As of this morning, we’re officially less than a month from the start of training camp, and pre-season tickets go on sale tomorrow.
While the Jackets have loaded up camp with players who will eventually be filtered back to Junior hockey, Springfield, or the ECHL, other teams are going the route of the PTO – such as the Flyers extending a PTO to Michael Nylander. But do PTOs actually have any value?
In the QMJHL, training camps are underway, and Jackets’ goalie prospect Mathieu Corbeil was interviewed as part of the first day of camp for the Memorial Cup champion Sea Dogs.
Over at Copper & Blue, they’re looking at stats for young goalies, and what they say about their likely future. Steve Mason isnt’ specifically mentioned, but Pascal Leclaire is, and a lot of the same lessons should be considered.
Speaking of Mase, he’s taken delivery on his new mask, while Mark Dekanich was showing off his new lid on twitter, then went on to present a visual “tour” of all of his older pro headgear. Very cool.
Former Lightning owner Oren Koules’ son was invited to participate in the NHL’s R&D camp, and while he went up to watch his son play, he spoke to the media about the possibility of returning to the NHL as an owner. Before you scream and run, I think it’s possible things would go better for Koules this time. It’s pretty well known that Brian Lawton’s real estate boondoggles became a major reason why the ownership group became financially unstable, and there were rumors that Lawton was the one looking to ship out guys like Vinny Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis. If true, and Koules was the one looking for longer term, stable stewardship? Yeah, I think he could work as an NHL owner, with the right partners.
DBJ has set the theme for his season previews this year, as he looks at The Grand Army.
NHL R&D camp will continue today after looking at alternatives to the shootout, new glass designs, and the video review line painted into the goal. Scott Howson was there and seems impressed by some of the d-men who would be draft eligible next year.
Fans gathered for Rick Rypien‘s memorial yesterday, and the NHL has said that they will work on overhauling their support programs in the wake of the deaths this summer. Michael Arace talked to Scott Arniel and Jody Shelley about the deeper issues involved in both tragedies.
Congrats to former Jacket Ron Tugnutt, who will be Hockey Canada’s full time goalie consultant.
From Fox Sports Ohio (and the CBJ), we have more video of R.J. Umberger helping out at hockey camp.
Over in Buffalo, it was time for Christian Ehrhoff to meet the press.
LTL has the schedule for the Hockey Beats Down tournament. Good luck to everyone!
We’re a big fan of jersey expert Chris Smith, who created Icethetics, so I’m really happy to see him featured on Puck Daddy’s guilty pleasures series.
Another Wings fan “forgot” about Columbus this offseason, and claims we’ll finish last in the division. I look forward to a lot of crow being served come April.
Take care and Mahalo. We’ll be back later on.