kipwinger

Lombardi with another good chance just now. He’s looked really good all preseason. He will be ready for the roster after another year in GR. He’s good.

The Red Wings broadcast team is doing a deep dive on Albert Johansson during intermission. He’s a profoundly ugly dude. Looks like a hockey player. I thought he was for sure going back to Sweden. But he may have changed his mind. He was going to be playing for Skelleftea, last year’s SHL champion. Unfortunately they suck an egg so far this season, losing to several low level teams (including a team from England lol) in the European Champions League.

Griffins playing Crosby, Malkin, and Letang tonight so they’re scrambling. Sodorblom looks like his skating has improved, Lombardi is noticeable at even strength against the real Penguins (good sign), and Johansson is a really solid defender too.

Maybe Columbus, they just had a bunch of salary space open up

It's also not like any other team has an extra 8 million lying around ten days before the regular season starts.

Would you trade for him knowing what his contract demands are? He has no value in trade if everyone knows he wants 8+ million per season AND he’s willing to miss games to prove it?

Anybody else following the Swayman saga in Boston? Could their handling of the goalie situation been any worse? They bench a Vezina winner (Ullmark) for the flavor of the month (Swayman) in the playoffs, and then have no more success than they would have with Ullmark. THEN they trade Ullmark, who is under contract a 5 million for another year, and make the Swayman THE GUY. Whoops, THE GUY wasn't under contract and now that they've traded away the only other option they had in goal he's got all the leverage. He's already turned down a 7.8 million dollar contract and seems intent on squeezing them for everything they've got left. Just a really, REALLY, dumb way to manage assets. All to our benefit by the way.

Our 4th line was Berggren-Kasper-Mazur. Danielson centered the second line with Kane and Tarasenko. Danielson looked okay, and had a few nice shots on goal, but overall he wasn't as noticeable as the other three (who played together).

Mo Seider also looks really good in the offensive zone so far this preseason. He's hanging on to pucks and making plays and I like what I see. All the analytics dorks are going to lose their marbles when his offensive numbers (that they said he wasn't capable of) explode once he gets top powerplay minutes and isn't getting buried in the defensive zone.

Agreed. After all that s*** I talked.

Nate Danielson is not ready for the NHL. It’s a big jump from junior to the NHL and it’s clear he needs to get up to speed in the AHL first. He’s just a hair behind on every play that develops.

I’m torn about this too. As good as he looks I almost like giving him another year in GR to be THE GUY. Like Edvinsson last year. I think it rounded out his game and he’s a much better player today because of it. If Marco can develop a little more finishing he’s going to be a star.

Maybe a 2nd but probably a 3rd unless we package him with something.

Aaaaaand Kasper with a breakaway. That’s like four scoring chances he’s created.

Yep, he looks really solid. He generates scoring chances like a machine. Johansson looking strong tonight as well.

Trade Veleno, make Motte the 13th forward and make Berggren-Kasper-Mazur your fourth line.

Marco looks outstanding…again.

Good to see Cossa getting the start with the "full team". That's some big boy s*** for him and I'm expecting a monster season from him this year in the AHL. Askarov (who was drafted a year earlier) was the "top goalie" in the AHL a season ago and I think Cossa was as good or better in the second half of the season. I think Cossa dominates this season and never sees a minutes of Griffins time again after a long playoff run in GR. edit: Cossa dodnt get the start. But still

All the normal starters except Kasper, Danielson, and Mazur in for Veleno, Motte, and Berggren? It's a @Scott R Lucidi wet dream.

Red Wings just released the rosters for both games. All the NHL guys and AHL hopefuls are playing against Pittsburgh. Anyone who has no chance of making the team is playing Buffalo. The disrespect is real.

NHL television in a nutshell. You need five different apps to watch a regular season game but you can watch two pre-season games for free on the same day, but only days after a preseason game couldn't be watched with audio.

Also, are we calling Emmitt Finnie “Emdog 2.0” or “Findog”? Because Findog is going to be awesome. You heard it here…second? Third?

Two games in one night is a genuinely unique experience for me as a hockey fan. Anybody else remember anything like this happening in the past? Regardless, since we've got two Red Wings games tonight I figured I'd ask...which game are you watching and why? I'm watching whatever game Marco Kasper is playing in. To me he's the most likely of the young guys to make the roster so I'm following him closely. He's been exceptional so far. Your thoughts on which game and why?

I liked Wallinder as well. The defensemen had a hard night generally because Lalonde was experimenting with the pairs at times, but he was noticeable (off the rush especially).

Lombardi also looked really good again last night. I think it's going to be another big season for him in GR and if he hits the weights again next summer like he did this summer he's going to make the Wings next fall. He's right there and improving a lot as he goes.