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.