BRHL Team By Team Camp Tour

This article shows Highlights and stories to watch out of each teams preseason camp as rosters get set for the up coming season. Keep in mind most teams are not running official rosters, playing with specific bottom guys and backups so trying to look at a more in depth approach not just by the standings and Wins vs Losses. (First 20 Teams) And the info in this article was up to date as of Day 12.

Avalanche

The main roster battle seems to be between Rasmussen, Smith Pelley, Copp, Sanford, Kossila and Schneider for that 4^th line. After a very active offseason and bringing in generational talent in McDavid GM Bryce hopes to finally take that step with this franchise but probably the biggest story coming out of camp is the disappointing preseason starter Mike Smith has had. In 6 GP he has put up a 0.842 SV % with a 4.33 GAA. It is definitely something to watch moving forward to see if Smith can get on track by the regular season.

Blackhawks

This team has been a perennial competitor for the last few seasons and this time of year everyone always questions the goaltending going in but Darling seems to be having a solid camp so far with a 0.929 SV% in 6 GP. The biggest question right now is who will be the 7^th D on the roster, currently there are only 6 D in camp. The quick solution would point to Matt Irwin ( 81 CK, 76 SK, 52 PA, 48 SC, 76 DF ) who is on the farm at the moment but it is something to watch going into waiver draft.

Bluejackets

25 players in camp, 2 cuts to be made. Couple different position battles right now. There are 8 D in camp and seems unless they hold all 8 Connauton and Trevor Van Reimsdyk are fighting for that 7^th spot. 13 FWDs in camp and it looks like between Burrows, Moulson and Shore 1 or 2 will be cut depending on if the club goes with 13 FWD/8 D or 12 FWD/ 7 D. Real positive is GM Vansickle is trying to take a step up in the division this year and be competitive again and recently signed goalie Greiss is having a very good camp with 7 GP 0.932 SV % 2.14 GAA.

Blues

With 23 skaters in camp it seems the roster is pretty well set accept there are 9 D and 12 FWDs so it is believed a D will be cut or moved out to bring on another forward for depth. At the moment  it seem either Gryba or Manning would be the most likely to be cut in order to even out the roster up front. Murray  is the definite starter going into the season but with a lackluster camp posting  0.874 SV% in 7 GP backup Berra may end up taking more starts than expected from Murray through the season if this trend keeps up because Berra has had a very good 2 GP with a 0.968 SV%.

Bruins

GM Dan is ready to step out of the rebuild and compete and so  far the squad he has put together can defiantly score, they are currently the 2^nd best team in the league for Goals For. Goaltending seems solid with Vasilevski 8 GP 0.921 SV% 2.54 GAA and Wards 1 game cameo going 0.923 SV% 3.04 GAA. But the trend to watch is despite the ability to score and solid goaltending this is a bottom 6 team in the league for shots against. The roster seems set so had to look into some detail and yes its preseason but the blue line was definatly GM Dans main concern going into season and its worth watching to see if adjustments can be made to improve some of the defensive play.

Canadiens

23 skaters in camp, 6 D 15 Fwds. There is atleast 1 forward to cut and it seems Jokinen, Hendricks, Cramarossa are battling for that final spot but realistically with Jokinen just signed in Free Agency and Cramarossa a 24 yr old RFA Hendricks would appear to be on the chopping block. But the main story here is the battle for the backup position behind Bobrovsky. So far Mason 2 GP 0.949 SV% ($5.33 mill 2 years) and Hutton 3 GP 0.918 SV% ($650K UFA). Very interesting to see how they perform the rest of preseason and if their contract end up factoring into the decision which will be exposed to waivers.

Canucks

Still a full camp with 29 skaters, 10 D, 19 FWDs. 3 goalies are in camp but Jarry can clear so it is most likely he will be the one sent down leaving Bishop and DeSmith. It is well known this is a rebuild year and most assets have already been moved out but there are still a couple trade chips on the roster and it will  be interesting to watch  them be showcased here. Grant and Bellemare seem the most likely to be moved but Tanev is also in the mix and showing he can handle the workload of a top 4 D so far in preseason.

Capitals

Goaltending looks solid with Rinne 6 GP 0.902 SV% 3.2 GAA and Condon 2 GP 0.933 SV% 1.47 GAA. This team has been sound defensively only allowing 18 Goals Against but has struggled offensively with only 13 Goals For. Its hard to look too much into that stat though simply because lines have been Autoed so far. There are only 5 D in camp and 12 FWDs. There is room for 4 more skaters and one would think Dauphin (84 DF), Hyman, Conachar (73 PA, Rookie status) and Skjei (Defensmen) are likely to fill out the roster.

Coyotes

Big story is the trade which sent out Jenner and Price bringing in Jones and prospect Strome. We were able to talk with Coyotes management and GM Joel informed us the main battles in camp are Jujhar, Coleman, Tootoo, Vey, McNeil, De Leo and Sgarbossa fighting for 4^th line positions and Murphy, Stollery and Gunnerson competing for that final D spot. Also GM Joel has made it public that the number 1 Center position is up for grabs between Nuge and Danault and he be be evaluating their play through preseason to see who takes the opening faceoff to start the season in October.

