Taking In the Leafs/ Pens Pre-Season Game, Update Schneider Rumor...

Although it is only pre-season, these games give us a bit of glance of the talent of the players that will be playing next season. When watching a pre-season game, try not to think about the score, and try to pin point the players, and you'll instantly see the one's with good work ethic (along with the ones just fighting for a job). Two players really stand out in my mind from yesterdays game between the Leafs and Pens. Luke Schenn, and Justin Pogge. Pogge continued to look great and comfortable in net. He had little chance on the goals that he did let in: two went in off his own defenders (Boumedienne and Stralman), and one was a 2-0 with Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal- I'm sure even Marty Brodeur would have nightmares about that- after Stralman blew a tire and created the turnover in the Leafs defensive zone.
For me, Schenn was the only solid defender for the Leafs last night. Even Tomas Kaberle found his jockstrap in the crowd- along with other Leafs- when Malkin decided to have a little game of keep away. Schenn consistently makes smart plays, and doesn't show any rookie jitters or impatience. He's very very mature for a hockey player of his age. He did have one sort of bad turnover however, but right after made a smart move to gain the puck back. Ron Wilson is gunna have to send him out there alone if he wants to make a case for sending him to the minors.
Leaf overratee (yes it's a word now) Nikolai Kulemin seemed invisible once again, until one power play where he decided to dangle around a few Pens and snap a dangerous shot.
Grabovski had some bad turnovers in the game, but made up for them with a beautiful goal with around ten seconds left in the game. Draped all over Pens, Grabovski rushed to the net, and slid the puck home. Grabovski seems almost too selfish though. Even though it's a pre-season game, just watch him every time he gets the puck, he'll try to create everything by himself, but due to his size, often then not he'll end up planted on the ice. He is very skillful though, and I can seem him turning into a very solid forward force for the Leafs.
On the Pens side of things, they seemed like they were just playing with the young Buds. Malkin threw so many dangles together the Leafs must of thought they were in Slapshot 2.
Staal showed once again how unselfish he is on the 2-0 with Evgeni Malkin. Malkin promptly handed Staal the puck right in front of Pogge with no defenders in sight, and in a situation where most players in pre-season would try to plot the puck home for their own benefit, Staal threw it right back to Malkin who tapped it in to the mercy of Pogge.
The final score by the way was 3-2, but that hardly tells the full story as the Pens dominated the Leafs.

As for the Schneider rumor, I really thought it would have been over by now, the deal that is. It's the first time I've actually had a ton of people tell me the same thing over and over. For that, I suspect the deal should be done by the end of this week, but the mystery factor is still there because my none of my sources could give me any real hard info, like the details of the trade, so don't count this as too reliable. I'm trying to dig around for more info, but haven't got anywhere. If I come up with something I'll let you know. I do know that the Blues really need a defender, among other things, if they wish to make some noise this year. Schneider seems like an okay fit, but why not Marek Malik (UFA) ? He's not as top notch as Schneider, but is still a very good d-man in my opinion. And I'll keep campaigning for someone to sign him until some one does!

I shall be writing more later, especially if I find anything more on Schneider...
UPDATE: Traded to Atlanta