“I think we’ve got a lot of difficult decisions coming up,” head coach Kris Knoblauch said following the team’s morning skate on Tuesday. “We’re early on in the pre-season schedule right now, and it usually plays out and you get a better feel because usually one guy or somebody that you’re not expecting very much out of has a really strong game.

“But you want to see that over several games rather than just making that rash decision because things are going to get a little more difficult, things are getting a little faster, and then we’ll see if they’re ready for the regular season.”