NOTEBOOK: Panarin to Play, Gustafsson-Schneider Impresses, Vision for the Rest of Training Camp

GAME GROUP: 

Panarin-Trocheck-Othmann*

Vesey-Leschyshyn-Goodrow

Sykora-Rempe-Edstrom

Robertson-Trouba

Lindgren-Scanlin

Harpur-Hollowell

*Laviolette stated Othmann will not play tonight 

Panarin to Play: 

Artemi Panarin practiced with the game group today and is ready to take the ice in tonight's match on Long Island. "The Bread Man" posted 29 goals and 92 points last campaign and is fourth in points over the last four seasons among all NHL skaters. 

Gustafsson-Schneider Pair Impress:  

Chemistry and lines are something Peter Laviolette was not concerned with at the start of camp. Those practices were for pacemaking. 

It seems as the preseason progresses, it will become more important, as he stated " If something wasn't completely on point last night that you throw it out the window. I thought that some of the inside things we were looking at, I thought that Gustafsson and Schneider were a really good pair together. So that doesn't mean it's set in stone... I came away from the game saying that pairing played well together."

And for fans trying to Jenga the lineup, they will not be too pleased to hear that it won't be glued together, even for opening day on October 12th, "I don't think you're hanging your hat one way or another. I don't think it'll be set in stone, saying in game one this is it. I think things move all the time..."

The lineup will be fluid, but the duo is making a strong case for the third defensive unit. 

Vision for the Rest of Camp:

Peter Laviolette explained the balance between development and player evaluation. A lot of it has to do with ice time and the size of the roster. The 22-year veteran leader traces it back to the conditioning of a new system. 

The emphasis is on the week after the last preseason game where the staff can spend more one-on-one time with the expected NHL roster. The in-game group is the focus for this week,

There is a progression that comes with the training camp and the goals of each phase, "The first five days the players were only available for an hour and forty-five. It makes it a bit more challenging but we are past that now." 

Laviolette was referencing how there is less to for one-on-one development for the players when the club began its camp on September 21st. 

His nature is to have a purpose behind all of his decisions, and that is reflected in how he communicates the vision for the camp, "We're now into a bunch of games, three games in four days, and once we get through that tonight, there'll be a stretch here where I can feel like we can start to dial in on things."

The eight practices following tonight's game have been heavily emphasized, "We can't keep having split groups so at some point they'll be moves made."

Eventually, the roster will be cut down, but for now, there will be more to see from prospects, bubble players, and the NHL regulars who are performing in a new machine. 

The Warriors: 

Two players who has lacked attention in camp is Barclay Goodrow. Laviolette provided his first impressions of the two hard-nosed assets, "They are really good in the sense of what you said they do a lot of the heavy lifting and heavy work...." 

He continued by giving a nod to other players creating a competitive camp, "There's been others out here too that are trying to make an impression at camp with how they've played the game. I thought Pitlick played a really good game, kind of a bull in a China shop plowing forward, banging bodies, and winning battles." 

Pitlick registered a goal in Tuesday's 4-2 win over the Islanders coupled with his intangible grinding presence. 

Other Notes: 

Igoe Shesterkin did not practice. It is a load management move, as he played 40 minutes in Thursday's tilt against the Devils. Shesterkin has played in 155 games over the last two regular seasons. 

Filip Chytil remains day-to-day.