Devils

Prime example that you cant judge by the standings. Still 45 skaters in camp but the leading story is for sure the backup position behind Dubnyk. Despite there being 5 goalies in camp it looks like it Enroth and McKenna are the two going head to head for the job. Enroth 4 GP 0.875 SV% 4.20 GAA and McKenna 5 GP 0.873 SV% 4.79 GAA.

Ducks

Lets keep this in some perspective. Yes its preseason, in a weaker west division, many teams doing the tryout matchups with lines, lots of backups playing BUT this team who is supposed to be a bottom feeder is 5-2-0, 21 GF and 15 GA, Gibson with 5 GP 0.937 SV% is a top 5 goalie in the preseason. After looking at all of these factors in a wide open west one starts to think that this team could have an actual shot at a wild card appearance if they were to commit early. Either way the roster needs some trimming still with 26 FWDs And 8 D in camp.

Flames

Roster seems pretty much set but there is 1 spot still available. So far the Flames preseason has indicated what most of us thought already and that was the Flames were going to run away with the Pacific division and be a legit competitor in the west. They have scored the most goals for at 30 in 8 GP for the entire preseason so far. And only 18 GA they are showcasing some strong defensive play only allowing 24.88 shots against a game, 2^nd best in league. Biggest story is the starting goalie battle. So far Anderson (5 GP, 0.914 SV%, 2.01 GAA) and Howard (4 GP 0.904 SV% 2.39 GAA).

Flyers

Roster seems set with 7 D 14 FWDs. 3 Golaies in camp, Fleury set but backup battle between Kinkaid and Gustavsson. So far Kinkaid has been showcased with an impressive 8 GP 0.915 SV% 2.85 GAA but 270 saves! We have all been told this is a rebuild year and a couple players believed to be being shopped have showed well so far. Byfuglien 8 GP 13 points and Dzingel 8 GP 6 G, 3 A

Hurricanes

Looks like there are 2 spots still open on the roster. But the main story so far in the Canes preseason is their top line of Zetterberg, Pearson and Johansson. They have 28 points combined,  by far leading the charge for the team and  that speaks volumes when comparing to the rest of the league because this team is tied for 2^nd in the league in shots for per game. This has been one of the best lines in the preseason so far.

Islanders

1 spot open on the roster, some very good young talent in Compher and Ho-Sang in the minors could easily fill that spot. They are a favorite in the Metro division and the Eastern conference and so far their preseason play shows they have cleaned up there play from a disappointing season last year. Expect this team to continue their strong play and be a contender in the East.

Jets

Big story in camp is the trade with Arizona bringing in Price and Jenner. Now there are 24 forwards in camp and 8 D so it looks like there are atleast 3 cuts to be made. With Price the bonified starter Markstrom (2 GP, 0.912 SV%, 2.88 GAA) and Subban (3 GP, 0.922 SV%, 3.11 GAA) are fighting for backup role however Subban is able to clear waivers so it is most likely he would be sent down unless Markstrom gets moved. The players on the chopping block seem to be Pouliot, Gauthier, Yakupov, Virtanen and Reinhart. Pouliot and Reinhart seem to be duking it out for that 7^th D role and Gauthier can clear waivers so it will be very interesting to see who makes the final cut. Very intriguing camp for the Jets.

Kings

22 skaters in camp, 8 D, 14 FWDs. There are 3 Golaies in camp and Halak has played all 7 games. Niemi and Raanta battle for the backup spot and if we see no playing time it seems management decision has already been made and its a matter of time before we see a cut. The main story coming from this camp looks like its for that 6^th and 7^th spot on the blueline between Orlov, Hutton and Kulikov.

Lightening

Roster seems set with 21 skaters and 2 goalies. Have had a good preseason with an even 20 goals for AND against. Obviously Talbot is the starter going into the season but has also had an underwhelming camp (7 GP, 0.905%) and if he cant pick up his play with this full set roster we may see Nilsson get a couple more starts than expected after having a strong couple starts posting a 0.971 SV%, 0.98 GAA.

MapleLeafs

22 skaters 7 D, 15 FWDs. Seems like one of Jooris, Karlsson and Brown will end up being cut to set the roster. Real 3 way battle for backup position. Sparks (3 GP, 0.929 SV%, 2.59 GAA), Pickard (2 GP 0.887SV%, 2.77 GAA) and Montoya (2 GP, 0.860 SV%, 4.02 GAA).

Oilers

23 skaters still in camp 6 D, 17 FWDs. Cant judge team play with all the cuts needed and lines have been Autoed so far. It looks like 2 but more likely 3 forwards will be cut to make room to bring in another D for depth. Cody Goloubef is in the minors for now but would seem like a good fit to fill out that D core in the 7^th role. There are 3 Golaies in camp in Wedgewood, Cannata and Smith but with Wedgewood getting 6 of the starts the writing may be on the wall for Cannata who has not seen any game time yet indicating management may of already made their  mind up.