Goal differential might decide this series.
Day 4 of Golden Knights Development Camp featured another scrimmage but a far different result.
Yesterday, Team White pounded Team Grey 5-1. Today, Grey returned the favor with a 5-0 shutout.
The final scrimmage of development camp will decide bragging rights tomorrow.
Once again, I was impressed with Team Grey's Ben Jones.
In particular, I liked a play along the wall. The puck was rimming toward Team White's Ryan Wagner, who was waiting at the half wall. Cleverly, Jones tied up Wagner's stick first before the puck's arrival, then took it away.
While Wagner is on the smaller side, he's also 22 and played in the AHL last season; that's not a meaningless play from a 19-year-old seventh-rounder.
Bob Lowes, Assistant Director Of Player Personnel, noted, "Jones plays a 200-foot game. He's on the puck. His skating's really improved. It's allowing him to be a little more involved all over the ice."
Meanwhile, somebody to watch this coming season is Dawson DiPietro.
Ryan Wagman of McKeen's Hockey believes the 22-year-old Western Michigan winger will be one of the more sought-after college UFAs. In both scrimmages, he has been one of the most dangerous forwards.
Finally, of the 2018 draft picks, Paul Cotter stood out today as being the most ready for the older, bigger, more skilled players of development camp.
"We're really excited about him, just how good he is. He's been really, really good," said Lowes. "He's one of those 6'0" forwards, but he's 190 pounds. So he can play heavy. He's got good hands. Quite a bit of power. Can play a skill game.
"Just shows where he's at, overall. He's played with a lot of confidence. He's worked very, very hard. He's been very noticeable."
For Team Grey, Tyler Wong (Nick Suzuki), Cotter (Brett Kemp), Matt Baker (penalty shot), Reid Duke (penalty shot), and Cotter 4v4 scored. Unless otherwise noted, all goals were 5v5; I don't think they announced secondary assists. You can go to the Golden Knights Twitter to see the highlights.
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After the game, I caught up with Suzuki and asked if there's anybody louder than Keegan Kolesar.
Brock Otten of OHL Prospects shared some concerns about Suzuki's year.
DiPietro talked about what he has in common with LeBron James (free agency).
His future Western Michigan teammate Cotter spoke about why he's been so comfortable at camp.
Finally, Lowes addressed the number of smaller forwards at camp -- 14 of the 24 forwards are under 6'0."
Just for comparison's sake, three of Washington's 16 development camp forwards, four of LA's 18, and four of Philadelphia's 16 are under 6'0".
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Nick Suzuki
HockeyBuzz: During the season, how did you balance the things that the Golden Knights asked you to work on with your team's goals?
Nick Suzuki: They sent me back with some things to work on. Skating. Just getting bigger and stronger. Those are personal things I need to work on.
But during the season, I just try to work on those things by myself. In practice, work on my stride during the drills. Working hard in the gym, whenever I get the chance.
It wasn't too hard to balance.
HB: Cody Glass said that on Team White, Keegan Kolesar is unquestionably the loudest guy. Is there anybody on Team Grey to rival Keegan's volume?
NS: Me, Nic Hague, and Ben Jones like to talk a lot. Also Duke and Wong. We were all here last year, so we try to talk the most out there, help each other out on ice.
HB: So the combination of you five guys, are you guys louder than Kolesar?
NS: Probably not. He's always talking. Every time I skate with him, he doesn't stop talking. He's probably the loudest here.
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Dawson DiPietro
DiPietro, on his game:
I try to be a speedy and aggressive winger. Try to be on pucks. Be on guys as quick as possible. Use my speed as much as I can. Try to put pucks in the net.
For myself, the speediness and the skill are the two things. The rest of my game, I'm working on rounding out.
DiPietro, on Western Michigan players here (HockeyBuzz Note: Along with Cotter, defenseman Corey Schueneman is representing the Broncos):
It's nice to see some familiar faces. It's good to see Vegas take some interest in Western guys. We're excited to take what we learn here back to Western.
As far as I know, maybe they came to a few games, they like the way we play. The style we play. The speed we play at. The way we work together. Also, [the style of] the league we play in.
DiPietro, on playing for Andy Murray:
Andy Murray is a great coach. Coached in the NHL for a long time. There's not many guys I've been around who know the game as well as him. He's taught me pretty much everything I know positionally, how to play the game, do things right, be a good person, be a good man. He's a great role model to all of us.
