sounds like a good team effort but Holland and Palmieri are not exactly dominant on the score sheet like I had sacrificed my goat to get
I wouldn't worry. It's just preseason and they probably are just trying to find some chemistry. Plus, Holland is probably new to the systems and what not.
I wouldn't look into it until they've played a good amount of real games.
Quick recap of the preseason game last night. Crunch only really played one period. Shots were 4-20-4. First period was spent practicing the pk. Team had trouble gaining the offensive zone and clearing the puck. Still a lot of chemistry work to be done, passes were not connecting. Second period was much better, more intensity, a lot crisper. Third period they took their foot off the gas. Toronto never really got anything going.
Tarkki looked very good all game, decent glove hand good lateral movement, but he only had to make a handful of difficult saves. I thought Rodney looked pretty good too. The top line (Deschamps-Holland-Palmieri) wasn't much of a factor - Palmieri had a goal but it wasn't a huge night for them overall. Not worried about that, they will hopefully gel as things go along.
One guy I though had a tough game was Newton. I really want to like him, but he's not that good. I know quite a few people here have high hopes for him, but he's third pairing here at best right now. His defense is atrocious and he was invisible offensively too. If the hope is for him to be an offensive player I hope Carle or Rodney takes him under their wing for the season.
FYI there will be a GDT in the Ottawa forum for Friday's game. I may drive down to Bingo to attend so not sure how stable a stream I can put up but there will likely be a 850k stream to any interested.
If Jacques is going to be the protector here in Syracuse, could be an interesting season. Lots of talent without an established heavyweight might leave teams at the AHL level to feast on "Duckling Soup" again this year, as they did for most of last. I hope Jacques and/or Brittan make me eat my words, but I am now concerned about the vulnerability of the talented group of kids the Ducks have sent here. Mac would have been the perfect deterrent, as he proved over the last 20 games last year. Here's hoping I am wrong, but I think the Ducks will be looking for an established NHL/AHL heavy by mid-November for Syracuse, or face the same kind of horrible hockey the organization endured at the AHL level for three quarters of last season.
Some may say this aint right, but i do NOT want Mirasty. Once the taller players realized they could lock him out, his usefulness as a fourth line, six shift per game enforcer was gone. Last year was not good for Jon or the organization. It was most definitely time for "greener" pastures for number 41. As for Koci, I would accept that as an option since he would add size and experience to the blue line. Jacques says he is willing, so perhaps the need can be filled between Jacques and Brittan. Kurtz can take care of the lights IF he passes his medical screening and gets cleared and signed. There are others who will defend, but are more valuable on the ice.
