Injuries, movements, rumors and newsmakers...
CAMP NOTEBOOK (by The Score)
It's the final weekend before final cuts are made, as teams gear up for the start of the 2005-05 season; Caps' Alexander Ovechkin gets three against Sidney Crosby's Pens; some top prospects such as Cam Barker, of the Hawks, Coyotes' Keith Ballard, Mighty Ducks' Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry still making strides for spots; Habs' deal Marcel Hossa; some injuries to report; and more...
BLACKHAWKS
Craig Anderson and Michael Leighton will get their last chance to impress in the final preseason games this weekend. The two goaltenders are competing for the team's backup spot. ... Youngsters Cam Barker, Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith are still in the hunt for the final defenseman slots, with the 19-year-old Baker the least likely to stick it out. ... Meanwhile, Shawn Thornton, Jason Morgan, Mikael Holmqvist and Pavel Vorobiev are all competing for jobs on the fourth line.
BLUE JACKETS
Because of a freak flu incident that left nearly 15 members of the team complaining of symptoms, Columbus has had to keep a larger roster than most teams at this stage of the preseason. They started rectifying the situation on Friday though, sending Joakim Lindstrom, Marc Methot and Ben Simon down to the AHL.
CANADIENS
Winger Marcel Hossa's trade to the Rangers for journeyman Garth Murray may serve as another early indication that camp revelation Guillaume Latendresse will start the sason in Montreal. Already a fan favorite, the big 18-year-old winger hasn't stopped impressing Montreal brass in the last two weeks. In fact, the decision of either keeping him or sending him back to his junior club in Drummondville will certainly go down to the wire on Monday, when clubs have to make final decisions regarding junior-aged players.
CANUCKS
The Canucks brought in Brent Johnson to put the pressure on Alex Auld, and that's what he's doing, pushing the battle for the backup goaltending position to the very end. In three exhibition games thus far, Johnson has managed to post a steady 2.92 GAA and a .904 save percentage. The trouble for management is that the oft-inconsistent Auld hasn't been much better or worse, although he was solid in a 4-2 win against Calgary on Friday.
CAPITALS
Hotshot rookie Alexander Ovechkin displayed some of his huge talent against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday by netting a hat-trick to go along with an assist in the Capitals' 4-3 win. Ovechkin, a player that loves the spotlight, couldn't line up against another whiz kid, Sidney Crosby, though, since the latter wasn't dressed. The last time those two players met was during the 2005 World Junior Championship, when Canada walked all over its competition throughout the tournament. ... With six days left before the start of the regular season, the Caps have 10 blueliners fighting it out for seven spots. Among them is 19-year-old prospect Mike Green, who despite his age, seems to have earned a job. The youngster has partnered with veteran Brendan Witt in exhibition games, and has also been among the team leaders in ice time.
COYOTES
Reports have the Coyotes--formerly the Winnipeg Jets--unretiring Bobby Hull's number 9 so that his son, Brett Hull, can wear it during the 2005-05 season. ... Rookie defensemen Keith Ballard and Matt Jones continue to impress. Ballard in particular has excelled on special teams.
ISLANDERS
Isles' rookies Petteri Nokelainen and Chris Campoli must be all smiles these days as it looks more and more that they may start the season with the big club. An all-around performer, Nokelainen, the 16th overall pick in 2004, centered one of best young lines in Finnish history during the 2004 World under-18 championship, alongside prospects Lauri Tukonen, of the Kings, and Lauri Korpikoski, of the Rangers. Expect him to start on the checking unit, though. As for Campoli, his pro career has been nothing short of a pleasant surprise. Drafted 227th in 2004, the slick blueliner was named to the AHL's All-Rookie team last season after collecting 15 goals and 49 points at Brideport.
MAPLE LEAFS
After another round of cuts, the Leafs' blueline seems to be set. Bryan McCabe, Tomas Kaberle, Alexander Khavanov and Aki Berg will be the team's top four, with Carlo Colaiacovo and Wade Belak most likely rounding out the regular corps. Staffan Kronwall and Andy Wozniewski could be used in rotation as seventh defenders. ... Promising forwards Alexander Steen, Kyle Wellwood and Matt Stajan are also expected to make the team, especially with the uncertain injury status of vets such as Eric Lindros, Jeff O'Neill and Jason Allison to start the season.
MIGHTY DUCKS
The play of youngsters Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Dustin Penner has made the final cuts a difficult proposition for first year coach Randy Carlyle. Originally expected to return to the AHL, all three have impressed, with Perry already collecting six points. ... Another youngster is also involved in the battle for the final blueline job, as 22-year-old prospect Aaron Rome is facing off against AHL veteran Joe DiPenta.
OILERS
The Oil assigned eight players to the minor leagues on Friday: Matt Greene, Kyle Brodziak, Yan Stastny and Zachery Stortini were sent to Iowa, with Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers, Mathieu Roy, Jean-Francois Jacques and Marc-Antoine Pouliot going to the Hamilton Bull Dogs. ... Talented 19-year-old center Robbie Schremp dodged the cuts, but he's still in competition with Jani Rita and Brad Winchester for a spot on the team.
RANGERS
Dale Purinton, Jason Strudwick and youngster Thomas Pock are left to battle for the final defensive spot. ... Blair Betts meanwhile has the inside track on the checking line center position, with eight forwards looking to fill the remaining five spots on the third and fourth line. Among them are veterans Jason Ward, Dominic Moore and Chad Wiseman. ... In other new, the Rangers acquired Marcel Hossa from the Canadiens for Garth Murray.
RED WINGS
The team's top two lines are starting to take shape, with recently re-signed Pavel Datsyuk playing with Brendan Shanahan and either Jason Williams or Mikael Samuelsson. Whoever's left out will join Robert Lang and the ailing Henrik Zetterberg. ... Manny Legace and Jimmy Howard will share the goaltending duties with Chris Osgood injured.
SABRES
Mika Noronen looks to be the odd man out in the team's three-way battle for the goaltending spots. Ryan Miller has had an impressive camp thus far and is set to be the team's starter. Martin Biron will be his backup. ... Top defenseman Dmitri Kalinin will be out for the season opener, having suffered a groin injury in practice on Thursday.
SENATORS
Rookie Brandon Bochenski is set to start the year on a line with former AHL teammate Jason Spezza and the resurgent Dany Heatley. The trio has been the team's best offensively, combining for over 30 points in four exhibition games. Martin Havlat has also regained his form, playing the right wing on a line with Mike Fisher and Chris Neil. He'd struggled for much of the camp trying to play on the left alongside Bryan Smolinski and Daniel Alfredsson.
STARS
The Stars assigned forwards Loui Eriksson, Marius Holtet, Mike Siklenka and defenseman Dan Jancevski to the AHL on Friday. ... Meanwhile, 22-year-old prospect Jussi Jokinen continues to push for a forward spot. He has scored four goals thus far in the preseason--only veteran Bill Guerin has scored more.
WILD
Because of injuries to Patrick O'Sullivan and Marian Gaborik, 19-year-old Benoit Pouliot may end up playing in Minnesota this year after all. The youngster had been in competition for a spot with minor league forwards Kyle Wanvig and Derek Boogaard, and was expected to return to the OHL last week. Now, all three may make the team, and the Wild are scrambling to get Pouliot under contract (they have until late afternoon Monday).
