So, if you look at this lineup....where does anyone see Puustinen fitting in? I don't see a spot.
I'm also wondering if McGroarty has done enough to stay on the roster. He hasn't been scoring, until tonight, but I think his overall game has gotten better the more he has played.
Rust comes back, Beauvillier to the bench.
Lizotte comes back...I'm not sure I'm giving Lizotte a spot upon his return.
Again, some tough decisions coming for this roster construction.
Yeah I don't see Puustinen with a roster spot to be honest. I would roll with:
DOC-Sid-Rust
Bunting-Geno-Rakell
McGroarty-Eller-Puljujarvi
Glass-Hayes-Acciari
X-Beauvillier, Lizotte (if he goes on the IL then Puusitnen can stay up)
It is good to have some depth. Not every player needs to play 82 games, especially with the back to back games etc. We still have an old roster, let some fresh blood get in and out of the lineup. There will be injuries too obviously.
Also, if they don't want to risk losing Puustinen on waivers, they can just waive Beauvillier. I don't think he will be much of a loss if he gets plucked off waivers.
Also, if they don't want to risk losing Puustinen on waivers, they can just waive Beauvillier. I don't think he will be much of a loss if he gets plucked off waivers.
Beauvilier has been better than Puustinen though at camp. For me it’s Puustinen or Glass.
I don’t know how you can’t keep this 3rd line together for the first game.
Another one for Eller. Looks like he’s a safe bet to be 3C. McGroarty certainly doesn’t play like a rookie. He knows where to go. I hope he makes the team. Good to get some youth with talent in the lineup.
Also, if they don't want to risk losing Puustinen on waivers, they can just waive Beauvillier. I don't think he will be much of a loss if he gets plucked off waivers.
Beauvilier has been better than Puustinen though at camp. For me it’s Puustinen or Glass.
Agreed on Beauvillier vs Puustinen. At this point, I'd waive Puustinen. I still think an undersized forward who only had 5 goals last year is not a player teams are going to be lining up to claim. I'd actually waive Lizotte next. I think Glass has done more than him so far this preseason. If it went further than that, I'd probably send McGroarty to the AHL before waiving anyone else.
If this isn’t the 3rd line then just get rid of pre season games.
Not to throw cold water, but this is from Haase a few minutes ago. I don’t know if she knows something:
I'm still leaning toward Rutger McGroarty starting the season in Wilkes-Barre. Let him get top-line minutes there, top power play, top PK, and if he handles it fine then recall him ASAP. It's probably what's ideal long-term. Not the end of the world if he doesn't go from college hockey straight to the NHL. Most mid-first round picks don't.
If this isn’t the 3rd line then just get rid of pre season games.
Not to throw cold water, but this is from Haase a few minutes ago. I don’t know if she knows something:
I'm still leaning toward Rutger McGroarty starting the season in Wilkes-Barre. Let him get top-line minutes there, top power play, top PK, and if he handles it fine then recall him ASAP. It's probably what's ideal long-term. Not the end of the world if he doesn't go from college hockey straight to the NHL. Most mid-first round picks don't.
I don't have a problem with that either. It's been noticeable to me that McGroarty has gotten better as camp went on. He mentioned in the intermission interview that he's now at a point where he has a better understanding of the system, which has helped him as camp went on.
I'm not going to jump off a bridge if McGroarty goes down, but, I don't think he'll be down for long.
Yeah maybe but I kind of think 12 min with Eller and a high skill “surgically refreshed” Puljujärvi against nhl players is a better way to develop nhl skill. Maybe get him on the 2nd pp.
If this isn’t the 3rd line then just get rid of pre season games.
Not to throw cold water, but this is from Haase a few minutes ago. I don’t know if she knows something:
I'm still leaning toward Rutger McGroarty starting the season in Wilkes-Barre. Let him get top-line minutes there, top power play, top PK, and if he handles it fine then recall him ASAP. It's probably what's ideal long-term. Not the end of the world if he doesn't go from college hockey straight to the NHL. Most mid-first round picks don't.
I don’t disagree but if Rust starts on IR see what the kid can do since we have an extra roster spot opened up. If he’s in over his head he can go to WBS but he’s earned an opportunity to see what he can do here.
Legit question. I cannot find on internet and cannot think of any examples.
How many UFAs have signed with a team on first day of free agency only to be cut before first game of regular season?
Well, there is no "cutting" of players, but, if you mean signed and then waived, it probably happens more than you think. We knew coming in that several forwards were going to need to get waived. There wasn't a high expectation that it would be someone just recently signed, but it was possible.
As for a recent example...John Ludvig. He signed on July 17th, 2023 with the Panthers. They put him on waivers, and we snagged him on waivers October 9th before he ever played a game for them.
Any examples of UFAs signed on first day of free agency - July 1 - then waived before start of season?
I assume you mean from outside the organization because I’m sure it happens with a teams own UFA’s all the time. And then I guess it would be if the player was expected to be a lock for an NHL spot.
Harkins signed Jul 2 with Anaheim and was waived yesterday. And it also wouldn’t be too hard to find a lot of cases like this every year.
Harkins. Hilarious when you think that we gave that lump of **** a sweater for 45 games last season. If that isn't an indictment of the coaching staff, I don't know what is. Because, yeah we had NO ONE in the entire organization that would have been a better choice. No one could have possibly replaced his incredible hard shot and 4 assists. What a farce.
Any examples of UFAs signed on first day of free agency - July 1 - then waived before start of season?
I assume you mean from outside the organization because I’m sure it happens with a teams own UFA’s all the time. And then I guess it would be if the player was expected to be a lock for an NHL spot.
Harkins signed Jul 2 with Anaheim and was waived yesterday. And it also wouldn’t be too hard to find a lot of cases like this every year.
What level of player are we talking about?
Yes, guys from another team with above (near) minimum contract.
It would be interesting to know how many players signed outside the organization for more than 1 year and above the median AAV, which is probably around $2.5 million this year, have ever been waived after camp.
PP definitely looks to be improved. They need to make sure they don't fall into their old bad habits.
I don't so much care that they're scoring -- preseason might as well be airhockey == but that it looks a lot different.
Bodies and pucks are going to and through the middle. The money area of the ice. It'll give Sid a little more space to work his magic and if it eventually does come back out to the perimeter, there's enough movement to let one fly. There's some urgency to it at least, a different mindset.
That's all anyone asked really and it's what should have happened last season.
