BRHL Camp Tour

Last 10 teams

 

If for some reason you did not read the first article this is a tour of each teams preseason to show some of the highlights and top stories to track from teams camps. This does not focus on Wins and Losses because teams are showcasing, trying out, tweeking lineups, Auto lines and lots of backup tender play. So this article is meant to look a lot more in depth at each team. The stats for this article are up to date as of Day 16.

 

Panthers

20 skaters in camp, not a lot of talent left or exposed on farm so likely the final roster spot will come via waiver draft. This is GM Rex Leaks final year with this roster before he takes on the Seattle expansion team. This has been a competitive team for years and with this being probably his best chance at a cup anytime soon he is full blown going for it. This team has one of the best blue lines and a good forward set up front, they have been able to generate offence 3.67 Goals per game (2^nd best this preseason) and 3^rd best PP at 25.00%. However the team has allowed an average of 3.11 Goals against per game (24^th best in league). These stats just further question GM Leaks decision to role into the season with the tandem of Elliot and Kuemper. Elliot ( GP 6, 0.897SV%, 2.67 GAA) and Kuemper (GP 4, 0.873 SV%, 3.73 GAA) have been heavily criticised all offseason and so far in camp neither has shown they can carry this team back to a cup final. And in a very strong Eastern Conference some are beginning to think if they would be enough to even get this team to playoffs.

 

Penguins

The main story in camp is Pens free agent goaltender Peter Budaj. For the first time in franchise history the team looks like it will be entering the season with a legitimate starting goaltender. Budaj ( GP 9, 0.937SV%, 1.78 GAA) has him as a top 3 goalie this preseason and even though it is that “preseason” it is a positive sign.  There are 21 skaters in camp and the team has decided to carry 8 D through the waiver draft to protect Pateyrn and Schultz. That leaves forwards Porter, Desjardins and Rookie Fischer fighting for a final roster spot because if management has a chance to upgrade that 4^th line through the waiver draft it will. The other big story was Cunningham, Parenteau and Vandevelde being brought into camp through a series of trades to help round out the bottom 6. So far our new 3^rd line (Cunningham, Ryan, Parenteau) has provided some offensive depth with a combined 7 points in their 5 games together as a line while also staying in the positive for plus minus.

 

Predators

19 skaters in camp, 7 D, 12 Forwards. There are currently 2 open spots on this roster but it doesn’t look like anybody from the farm will be pushing for a spot. Luongo returned to Nashville after testing the market earlier this summer and doesn’t seem to have missed a step in GP 9, 0.924 SV% and 2.43 GAA. But probably the highlight of camp so far has been the play of Bergeron with 3 Goals and 10 Assists he is currently top 5 in points this preseason and will be expected to lead the front for the Preds this season as they defend their Eastern Confernce Title.

 

Rangers

Full 21 skaters in camp, 7 D, 14 Forwards and roster seems set. So far Andersen has been solid with GP 9, 0.921 SV% and 2.33 GAA. This team has had a top 3 Goal Ratio of 136.36% (averaged 3.33 Goals For, 2.44 Goals Against). But the special teams have been average at best with 14 PP and 15 PK this seems like one of the few areas we may see management make adjustments with this squad before the season opener.

 

Red Wings

18 skaters, 6 D and 12 forwards in camp. Kalinen (87 DF) seems to be in the minors on a conditioning stint but is expected to be on the pro roster shortly and for sure before the season starts. That would leave 2 more spots open on the roster. The main story so far is the underwhelming preseason Tuuka Rask has had with GP 8, 0.893 SV% and 3.22 GAA. Obviously Tuuka is the starter but in Hellebuyck’s 2 GP so far he ahs has a 0.924 SV% and 2.40 GAA, could see him taking more starts from Tuuka than expected if the starters play doesn’t get better in the regular season.

 

Sabres

20 skaters, 7 D, 13 forwards. With 1 roster spot available wouldn’t be surprised if one of these two rookies in Daniel O’Regan ( 80FO, 66PA, 65SC ) or Jack Roslovic ( 79 FO, 65 PA, 58 SC) made that final roster spot. Despite getting some solid goaltending from Mrazek ( GP 7, 0.930 SV%, 2.43 GAA ) and Heeter ( GP 3, 0.901 SV%, 4.00 GAA ) the real story for the Sabres this preseason has been the lack of offence. Nyquist, Crosby and Palat have all had only 5,5 and 4 points so far and Palat actually leads the team in goals with 3. The teams goals for and against are 17 and 29.  With the preseason almost over management better figure out their offensive struggles before they carry over into the season.

 

Senators

18 skaters in camp, 6 D and 12 forwards.  With 3 spots open on the roster Chris Kelley ( 75 SK, 77 DF) who is currently listed in the minors may have a chance to lock up a depth forward position to start the season. There is an outside chance Tyler Bertuzzi could make the team (Age 22).  Holtby has been a top 3 goalie this preseason with GP 9, 9.33 SV% and 1.89 GAA. The reigning cup champs have another stellar squad to start the season and are expected to grace everyone with their presence once again deep into the playoffs.

 

Sharks

18 skaters, &D and 11 Forwards in camp. Would not be surprised if the Sharks decided to carry 8 D into the regular season because young rookie blue liner Steve Santini (72 SK, 58 PH, 78 DF) very well could have a steady role on this squad. The main story has been the starting goalie battle in camp so far. Each have split and played 5 games but it seems Neuvirth ( 0.922 SV%, 2.95 GAA) is starting to make the better case over recently signed tender Varlamov (0.892 SV%, 3.05 GAA).

 

Stars

18 skaters, 6 D and 12 forwards in camp. Many believed the Stars would go into another season with the 1a and 1b goaltender approach but so far it has been Reimer with GP 10, 0.883 SV% and 3.05 GAA. Although Miller has not seen anytime between the pipes yet, it is widely speculated he was brought in this offseason to be the bonified number 1 and the team is simply giving Reimer as much ice time as they can to really get a good feel for what they can expect from him this season. There are a couple young forwards currently listed in the minors trying to make the pro roster in Kapanen (76SK, 69PH, 67PA, 67SC, 65DF) and Nic Dowd (86CK, 77SK, 78PH, 79FO, 68PA, 59SC). If this preseason has shown us anything it is that this team can score. The stars have 37 Goals For (best this preseason). Again we cant really take the teams 32 Goals Against into consideration because the believed starter has not even played yet. Either way the Stars look to be very competitive in the west again this season.

 

Wild

20 skaters, 6 D and 14 forwards in camp. With some depth at D needed to round out the roster Jokipakka is looking more likely to make the team so he is not exposed to the waiver draft. This is what we believe is the real story to watch in the Wild Camp. Currently forwards Findlay (76CK, 62SK, 62PH, 78FO, 59PA, 62SC), Weise (86CK, 74SK, 70PH, 60PA, 64SC) and Kumitz (95CK, 75SK, 71PH, 73PA, 64SC) are on the pro roster in bottom 6 roles however there are a couple young forwards in Chiasson (73CK, 78SK, 65PH, 62PA, 68SC) and Dorsett (90CK,70SK,60PH, 66PA, 58SC) who for the moment are listed on the farm but could easily see both of them push the others for a starting job to start the season with the big club.