Dev. Camp - Day Three Observations
Kent Wilson
July 29 2010 04:08PM
A truncated afternoon session today filled with line rushes and a brief 4-on-4 scrimmage. The activity was more interesting and more instructive, but at 45 minutes or so, not enough to really watch everyone in question. Some items of interest:
- John Armstrong appeared in the first half of practice wearing a white jersey (the only one on the ice). He left when the drills got more physical. At the start of the week, I predicted to Walk Invisible that Armstrong would be injured before the camp was done. Looks like I was right. Other injured guys right now include John Negrin and Ryley Grantham.
- Mikael Backlund was schooling the kids today. He made several highlight reel dangles around opponents. There's little question he's at the top of the class here.
- Nyren's fundamental skills are questionable, but he made two excellent defensive reads. I've come around a bit on the guy since watching him struggle through the power skating stuff.
- The only time I really noticed Nemisz was on a defensive play. He was the lone man back during a rush in the scrimmage and managed to expertly guide the attacker to the outside without much problem.
- Tim Erixon has good tools aside from his shot. No real velocity or power behind it.
- Bryan Cameron has left me really underwhelmed throughout camp thus far. His skating isn't there and he hasn't been executing around the net the way one would expect of a guy with so many junior goals under his belt.
- Again, I didn't really notice any of the new guys or Ryan Howse.
Foot!
John Armstrong had surgery and was not going to push it this development camp, the flames want him 100% for pro camp in september. He did not get injured this week its precaution- John Armstrong stated on fan960
I do agree with your assesment with Cameron and Nemisz
Ahh, thanks for the info. He was fully engaged in the other skates I saw, so naturally assumed he hurt something.
I don't think Armstrong will make the team permanently, too many injuries. He'll most likely be a fourth liner that can switch between Abbyford and Calgary. Just my opinion.
I don't think he'll be in the running at all, despite what Sutter says to the press. Not only is he injured all the time, but his results in the AHL when he does play are worse than mediocre.
@@NateInVegas
What are you doing here nate what color r u anyways
Erixon said it was only his fifth time on the ice this year. Its been three days these kids are just starting to find their hands and legs. I'm sure you will notice an improvement when camp starts in September.
Like LeBron,
I have decided to take my talents south...
My hockey alliance has been questioned on Oilers Nation frequently due to my critical comments towards a writer and the commenters.
It appears the hater has become the hated, you be the judge. :)
No worries I'm just scoping out the enemy myself
Any thoughts on the 'tenders - particularly Ortio & Lanigan? Irving?
How 'bout Logan MacMillan?
You say Brodie's looked good. How would you rank him, Erixon & Negrin...
a) in this camp (you may reserve judgment til the end)
b) long-term future
c) time-frame til ready?
@RossCreekNation
negrin was absent monday, did a couple of light skating drills on tuesday, and hasn't been back since. he's still rehabbing last years injuries.
as far as i'm concerned, nobody other than mickis is turning heads. some guys are definitely doing some of the little things right (i'd peg erixon and brodie as a couple in that file).
no goalie drills this year, so those guys are just getting pummeled with shots; hard to tell much about any of them.
MacMillan didnt attend. I think he's hurt too.
There's no real way to rank these guys through these sorts of drills. You get some sort of idea what their individual skill sets are, but things change when it comes to game time - making decisions and executing under pressure are so valuable, it's mostly the thing that separates good from bad.
I like the skill sets of the guys I've mentioned throughout the week. It remains to be seen how that translates to performance though.
@Kent Wilson
MacMillan had Hernia surgery last week (So sayith the herald at any rate) I imagine he's still recovering from that.