Jan 30 Practice Updates
Vesey is not on D. Him skating with Jones means he’s likely to be scratched still.
Kaliyev’s reaction to the change. /s
Looks like they did try some changes on the PP
Media Availability
- On Kaliyev being off to the side during line rushes: “I think he's a guy that's come from having some injury, getting back into a new team. There's been times when he's been good; there's been times when he's been productive, and that was just practice. You know, there's room for growth and then there's things that he's done well for us, as well. He can shoot the puck. He scored some goals. Part of a group that had a pretty solid month, pretty successful month in January wished it ended a little bit differently, but I think there’s been some good things.”
- On if this is the “real Kaliyev” or is he is still working his way back from injury: “I'm not sure of that I think getting the pace back, the battles sometimes it takes some time if you haven't been involved in it for a long stretch of time. So, I think those are areas that we talk to them about, show him just the speed of the game and the compete and the battles, but there's been times when it's been good as well. He's used it to his advantage to gain opportunities to get his shot off which we feel is excellent. so it's just getting up to speed.”
- On Edström coming in and becoming a “set it and forget it” player on the 4th line: “When you're not sure about something to start the year, you maybe have a thought process on what you're thinking, it's nice when that player comes in and actually does the things that you're looking for him to do. He brings speed. He has a good reach. He's obviously a big man, but he's got a great stride, a great reach. He's been physical. Fairly reliable defensively. I still think that down the road that the penalty kill is in his future just because he's somebody that we feel can see things and is pretty smart with that and his skating and his size and his reach would be tough, but the penalty kill is moving in a good direction this year as well. So, all those things that you are looking for out of a player coming into the season, I think he's done a pretty good job of checking those boxes.”
- On “Igor unique compared to any other goalie [Lavi] has coached”: “When I watch him prepare for games and prepare, I think he's a complete professional, but I don't know if that differs. I have worked with a lot of goaltenders, and some of them are very detailed about how they prepare each day and for every game. Their work ethic on the ice, that's one thing that stands out for me. We've got two goaltenders that work their tails off everyday, and, to me, that's a great example to set for your team. So, I don't know if it's completely unique from anyone I've ever worked with, but he's in a class of a guy that knows how to work on the ice and how to prepare himself for practice and for games and oftentimes the results follow those types of players.”
- On January being “pretty much a good month” for the team: “I don't like the score of the last game. The second to last game against Colorado I think the fate could have been different, but it wasn't. That's the way the scoreboard said the game turned out.”
- On what elements he thought improved in January: “I think it's been a little bit of everything, if I'm being honest. Like, we've scored goals, we've defended a little bit better, my eyeball, the numbers, everything to me says that we're playing a better brand that would allow us to be successful. That month is over. We've got to now start focusing on the month of February, the games of the month of February, certainly before the break here, and certainly some of the opponents that were playing. Those are big games.”
It's possible Kaliyev is feeling a bit beat up. He hadn't played since early April when he was claimed on waivers, and at the time of LA was getting very low TOI (like less than last season Rempe level TOI. He got 2:32 in a game where he wasn't injured or ejected). The team practices tomorrow at noon. I'm busy until 1:30-2:00, so there won't be a practice update up until mid afternoon.
Also, can you imagine a Eddy and Remps together on the PK (if they can both have the skill)? With their size, speed, and reach, it would be a unique weapon.