Garrison has 2 goals in preseason and has looked great, better than Weaver and Gud. No chance he's scratched.
i think his offensive game is really good. he is so good at jumping up the ice in rushes. he has a bright future, especially if we ever get some real scoring threat that he can compliment. hes a solid future 2nd pairing dman imo
Things are clearing up after a few pre-season games. This is how I see it:
1st Weiss C, Booth F, Frolik F (Obviously)
2nd Reinprecht C, Higgins F, Stillman F (All three has looked solid so far)
3rd Matthias C, Olesz F, Dvorak F (Matthias has really made progress this off-season, love what I see from him. When it comes to the other guys, they speak the same language... which is good... No comment)
4th Reasoner C, Bitz F, Bernier F (Love Bitz's physical part, Reasoner has looked solid, and Bernier is gritty. Pretty good 4th line)
Not bad lines, my square friend, but I thought I read somewhere that Reasoner was injured, not Higgins. Dunno. Still, that 2nd line is awful, Reino and Stiller, what else can we do, though? Guess move up Higgins, slide Reino down, Bernier to Reasoner's spot?
Reasoner would center that line, too, btw, not Bitz.
__________________ Gudbranson fanboy and defender for liiiiiife!
Just FWIW, Higgins just returned from injury and GR stated that its possible that Bitz starts the yr on IR:
Quote:
With the loss of Gudbranson, the Panthers have 24 players on the roster and would not have to cut anyone right now if Byron Bitz is placed on the injured reserve.
....
A good number of injured Panthers returned to practice on Tuesday after missing time with nagging injuries. Defenseman Dmitry Kulikov, who has been nursing a bone bruise in his foot since taking a puck off his skate in a scrimmage on Sept. 18, returned as did winger Chris Higgins (groin).
Ellerby (shoulder) also practiced for a second straight day.
Bitz (lower body) and Marty Reasoner (knee) were both out.
Not bad lines, my square friend, but I thought I read somewhere that Reasoner was injured, not Higgins. Dunno. Still, that 2nd line is awful, Reino and Stiller, what else can we do, though? Guess move up Higgins, slide Reino down, Bernier to Reasoner's spot?
Reasoner would center that line, too, btw, not Bitz.
If Reasoner isnt able to go, shift Reino to center the 4th line...Higgins in the 2nd line LW spot and Paetsch fills in on the 4th line at wing.
Once Reasoner returns, yes he would center that 4th line with Bitz on the wing. But at this point, I think the team is planning to play Olesz on a higher line than 4th, unfortunately which shifts Dvorak down to that line.
If Reasoner isnt able to go, shift Reino to center the 4th line...Higgins in the 2nd line LW spot and Paetsch fills in on the 4th line at wing.
Once Reasoner returns, yes he would center that 4th line with Bitz on the wing. But at this point, I think the team is planning to play Olesz on a higher line than 4th, unfortunately which shifts Dvorak down to that line.
Man, what do they do with friggin Olesz? 3 mil to play on the 3rd or 4th line? Hopefully he's got a fire under his butt this season, but I'm not going to hold my breath. Sucks. He's one of the guys Tallon needs to look to move, though.
With the loss of Gudbranson, the Panthers have 24 players on the roster and would not have to cut anyone right now if Byron Bitz is placed on the injured reserve.
Last edited by Steel Panther: 10-06-2010 at 03:35 AM.
They said Reasoner could be ready by the opening game. If so, McArdle is probably demoted and Dvorak would move to the RW, Reino moved to LW and Reasoner centers that line.
But even still it will depend on who the other team is expected to roll out with their lines that will determine who's on the 4th line. Like with Edmonton in the opener, I would expect Hordichuk to play since they have both Storini (17 fights last yr) and MacIntyre that they can play on their 4th line. So replace McArdle with Hordichuk and I think thats closer right now.
Mcardle, Bitz, Hordichuk (Don't think we will see any call ups with 3 guys being healthy scratches and think McArdle might get sent down)
McCabe - Kulikov
Wideman - Garrison
Allen - Weaver
1st call Ellerby
Vokoun
Clemmy
As I said before, I think the team will be better than last year based on the attitude change, the increased competition, and not allowing people to ride out huge scoring droughts. I think Booth and Wideman will make up for the production lost by Horton and Ballard. But all in all I doubt we will make the playoffs. Im guessing we pick around 10th.
