Ryan Wilson: Sabres recap and Red Wings preview Sabres recap and Red Wings preview

Any news on Brassard? When is he going to get on the ice & what position?

Any news on Brassard? When is he going to get on the ice & what position?
- Aussiepenguin

Brassard's been on the ice by himself for a few days now. He should be joining team practices any day now.

Brassard's been on the ice by himself for a few days now. He should be joining team practices any day now.
- Victoro311

I should say on the ice playing, he was crook wasn't he or an injury? Can't remember & going to bed. Thanks again Vic my man.

I should say on the ice playing, he was crook wasn't he or an injury? Can't remember & going to bed. Thanks again Vic my man.
- Aussiepenguin

Don't know if crook means sick in Australian, but if so, yes. He was sick.

EDIT: Pens are reporting that he's skating with the team for the first time right now.

Don't know if crook means sick in Australian, but if so, yes. He was sick.

EDIT: Pens are reporting that he's skating with the team for the first time right now.
- Victoro311

I think he's implying that Brassard is a 1960's-era thief.

Ive been saying that Brassard will benefit greatly from a full camp with the Pens.....so ....he needs to start in on said camp...

I think he's implying that Brassard is a 1960's-era thief.
- jmatchett383

Dear jmatchett383, my buddy Grinder47 and myself would love to talk with you about this topic - in person.

Dear jmatchett383, my buddy Grinder47 and myself would love to talk with you about this topic - in person.
- VeryModernMan

Sorry, you'll have to swipe me first.

Reading some comments here reminds me of a Scully and Hitchcock type of conversation from Brooklyn 9-9 lol

Watching the replay of the game...couple of observations:

Sprong is talented but seems like he just doesn’t get it.

DeSmith looks solid.

Buffalo’s Varsity club is going to do real well against the Pens JV team.

The Buffalo announcers are lifeless homers. And people said the Pens announcers were bad.

Katie Osbourne can work on my engine ANYTIME.

I really thought Sprong was solid yesterday. He really was playing aggressive forechecking hockey and making things happen. You can tell the more he gets comfortable, the more he's going to be a player who creates things on his own.

Maatta did look a little slow, but it's Eichel... dude is fast. Overall I thought Maatta looked fine, just a little rusty.

Watching the replay of the game...couple of observations:

Sprong is talented but seems like he just doesn’t get it.

DeSmith looks solid.

Buffalo’s Varsity club is going to do real well against the Pens JV team.

The Buffalo announcers are lifeless homers. And people said the Pens announcers were bad.

Katie Osbourne can work on my engine ANYTIME.
- Doogs

Sprongs line was all over the place at times. Chalk it up to not playing together I guess. I didn't think Jake looked all that great either. It was really sloppy most of the night. PP was a mess.

I hold off judgement of Sprong until he plays with a real center.

I really thought Sprong was solid yesterday. He really was playing aggressive forechecking hockey and making things happen. You can tell the more he gets comfortable, the more he's going to be a player who creates things on his own.

Maatta did look a little slow, but it's Eichel... dude is fast. Overall I thought Maatta looked fine, just a little rusty.
- Rinosaur

Only at the 4 min left in the second point of the game.

I agree that Sprong looks talented. Just saying he has moments and then seems lost.

Maatta IS slow, but can and will be fine if they use him correctly.

Rikkola have a chance for the #6 or 7 D-man spot?

I really thought Sprong was solid yesterday. He really was playing aggressive forechecking hockey and making things happen. You can tell the more he gets comfortable, the more he's going to be a player who creates things on his own.

Maatta did look a little slow, but it's Eichel... dude is fast. Overall I thought Maatta looked fine, just a little rusty.
- Rinosaur

The only thing I saw from Sprong that I didn't really like was the hissy fit shift. He was back checking and he was trying his best to make things happen.

I haven't seen the game but we have two conflicting reports about Sprong in the comments section here.

I really think he'd get snagged on waivers...so here's to hoping he can be solid somewhere in the lineup and not sitting in the press box every night.

EDIT: thanks to Thorny its now 2 to 1 in favor of Sprong last night.

Sprongs line was all over the place at times. Chalk it up to not playing together I guess. I didn't think Jake looked all that great either. It was really sloppy most of the night. PP was a mess.

I hold off judgement of Sprong until he plays with a real center.
- Thorny87

Agreed completely.

Not really looking at any of the returning players. They will be there and fine. I like sseing what the guys like Dea, Wilson, DiPaulli do. They are the next ones up.

Sprong is talented but seems like he just doesn’t get it.

- Doogs

I think he looked like he gets it just fine. Sprong looked a little apprehensive IMO, that's all. Even Jake was kind of floating around yesterday.

You see a huge difference when you have players on the ice who help dictate play, i.e. Sid, Malkin, Letang, Kessel, Brassard, etc...

I think Sprong will eventually be someone who takes charge more once he gets more comfortable, but even if he doesn't become that player, you look at a guy like Jake and I'd be fine with that.

Only at the 4 min left in the second point of the game.

I agree that Sprong looks talented. Just saying he has moments and then seems lost.

Maatta IS slow, but can and will be fine if they use him correctly.

Rikkola have a chance for the #6 or 7 D-man spot?
- Doogs

I was more impressed with his play than Ruhwedels last night. I'd say he's the first call up right now unless he really impresses in WB

The only thing I saw from Sprong that I didn't really like was the hissy fit shift. He was back checking and he was trying his best to make things happen.
- Thorny87

Sprong is definitely an emotional character. That might have been his way of showing he cares about the game or he just might be a hot head like Geno. Hopefully Sully and the boys can get hold of that early on.

I think he looked like he gets it just fine. Sprong looked a little apprehensive IMO, that's all. Even Jake was kind of floating around yesterday.

You see a huge difference when you have players on the ice who help dictate play, i.e. Sid, Malkin, Letang, Kessel, Brassard, etc...

I think Sprong will eventually be someone who takes charge more once he gets more comfortable, but even if he doesn't become that player, you look at a guy like Jake and I'd be fine with that.
- Rinosaur

Rino, don’t get me wrong. I know Sprong has skill. My point is that at his age, experience and situation, he really can’t afford to float. He needs to establish himself over guys like Dea, Simon and the like. He really can’t be sent down. He needs to show that he belongs. The fact that Sid isn’t there can not matter.

Agreed completely.

Not really looking at any of the returning players. They will be there and fine. I like sseing what the guys like Dea, Wilson, DiPaulli do. They are the next ones up.
- Doogs

I was really expecting more from Bellerive. He didn't look good last night.

I was really expecting more from Bellerive. He didn't look good last night.
- Thorny87

He has a little bit of a pass from me for a bit. Regardless to his documented recovery, he will need time to “get back”.

He has a little bit of a pass from me for a bit. Regardless to his documented recovery, he will need time to “get back”.
- Doogs

True. He missed a lot of the off season

And nothing on Katie Osbourne? Hell of a mechanic!!!