all that great stuff and that turn over will be talked about for the next 2 days
- nails

Mistakes will happen. He'll learn from it. But the last 5 mins shows why WE need to be patient.

Suck it Gagner haters!

Keeping in mind it is pre season, but watching Gagner play in this game, he's not only not a good skater, but he's just plain lazy. He doesn't consistently move his feet. It doesn't matter what end of the ice it is, but he doesn't look good at all. Hopefully this is a veteran just cruising through the pre season. I just don't see the effort from him that I do from some other vets.
- MJL

That cat shouldn't be cruising through a drive-through, let alone anything to do with an NHL game. When some are seriously weighing whether you are getting bought out, you need to be caring a little than is being described

At least Gagner can hit an open net. Nice job by Couts and Simmonds

Gagner with a lazy goal.

Awesome pass by Wayne. Good read by Gagner to get there

Keeping in mind it is pre season, but watching Gagner play in this game, he's not only not a good skater, but he's just plain lazy. He doesn't consistently move his feet. It doesn't matter what end of the ice it is, but he doesn't look good at all. Hopefully this is a veteran just cruising through the pre season. I just don't see the effort from him that I do from some other vets.
- MJL

There's a reason why even the Oilers and Coyotes got rid of him...

Gagner with a lazy goal.
- hereticpride

Lol

Suck it Gagner haters!

- MBFlyerfan

That SOB bagged one while I was typing, too? JFC, there is hope for Wheels yet, because I am sure I will have plenty to say if he ever makes it on the ice this season

Smattering of thoughts from 1st period:

-Cousins is faster than I remember from last season. He's playing chippy and showing good work getting around guys and being tenacious on the puck.

-Gagner has done nothing to change my mind from last night's game. He has shown some nice passes and obviously has good hands (will be nice on the Giroux position on PP2), but all in all he has been not too good. Slow, indecisive, weak on the boards, turnover prone -- puck hits his stick and often ends up going the other way.

-Schenn has been a non factor. Laughton has been more noticeable -- he's showing good two way work and playing solid w/ his fantastic skating.

-Simmer and Coots are playing well individually and together -- usual selfs. Nothing amazing but just very solid. Coots w/ nice tape to tape passes and board work. Maybe moving his feet a bit more but puck skating opportunities haven't been there. I'd honestly like to see them apart from Gagner. He's been a negative on them.

-Ghost, Provy, and Sanheim have all been very hit or miss, specifically defensively -- all of them. Now, when the puck gets in the O zone, they look fantastic. All had great work done on the powerplay with cycles, shots, and set ups. Especially Ghost and Provy. Provy looks slightly less outmatched in NZ and DZ than the other two.

-Medvedev could change the state of this defense on 5v5 and 5v4. He looks that solid. Every zone. Passes are crisp; vision is excellent in transition. Great shot, great instincts.

-And Travis Konecny. Do we have to wait another year to see this kid? Jesus. It doesn't matter who he plays w/, he's the focal point of everything. Hitting, puck retrieval, skating through guys, subtle passes, and a wicked quick release on his shot.
- Mononoke

The last 5 mins shows why you can't judge on a single period. Guys you praised made some bad plays. Konecny with the bad TO and Laughtons line with a bad goal against. Schenn and Gagner, guys you thought weren't playing well, with laser goals.

There's a reason why even the Oilers and Coyotes got rid of him...
- Pecafan Fan

He will blossom now

Awesome pass by Wayne. Good read by Gagner to get there
- Mononoke

He was lazily just hanging around the slot, while Simmonds and Couturier battled and did all the work. At least he finally moved his feet to get to the far post.

The last 5 mins shows why you can't judge on a single period. Guys you praised made some bad plays. Konecny with the bad TO and Laughtons line with a bad goal against. Schenn and Gagner, guys you thought weren't playing well, with laser goals.
- TheGreat28

Scoring on an open net with poor coverage is all well and good. That doesn't change the general lack of effort that Gagner is playing with.

he's 18 he should know better
- -davies-

Don't all these kids come out of the womb with the smarts of a 10 year vet?

The last 5 mins shows why you can't judge on a single period. Guys you praised made some bad plays. Konecny with the bad TO and Laughtons line with a bad goal against. Schenn and Gagner, guys you thought weren't playing well, with laser goals.
- TheGreat28

I mean jeez...I'm not a clairvoyant. I saw one period and wrote observations on that period. They weren't written in stone judgments. And goal or not, Gagner has played pretty lazily through two games. Even that goal was more Simmer than anything. Vinny scored too and played an overall unimpressive game. I'd rather he not scored and looked good each shift than pot a cross crease. Schenn has looked better this period. Konecny has still looked ok minus the turnover.

I mean jeez...I'm not a clairvoyant. I saw one period and wrote observations on that period. They weren't written in stone judgments. And goal or not, Gagner has played pretty lazily through two games. Even that goal was more Simmer than anything. Vinny scored too and played an overall unimpressive game. I'd rather he not scored and looked good each shift than pot a cross crease. Schenn has looked better this period. Konecny has still looked ok minus the turnover.
- Mononoke

That post will be referenced in April. Mark my word.

Don't all these kids come out of the womb with the smarts of a 10 year vet?
- nails

Been playing since he was 4. That 14 yrs experience.

He will blossom now
- PhillySportsGuy

That's what habs fans say about Lars Eller... since what seems like forever.

That post will be referenced in April. Mark my word.
- mayorofangrytown

Ha! Someone is always watching

Been playing since he was 4. That 14 yrs experience.

- mayorofangrytown

but if he was born with 10, he should be at 24.
He must have been a hellish mite

That post will be referenced in April. Mark my word.
- mayorofangrytown

1.5 preseason games does not a season make. But it's all I have to go on, just like everyone else. Guess I shouldn't comment on a player's performance until April.

That's what habs fans say about Lars Eller... since what seems like forever.
- Pecafan Fan

Doesn't Eller compete every night, though? I know he is one of those guys who always makes you think the goals are going to come, but I always thought his effort level was high when I watch you guys play

He was lazily just hanging around the slot, while Simmonds and Couturier battled and did all the work. At least he finally moved his feet to get to the far post.
- MJL

This is just not correct. I just replayed it. They were cycling. Dman went up the boards and Gagner met him and poked it behind the net. Simmonds got the puck and went behind the net and dropped it to Couts. Gagner went around the net on the cycle but Couts reversed. The puck went to the point and then moved quickly to the other side. Simmonds went to one side of the net, Gagner to the other but Streits shot missed the net. Couts got the puck and shot it but it was blocked. Gagner cycled to the left face off dot, grabbed a loose puck and fired wide. Couts corralled the loose puck and dumped it behind the net. Simmonds gathered it and made a nice play to pass it to a wide open Gagner.

You obviously saw what you wanted to, but he was involved in the entire play. Most importantly he found open ice at the right time.

1.5 preseason games does not a season make. But it's all I have to go on, just like everyone else. Guess I shouldn't comment on a player's performance until April.
- Mononoke

Make a hundred predictions by October. Bookmark them all.

Reference the correct three in April.

Hockeybuzz master level... complete.

cpuld medvedev be our lidstrom?