The 56 players in camp were broken into three groups, labeled Team A, B, and C. The forwards were color-coded into lines, by jersey color. Below are the lines for each team, listed in the order red, white and then blue. Players will remain in these groups for about a week until the first cuts are made.
Team A
Kovalchuk – Stefan – McEachern – Vigier
Lindsay – Piros – Desbiens
Aquino – Swanson – Maloney
Sutton – Majesky
Weaver – Tjarnqvist
Sellars – Nielsen
Dafoe and Garnett
Team B
Blatny – Santala – Heatley
Healey – MacKenzie – Baby
Cowan – Doell* – Bois*
Exelby – Kaberle
Foster – Safronov
Manson – Flache
Hnilicka and Cassivi
Team C
Kozlov – Savard – Tapper
Gamache – Robitaille – Dietrich*
Lessard – Stewart – Schell
Tamer – Tremblay
Hawgood – Coburn
Ustrnul – DiPenta
Sharrow
Nurminen and Garnett
* free agent invitee
Speed trials
Player were timed doing Coach Hartley’s famous suicides. Here’s the order in which the skaters in each group on Team C finished, fastest to slowest. Those in italics played over 40 NHL games last year. Players in bold are prospects.
Group 1: Kozlov, Tamer, Tapper, Coburn, Dietrich
Group 2: Stewart, Savard, Gamache, Schell, DiPenta
Group 3: Robitaille, Tremblay, Lessard, Ustrnul, Hawgood
Opening Day Press Conference
GM Don Waddell and Coach Bob Hartley spoke at a press conference following the on-ice drills. Hartley responded to questions about jobs being open for young guys to make their mark, “I don’t like to say I cut or keep anyone. They make their own decision.”
Asked if 2003 first round pick Braydon Coburn could play this year, Waddell noted that he played well for the team at Traverse City, looks good already in camp making a good hard pass and moving well. But, he cautioned, Coburn is only 18 years old and although he’s mature for his age, still has some growing up to do.
Another young defenseman is already a hit. Hartley said of Garnet Exelby, “This is a big camp for Exelby, and he looks great.”
Notes:
Missing from practice were Dan Snyder, Kari Lehtonen and David Kaczowka, all due to injury. Free agent invitee Sam Paolini was also not on the ice…The team will send 3-5 players to ECHL affiliate, the Gwinnett Gladiators…The first preseason game is Thursday, Sept. 18th at home vs. Tampa Bay.
