The SBP Archives - Your less than frequent dose of SBP!

First, thanks to Kim for taking me to the game.

Now, on to the game.

One word can sum up the 1st & 3rd periods: Lazy. They were really just going through the motions. It is hard to play well during these meaningless contests (not so meaningless, of course, for those trying to make the team) and it reflected on the ice, as the players with the big money contracts: Redden, Spezza and Heatley, were simply going through the motions. The players looking for jobs were trying, except for Russian Alexei Kaigorodov.

This guy didn't look comfortable, and he certainly didn't look like a player who minds getting his nose dirty here and there. He is going to have to turn it up quickly if he's going to suit up on October 4th. He did pick up one assist, but it was the work of his linemate Denis Hamel that made it possible.

Hamel has scored 4 times in the two games he's played, and in my view it's making it easy for the coaching staff to have Kagairodov play in Russia for the 2006-07 season. Hamel has been languising in the AHL for some time now, but he's improved every year, scoring 56 goals last season. He's also a mature 29 years-old, unlike the culture-shocked, young 23 year-old Kaigorodov who doesn't know how to speak English.

Another "battle" emerging in the pre-season is who will play with Spezza and Heatley on the top line. Patrick Eaves seemed to be a lock, but Murray experimented with Antoine Vermette on the left side last night, and played well. Both Eaves and Vermette were aruguably two of the better players last night so Murray will have a tough decision to make. Of course, if Kaigorodov doesn't pan out, it might leave Murray no choice but to put Eaves on the 1st line, and put Vermette in between Peter Schaefer and Daniel Alfredsson on the 2nd line.

One more thought: Saw a Heatley jersey last night, except the name "Heater" graced the back of the sweater instead of his full last name. What can I say: I liked it!