Defense and back up goalie

[Captain Obvious]

Since there seems to be a lot of depth up front and Rio has the #1 job locked up...the big battles will be on defense and #2 goalie.

On defense, Barberio Baca and Pianosi appear to be locks. Goyens and Tolles should make it if they play like 19 year olds, otherwise, guys like Boyle Whelan Eastman Wilson Miceli Gomes Greenside and Croft are preferable as 18 year olds. Furlotte has some toughness, but I can't see him as a regular Q d-man this year. Dimitruk would be a lock if he decides to stay.

[Optimus Reim]

We'll get a better idea of who is who after tomorrow. I am pretty sure Gomes is a 19 though. Either way I will be at the scrimmages tomorrow. But you are right with the locks IMO. And it will be interesting to see how Boyles knee is. He looked ok in the free skate. Man I love this time of year.

[curtis]

I didn't see Greenside on the training camp roster, I'd forgotten about him. Did he get sent home last year due to injury, or was it to get more ice time at Junior A?

[Deleted]

billy said:

Since there seems to be a lot of depth up front and Rio has the #1 job locked up...the big battles will be on defense and #2 goalie.

From what I saw last year in the playoffs, i'm not sure Rio is going to do so well... Hope I'm wrong because he has a lot of potential.

We'll see once the season starts how he'll do, but this is probably his last chance to show what he can do in order to get drafted.

[overtime]

I heard a rumor that Dan Whelan was not reporting? Does that mean we get a new draft pick with the Tim Spencer trade last year or do we just get nothing ?

[curtis]

hipsterdoofus said:

billy said:

Since there seems to be a lot of depth up front and Rio has the #1 job locked up...the big battles will be on defense and #2 goalie.

From what I saw last year in the playoffs, i'm not sure Rio is going to do so well... Hope I'm wrong because he has a lot of potential.

We'll see once the season starts how he'll do, but this is probably his last chance to show what he can do in order to get drafted.

Riopel played quite well for the most part all season as a 17 yo, I don't think a few disappointing playoff games negates that.

[Captain Obvious]

hipsterdoofus said:

billy said:

Since there seems to be a lot of depth up front and Rio has the #1 job locked up...the big battles will be on defense and #2 goalie.

From what I saw last year in the playoffs, i'm not sure Rio is going to do so well... Hope I'm wrong because he has a lot of potential.

We'll see once the season starts how he'll do, but this is probably his last chance to show what he can do in order to get drafted.

Thanks for your valued opinion

[502]

I can see Rio being a lock for a slot in goaltending based on him being in the system alone, but if one of the FA's outplays him I see no reason why he should still be a 'lock' for #1

[curtis]

502 said:

I can see Rio being a lock for a slot in goaltending based on him being in the system alone, but if one of the FA's outplays him I see no reason why he should still be a 'lock' for #1

"Hey Nic, do you have a second? Listen, I know you shared the starter's job last season, but well....we got this kid who showed up, and he made a few nice saves during scrimmage, soooo...."

[jimmy]

curtis said:

502 said:

I can see Rio being a lock for a slot in goaltending based on him being in the system alone, but if one of the FA's outplays him I see no reason why he should still be a 'lock' for #1

"Hey Nic, do you have a second? Listen, I know you shared the starter's job last season, but well....we got this kid who showed up, and he made a few nice saves during scrimmage, soooo...."

If for some reason Riopel has a horrible camp and does not start the season as #1, then the #1 will be Sniderman, with Riopel as backup. At this point, I would be beyond shocked to see any of the FA invites starting the year as #1 goalie ...

[curtis]

jimmy said:

curtis said:

"Hey Nic, do you have a second? Listen, I know you shared the starter's job last season, but well....we got this kid who showed up, and he made a few nice saves during scrimmage, soooo...."

If for some reason Riopel has a horrible camp and does not start the season as #1, then the #1 will be Sniderman, with Riopel as backup. At this point, I would be beyond shocked to see any of the FA invites starting the year as #1 goalie ...

Agreed. Riopel had a solid year last season, notwithstanding a bad playoff run. He will be given a large chunk of the season to prove that the job is his, and his alone.

[SteveUL]

I think Cooling has a leg up for the backup job at this point ... he has been working with Damphousse and Bergevin-Jean for at least a year now as they spend time with the Beavers and Flyers. Cooling is solid and big ... not a flopper and stands his ground. If he can perfect his angles and improve his lateral movement in the net he could be a Crawford in the making (probably not that good but certainly that style). Problem is though that Cooling is 18 and so is Riopel and so at some point (probably next draft) we will have to bring in a younger guy to be the heir apparent to Riopel.

The other three guys ... Bolduc, Dupuis, Babiak ... all looked good but perhaps a little less refined compared to Cooling ... likely a product of the coaching Cooling has received.

[curtis]

I'd be very happy with a situation where Cooling would be a serviceable backup immediately, but who also has some upside going forward. Looking forward to seeing these goalies first-hand later this week.

[Optimus Reim]

About the Dmen. Has anyone seen Eastman out there? On the paper camp list he is no 2 on team red. I have yet to see him in either game.

[Penguins23®]

ace said:

About the Dmen. Has anyone seen Eastman out there? On the paper camp list he is no 2 on team red. I have yet to see him in either game.

I went to tonight's game and did no see him. I was curious to see how a 5'9" d-man would do.