4:24PM: Laviolette said that Chytil was going to be day to day “likely for a few days.” He added that it’s “nothing that is a real big concern, just erring on the side of caution and making sure that he feels good.” (NYR)
Laviolette said that Lafreniere has been “really responsive, really easy to talk to, really easy to coach. He seems like he is really excited, to me, to get an opportunity…that line is in place for a reason, to take a look at it and there will be more opportunity to continue to look at with different players….I think he’s been really good. I don’t think, he hasn’t come over and tell us that he just can’t figure out the right wing. I don’t think it affects him much an the more he does it, the more he stays with it, that is opportunity up in possibly the top-six or looking at him in PP situations.”
Ad
He added “there is a skill level with him, his hands, ability to make plays in tight areas. The hockey IQ part of it goes there. I think he’s in a good spot in regard to previous development with him, not everybody comes in at 18 and just smacks the league around. Sometimes it’s a little bit more difficult than that and I think there has been a process with him where last year he had his most productive year and with that comes maturity, a different physical presence from an 18-year old kid to the players we are talking about that are 22,23,24. There is a big difference in that, the experiences they got along the way, the growth. You’d like to think that, with opportunity, like tonight and get a chance to play with a couple of really good players. That you want to see some positive and good things.”
11:27AM: The lines being used at today’s morning skate, before tonight’s game against NJ, were (Staple, Stephenson)
- Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, Alexis Lafreniere
- Brennan Othmann, Nick Bonino, Blake Wheeler
- Will Cuylle, Jonny Brodzinski, Kaapo Kakko
- Anton Blidh, Karl Henriksson, Alex Belzile
- K’Andre Miller, Adam Fox
- Erik Gustafsson, Braden Schneider
- Zac Jones, Ty Emberson
- Igor Shesterkin
- Louis Domingue
Artemi Panarin skated with the non-game group. Filip Chytil did not. (Brooks)