game is. Still, it was nice to see the team back in action, and it was cool that they played in a small arena in front of just 3000 people. However, I am offically counting down the days until the regular season starts!
5. BJ Crombeen played well and was a star of the game. This bodes well for him trying to make the team, although I still don't know if I think an enforcer type player is necessary in today's NHL. Based on his interview, however, Don Maloney does. I personally didn't think he had a good chance, but after hearing DM speak, it seems he will be on the team.
That being said, how much have I really seen of BJ Crombeen in his career? When he plays, it is in limited minutes and so I could not really say one way or the other how effective he is when he isn't fighting. I am willing to give him a chance, but at the same time, as Maloney said, you can really get an edge in the NHL if your 4th line can play. I would think that a line featuring Rieder and McMillan would give the Coyotes this kind of edge, where as with Crombeen, it's less likely. Then again, you have to consider if the edge gained is worth halting the development of guys like Rieder or McMillan by giving them such limited minutes.
Overall, a good game a nice start to the season.
Thanks for reading.