DiPietro, on going from one game played for Western Michigan in 2016-17 to a point-per-game season:
Came in as a lower guy, played in the NAHL, lower-level league of juniors. Took a year of development to put some weight on. We had a really good team. Kind of sat on the back-end, waited for my time. When I able to get on the ice this year, tried to make the best of it.
I think I've been pegged as a late-bloomer. When I came in, I was about 160 pounds soaking wet. Now I'm almost at 180. I've taken a more physical look at my game off the ice, changed there. On the ice, learned a lot when I got to Western. That jump from the NAHL to D-1 hockey was huge. Once I was able to adjust to that type of game, I was able to be successful.
DiPietro, on how he's enjoying Las Vegas:
It's my first development camp and first time in Vegas. Double whammy here. Absolutely love it here in Vegas.
Facilities are top-notch. It's great to be part of this team for a week, get an inside look at how they handle things. They're a great organization, it's been a great experience. I couldn't be happier.
DiPietro, on when he will decide where to sign:
I plan on going back to Western Michigan this year. We'll just go from there. I plan on putting in the work this off-season, trying to have the best year I can. When the end of the year comes, I'll have to make a tough decision hopefully.
I'll be a redshirt junior -- I've only really played one full year. So I have two more years if I want it.
DiPietro, as a big Cavaliers fan, on Cleveland potentially losing LeBron James:
(laughs) I saw he's a free agent. So we got that in common now. (laughs) I'm hoping he stays, but whatever he decides, I understand.
He got us that championship.
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Paul Cotter
Cotter, on the Western Michigan connection here:
It's real cool. Corey's going to be our captain this year. Having a guy like that who conducts himself on and off the ice properly is huge to look up to, especially as a first-year guy. DiPietro had an unbelievable year, such a good player, such a good guy.
Cotter, on coming to camp with his friend Brandon Kruse:
I was on my way down with media and I heard that he got called. A lot of excitement going through there. Such a great player. He can slow the game down so much.
We flew out together on the same flight. We're heading back the same. I don't think he's left my side until now. (laughs)
Cotter, on not being fazed by generally older, bigger, more skilled players at his first development camp:
Everybody's here for a reason. The biggest thing is, every guy here is really good. Mistakes are going to happen. But you just have to keep going, stay positive. Speed is probably the biggest thing in my game. I showed it out there today. Just keep doing that. Keep eating right. Get some good sleep. (laughs)
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Bob Lowes
Lowes, on the number of smaller forwards at development camp:
You just want hockey players. You'd like them all to be the size of Nic Hague. But you're not going to get that.
Size is a determining factor. But the NHL now, if you look at some of the rosters, it's not so much a determining factor. You just want hockey players who are strong on the puck and compete.
Lowes, on Suzuki:
Nick's a very good player. We call him a Swiss Army Knife because he can play everywhere and in every situation.
His hands and his hockey sense are elite.
Lowes, on what Nic Hague needs to improve:
Skating is still a thing. But it's really, really improved. He's never going to be the smoothest guy, but as long as he's efficient, using his size, being in the right position.
You look at those guys like Chara -- I'm not saying he's Chara -- but the big guys who aren't always the most fluid at times. But if they're in the right position, use their stick, that's all they need.
He's a special player with the puck. His skating will continue to improve as he gets stronger. He still hasn't matured physically.
His stick skills are elite. Always has his head up, makes great plays. Jumps in the play. And if he gets the puck from the blueline in, he can score.
Lowes, on if any of the unsigned invitees, besides Jimmy Schuldt, has stood out:
They've all shown a little bit of something. Nobody's really separated themselves.
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Brock Otten on Suzuki's year:
Suzuki, truthfully I'm not sure he grew a ton as a player this year. Status quo for him.
Not necessarily a bad thing, but I would suspect he returns to the OHL this year and challenges for the scoring title. Skating still needs to improve a bit, especially that first step explosiveness.
Felt like he didn't play quite as physical or as well without the puck this year and he'll need to return to that style of game. At his best, he's a real puck hound, putting pressure on defenses in the o-zone and in the neutral zone.
Playmaking ability is top-notch. Shot is underrated. He's the complete package offensively, minus the dynamic skating ability.
Just want to see him start to take over games more the way a guy like Jordan Kyrou was able to do this year. Suzuki remains a potential top-six center who probably ends up similar to a guy like Joe Pavelski.
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Finally, some UFA news, which I'll address at more length in the coming days:
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