Man.Utd
9-10-05, 4:37 PM
After some dissapointing performances from the team, the Sens rookies just really kicked it up a notch against Olesz (IMO the toruney's best prospect), Stewart, McArdle and company. I had the opportunity to see this one live as one of my friends who bought tickets to the whole tournament (came to about $12 or $1 per game - I'm definatly buying next time around) couldn't make it and gave me the previlage to go. The big guns really performed very well as that was part of the problem in previous outings.
Sens scorers: Komadoski, Eaves (2), Bouchard and Labreque. Guard was very impressive in his shutout win making many big saves. He didn't look that bad handling the puck contrary to what some guys told me, but he still played far back in his crease. That may burn him at times down the road but it does show confidence in your net to have that style. Notes on some of our 'higher-end' boys:
- Cody Bass is a monster at protecting the puck. He was very hard to knock off it and never gave up possesion. Unlike other prospects, he has an NHL build now so that would help when taking on those who could stand to add some weight. He doesn't have many tricks up his sleeze so although he won't beat guys one-on-one he'd be great to send out and kill some clock with. He plays a nice physical brand of hockey (hits everything that moves) and has some very nice wheels to go along with it - more or less an NHL'er calibre skater. Bass, Wikner, and Gibbons were almost always on the same line and man could they forcehck. Florida just couldn't contain them.
- Meszaros again needs to add more pounds to his frame, which is a very decent size in spite of conflicting reports. This was my first time seeing him live in a game situation (other than practise) and I was surpsrised with him. He does have an absolute cannon (well above average even for an NHL'er) and as I mentioned it does take a while before he can get it off. But where was this great offensive presence I heard of? There were glimpses of it, but he seems to be more of a two-way guy who's simply quite comfortable in the opposition's end. His apparently great-first pass was often times, indeed, perfectly placed on the forwards stick but also right on the opponants tape at times too. He's like Redden in that sense, and that's not a trait I'd like to see him have. He's a very smooth skater and is already of NHL calibre in this area. He doesn't look like he's moving that fast but that's just because of his deep, effortless stride typical of the Slovaks (Niedermayer is the same for those who saw him at the skills competition). He's great at moving the puck up ice if given the opportunity. He sees the open path, takes it, then lets go a rocket/pass. I would've liked to see him under tighter checking however as Florida just let him into the zone untouched. His physical game was very nice. He finished most of his checks and likes to mix it up. He tried to hip-check McArdle but just missed and ended up out of position. It would have been a crazy hit had he he connected but he needs to learn to pick his spots better. Strangely, to go along with this characteristic, he is very good at defending using his stick as opposed to his body and opted to do so on more than a few occasions.
- Eaves (who wore an 'A') finally broke out onto the scoreboard. He created tons of offensive chances and his second goal was a great shot. He could have easily had a hat-trick. He went one-on-one with a defender and won, went in alone and faked the goalie, and just couldn't put it away for the 3rd marker. Plays a nice gritty game. Is a fine skater but not a standout. He definatly needs to adds some weight to his frame which is a little on the small side.
Sens scorers: Komadoski, Eaves (2), Bouchard and Labreque. Guard was very impressive in his shutout win making many big saves. He didn't look that bad handling the puck contrary to what some guys told me, but he still played far back in his crease. That may burn him at times down the road but it does show confidence in your net to have that style. Notes on some of our 'higher-end' boys:
- Cody Bass is a monster at protecting the puck. He was very hard to knock off it and never gave up possesion. Unlike other prospects, he has an NHL build now so that would help when taking on those who could stand to add some weight. He doesn't have many tricks up his sleeze so although he won't beat guys one-on-one he'd be great to send out and kill some clock with. He plays a nice physical brand of hockey (hits everything that moves) and has some very nice wheels to go along with it - more or less an NHL'er calibre skater. Bass, Wikner, and Gibbons were almost always on the same line and man could they forcehck. Florida just couldn't contain them.
- Meszaros again needs to add more pounds to his frame, which is a very decent size in spite of conflicting reports. This was my first time seeing him live in a game situation (other than practise) and I was surpsrised with him. He does have an absolute cannon (well above average even for an NHL'er) and as I mentioned it does take a while before he can get it off. But where was this great offensive presence I heard of? There were glimpses of it, but he seems to be more of a two-way guy who's simply quite comfortable in the opposition's end. His apparently great-first pass was often times, indeed, perfectly placed on the forwards stick but also right on the opponants tape at times too. He's like Redden in that sense, and that's not a trait I'd like to see him have. He's a very smooth skater and is already of NHL calibre in this area. He doesn't look like he's moving that fast but that's just because of his deep, effortless stride typical of the Slovaks (Niedermayer is the same for those who saw him at the skills competition). He's great at moving the puck up ice if given the opportunity. He sees the open path, takes it, then lets go a rocket/pass. I would've liked to see him under tighter checking however as Florida just let him into the zone untouched. His physical game was very nice. He finished most of his checks and likes to mix it up. He tried to hip-check McArdle but just missed and ended up out of position. It would have been a crazy hit had he he connected but he needs to learn to pick his spots better. Strangely, to go along with this characteristic, he is very good at defending using his stick as opposed to his body and opted to do so on more than a few occasions.
- Eaves (who wore an 'A') finally broke out onto the scoreboard. He created tons of offensive chances and his second goal was a great shot. He could have easily had a hat-trick. He went one-on-one with a defender and won, went in alone and faked the goalie, and just couldn't put it away for the 3rd marker. Plays a nice gritty game. Is a fine skater but not a standout. He definatly needs to adds some weight to his frame which is a little on the small side.