- Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun on jobs at the Senators’ training camp:
Garrioch notes that Erik Condra’s departure and Chris Phillips’ injury leave a couple of roster spots open. Assistant GM Randy Lee said,
“It depends, you never know your roster, but you know with Chris Phillips’ injury that might open up a spot for a couple of guys and they’re encouraged about that and you know losing Condra there’s another spot up front.”
Veterans Zack Stortini and Eric O’Dell are in the mix for the forward spot, though Garrioch suggests that AHLers Shane Prince and Matt Puempel will have the best shot at joining the Sens’ NHL roster.
Lee said,
“To be honest, Shane Prince had a better year in Binghamton than Puempel did. He’s competing with Shane Prince for a job so this gives him an advantage, he’s going to get a chance to get a couple of games before and this gives him a chance to showcase himself at camp.”
Garrioch also weighs in on the blueline. A variety of defensemen are available to take Phillips’ spot, including Chris Wideman, Michael Kostka, Fredrik Claesson and Mikael Wikstrand. Wideman has starred in the AHL, Kostka has NHL experience, and Claesson and Wikstrand both show plenty of upside.
- On defensemen in the Bruins’ camp from DJ Bean of WEEI:
Bean writes that the Bruins have seven defensemen on one-way contracts – Chara, Seidenberg, McQuaid, Krug, Miller, Trotman, and Irwin. Bean speculates that Joe Morrow and Colin Miller will push for jobs. If either cracks the NHL lineup, the Bruins may look to deal one of the defenseman on a one-way deal. Bean also wonders if UFA Marek Zidlicky could be a fit for the Bruins this season.
- James Mirtle of the Globe and Mail on UFA Sean Bergenheim:
Mirtle speculates that Bergenheim should have a PTO before camps open next week.
- From Matt Larkin of The Hockey News on Curtis Glencross:
Larkin speculates that the Leafs have filled their roster with many veterans on short-term deals to continue stockpiling draft picks at the 2016 deadlines. The veterans who could be playing for a chance to be dealt to a contender include; PA Parenteau, Nick Spaling, Shawn Matthias, Taylor Beck, Daniel Winnik, Mark Arcobello, Matt Hunwick, and PTO potential signees Brad Boyes, Devin Setoguchi, and Curtis Glencross.
Larkin adds that Glencross seems like an obvious choice to make the Leafs’ roster based on his past success.
- Brad Ziemer of the Vancouver Sun on Canucks head coach Willie Desjardins:
After undergoing successful hip replacement surgery last week, Canucks GM Jim Benning expects Desjardins to be back behind the bench for the team’s opener against Calgary on October 7th.
- From Peter Corbett of The Republic on a new arena manager in Arizona:
IceArizona, the Coyotes’ ownership group, has managed Gila River Arena for the past two years. Now, Glendale City Council has hired a firm to seek bidders to take over the arena management as soon as July 2016. Corbett writes that the “fast-track search” doesn’t sit well with the Coyotes as team president Anthony LeBlanc expected to begin negotiating an extension for the arena management deal.
It is not known if IceArizona will enter the bidding process to retain management of the arena.