Surprised nobody is upset about Nylander so far considering some wanted to push him to the second line to spread some talent down.
- Tojo.

It was more of a hope than a want. If someone could make it even as a passenger it would boost the 3rd line to have rust.

Seems like it was his spot to lose. Shame, I was rooting for him.
- jmatchett383

I was rooting for any younger guy to make an impact. Maybe as the season goes on someone can force their way up the lineup.

I was rooting for any younger guy to make an impact. Maybe as the season goes on someone can force their way up the lineup.
- burgh4life87

Ditto, but Nylander just looked like a guy. Poulin and Puustinen looked better IMO.

Surprised nobody is upset about Nylander so far considering some wanted to push him to the second line to spread some talent down.
- Tojo.

We wanted it to work out. Think all of us that were rooting for Nylander knew there was a high chance it wouldn’t.

Ditto, but Nylander just looked like a guy. Poulin and Puustinen looked better IMO.
- madmike71

100%. Puustinen looked great to me. He's way stronger on the puck than I thought, has decent speed, great vision and passing. He deserves a 5/10 game stint with the big club.

100%. Puustinen looked great to me. He's way stronger on the puck than I thought, has decent speed, great vision and passing. He deserves a 5/10 game stint with the big club.
- burgh4life87

I was impressed he looked good in such a chippy game. Besides his skill, the one trait that sticks out is he's always in the dirty areas and not a perimeter player. He will need to tighten up defensively to play in the NHL though because he won't make it just on his offense.

Whoever makes the roster will probably still have to watch out for the guys battling in WBS. We can all root for guys like Puustinen and Poulin to go down and make noise.

Surprised nobody is upset about Nylander so far considering some wanted to push him to the second line to spread some talent down.
- Tojo.

Not upset, It would have been nice for him to make it and I was pulling for him but others have surpassed. DOC has been good.

I was impressed he looked good in such a chippy game. Besides his skill, the one trait that sticks out is he's always in the dirty areas and not a perimeter player. He will need to tighten up defensively to play in the NHL though because he won't make it just on his offense.

Whoever makes the roster will probably still have to watch out for the guys battling in WBS. We can all root for guys like Puustinen and Poulin to go down and make noise.
- Tojo.

Yea definitely watching those two down there. I thought they both looked good. I liked Shea as well.

Yea definitely watching those two down there. I thought they both looked good. I liked Shea as well.
- 668710

Shea might still make the team. He's on tomorrow's roster, Friedman isn't. Regardless looks like a good pick-up.

Shea might still make the team. He's on tomorrow's roster, Friedman isn't. Regardless looks like a good pick-up.
- Tojo.

Yea for sure, I kinda hope he does. He makes good decisions with the puck. I would like Shea and Friedman as our 6th and 7th dmen.

Austen Wagner, Colin White, Zohorna and Jansen Harkins for 2 spots I guess. I hope we could keep 3 of them around after 2 of them go through waivers.
I hope Zohorna is kept around tbh.

I haven't read a lot of the comments around here but anyone has an opinion on Ryan Graves' game? Is he doing well? Dumoulin was a steady presence on the top line (like 2 years ago). Big shoes to fill.

100%. Puustinen looked great to me. He's way stronger on the puck than I thought, has decent speed, great vision and passing. He deserves a 5/10 game stint with the big club.
- burgh4life87

Pre-season is so hard to tell, but of all the "prospects" I watched, Puustinen looked like he could respectably play top 6 right now. It would be nice if Sully would allow him to be the first call up when they get banged up. He won't though.... It will be one of the retreads who will be a little better defensively.

I haven't read a lot of the comments around here but anyone has an opinion on Ryan Graves' game? Is he doing well? Dumoulin was a steady presence on the top line (like 2 years ago). Big shoes to fill.
- Barnaby36

From what I saw, the D will need some games to figure things out. The top 2 pairings are brand new. There's gonna be some mistakes.

From what I saw, the D will need some games to figure things out. The top 2 pairings are brand new. There's gonna be some mistakes.
- madmike71

I’m surprised they didn’t pair Letang and petts to have one familiar pair.

Yea for sure, I kinda hope he does. He makes good decisions with the puck. I would like Shea and Friedman as our 6th and 7th dmen.
- 668710

Ruhwedel's spot is probably safe. I bet the other two go through waivers though so not a concern.

I’m surprised they didn’t pair Letang and petts to have one familiar pair.
- 10inchTerror

I think they will probably use Letang in more of a shutdown role and Graves is better suited for that.

I’m surprised they didn’t pair Letang and petts to have one familiar pair.
- 10inchTerror

The thought process was canadian with canadian, swede with swede.

I’m surprised they didn’t pair Letang and petts to have one familiar pair.
- 10inchTerror

Probably an unpopular opinion on here, but Pettersson is a better defender than Graves and pairing him with Karlsson allows EK to take more risks.

From what I saw, the D will need some games to figure things out. The top 2 pairings are brand new. There's gonna be some mistakes.
- madmike71

Definitely.

A couple times both of them pinched which led to odd man rushes and a breakaway.

Tanger is so used to having Dumo I don't think he even considers the other guy will pinch. Something they'll both have to adjust too.

Also by most accounts, Graves has a big shot, no more muffins from the left point.

Probably an unpopular opinion on here, but Pettersson is a better defender than Graves and pairing him with Karlsson allows EK to take more risks.
- burgh4life87

I agree on petts. His best skill is defensive play. Graves looks like a better skater, passer, and shooter. You may be right on the pairing

Probably an unpopular opinion on here, but Pettersson is a better defender than Graves and pairing him with Karlsson allows EK to take more risks.
- burgh4life87

I kind of see Graves-Letang as the sand paper paring and the Pettersson-Karlsson pairing as the finesse pairing. If you’re trying to form an identity I think that’s good. I know Sid loves to keep playing with the same guys but I think throwing Pettarlsson out with Crosby and Guentzel and Gratang out with Malkin and Smith create two units with very cohesive identities, which is something this team has lacked for like four years.

I kind of see Graves-Letang as the sand paper paring and the Pettersson-Karlsson pairing as the finesse pairing. If you’re trying to form an identity I think that’s good. I know Sid loves to keep playing with the same guys but I think throwing Pettarlsson out with Crosby and Guentzel and Gratang out with Malkin and Smith create two units with very cohesive identities, which is something this team has lacked for like four years.
- Victoro311

Formed the pairing names already lol. Nothing will beat DoumsDay, that one is so good.

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