...

That very thought entered my head at some point during the game last night and I decided that it has to be something else. But, he really did have a ROR going on. It was...weird. Welcome, but weird.

Vesey and Skinner kind of play the same game, so no wonder he's trying out other people on that second line. ERod is likely the only one left who could be complimentary. KO could if he weren't well past his prime. Cozens would be perfect if he were two years older. I'm totally good with the top and bottom lines. We really don't have the appropriate assets for a third line here. Ideally, it's ERod, XXXX, and Vesey.

This is its own thread. Anyway, the wise choice. Let him grow into his body and experience the game at a higher level. He'll be our ace in the hole.

I think the women like this, though.

I love how the pom-pom holders will try and discount everything in preseason games because they're preseason games. You mean to say you expect these guys to instantly shift gears in a week when the regular season starts? These guys have had all summer to work on their game, do you really think their individual games will improve over the next week? That's not how it works. It's a slow climb from now through January to those other gears. What you're seeing is essentially how we will start the season, with the addition of another week of practice and a solidified roster. There's no reason to think otherwise. And, FWIW, Mitts looked like hot garbage out there. Shooting wide, missing open nets, passes to no one. I don't know what other people are looking at, but the dude needs to go down for the season.

I thought Tage looked better than Mitts and Vlad. I would even consider seeing how he does in place of Sheary on the third line.

I'm just going to say it, no remind you all, I was telling you last season Olofsson should be playing on Jack's line.

What's up with the ice?

Let's talk about zone entries versus an AHL roster.

Eichel not quite out of party mode. "Here's Risto playing legit defense." Thanks, Rob.

Who?

Didn't catch that. I was moving around.

Rob Ray said on WGR if Risto stays the team is better.

I was just going to paste this: ...and leave it at that. Except, this is the Leaves. This will somehow all be okay/a non-issue/forgotten in, oh, a week.

Giving Botterill the benefit of the doubt, he had all of this calendar year to address the 2C. Probably had December of 2018 as well, since, by then, it was obvious Mitts wasn't a Dahlin or Eichel equivalent.

Sent Mitts and Tage down. For my friend @Randall Flagg, I'll add waive KO, Sobatakaka, and Scanderella. Not wait until September 2019 to see what options were available for the 2C.

Between the 2C in general, Mitts and Tage on the regular roster, and the goalie situation, Botterill has ignored a lot of important things.

The devil you say!