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Slow and Unsteady Loses the Race

What we see is what we are getting. Lambert's too slow comment is resonating from training camp scrimmage. This team is as rested as can be, they got their fluke deflection from Cizikas and a total no-show by Arizona. On top of that ping pong Pageau, can't score, is slow/soft like Palmieri/4th line (Clutterbuck is healthy/noticable) but top star players pick them apart. Worse then that my fear about Barzal and the many out of position forwards who don't backcheck has happened. Barzal is a career center, so is Horvat/Nelson. Barzal is not a winger, and can't even play the left side because Lee can't skate with slow Pageau who has stone hands so ping poing for 5 million and three 5/5 goals last season is getting beat all over the ice.
Palmieri at his best will get his goal, and do things to give up two or more, he was -3 vs Colorado. They have Wahlstrom sitting & moving Holmstrom from wing to wing. Pelech, Pulock are getting beat with slow backchecking forwards, and we know Dobson-Aho will make mistakes, especially with Aho on his off D.
Sorkin gave them a chance against Colorado with some sensational saves, he had them in overtime vs Devils before Pageau/Palmieri were out against Jack Hughes, and last night was a 4-4 game in the third so they are competing despite shots against. Still the skill teams will continue coming at them and many of these aging forwards will not be getting faster to keep up, and the schedule has been as kind as possible, which will be changing.
I have been writing the same things since 2019-20, the mistakes Lamoriello are going to stay, and now they have seven years of Engvall, two of Fasching, and other teams can back them, and Nelson will go cold, and their powerplay struggles have now extended to their penalty killing.
Long story short, they need a trade, they don't need awful Parise who got a ton of fluke goals at 39, they need to find spots for Durandeau, Maggio, Dufour, and they needed a RD, and they don't have the cap room. Other teams are not stupid, they would not take Pageau/Palmieri/4th line for free.

Failed Belmont Experiment Finally Finishes Brick Walkway

First Opening Night Win/Full Season Since 1980

Most years they opened on the road.

Hidden Retail Village Live Cam/$1200 parking for residents/no shuttles on non-event days at failed experiment.

Holmstrom Recalled

Not that he ever left, paper transaction.

Anaheim claimed Johnston

Three years off the NYI books for a team that needs every penny even if waivers took him off the cap. Best of luck to Johnston, who could hit the waiver wire again.

New York Roster: Holmstrom goes to Bridgeport/Johnston on waivers

So unless a surprise Holmstrom returns tomorrow when Johnston clears, and we'll see if Johnston clears who makes 1.1 million for the next three years.

Lambert was right after first scrimmage: Too slow

Other teams played all summer against other organizations, and had prospect camps. This team hid all summer, and finally had a game the day before the preseason opener, and Lambert said they were too slow.
Six preseason games showed the same tendencies that happened in January 2023 when they had two goals or less in 12/13 games which should have ended their playoff chances because faster teams (even struggling teams) beat them or forced Sorokin to hold them in games. In 2016-17 they had 94 points/12 over under interim coach Weight and failed to qualify. Last season was mostly a fluke, don't expect that to be enough to get in this year. Normally it's 98 points/20 games over. Palmieri is going to slump, and struggle, Pageau can't score at 5/5 (three goals/seventy games) and is not good on special teams, the 4th line will be back and play for even shifts at best, as they are outskated, and clearly as nice as Barzal is about it, he's not a winger. And it could well be likely Sorokin is due for a down year, or can't hide the lack of speed. Someone has to have a breakout year among Engvall, Fasching, Walhstrom, and Pulock has to produce goals as he did in the past, and Pelech has to be a #1 defender.

(All waivers clear) Holmstrom vs Johnston

Holmstrom does not require waivers, Johnston does. Salo, Darandeau, Koivula, Skarek must clear waivers. Moderare/fair chance Salo/Durandeau are claimed. Deadline is Monday 5pm, expect Johnston to stay. I don't see Cates with an NHL contract out of his PTO, my guess is Gauthier stays to start. It's likely Bolduc stays even if he's spotted vs Aho vs other rd. Not good when Barzal does not have a wing when he's a career center.

Major Cuts For New York: Salo/Koivula, Skarek, Durandeau waivers