NHL Morning Papers (Thursday Edition)

Here are the morning papers for Thursday the 18th of September:

• Jarome Iginla is really looking forward to playing in the Olympics in his home country.  Flames fans can say goodbye to the Marcus Nilson days as the team has reportedly come to an agreement to let him join the KHL.  Meanwhile, Flames netminding prospect Matt Keetley has had a long journey trying to make the pros and Randy Sportak of the Calgary Sun thinks there is a good chance he could see NHL action sometime soon.
• No surprise here, Mike Richards is the new captain of the Flyers.  Another Flyers youngster has impressed the team’s brass before training camp and that is Claude Giroux.
• Here are five things to watch for with the Red Wings this season.  There is going to be a battle for the final spots on the Red Wings’ defense at training camp.  In other Wings news, the team is happy for the late season start to 2008/09, thus giving them more off-season rest.
• Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch has the questions and the managers, coaches and players help provide the answers about the Blue Jackets this season.  In other Jackets news, rookie camp standout Jakub Voracek looks to be a strong candidate to make the team out of training camp.
• Jeff O’Neill’s chances of making the Hurricanes vastly improved when Justin Williams went down with a torn achilles.
• it took a while, but Dennis Wideman finally came into his own last season and he hasn’t looked back since, writes Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe.  The Bruins were lacking size up front last season so they made a point of bringing in some bigger bodies through free agency.  One of those big forwards, Blake Wheeler, feels like he has a shot at making the Bruins’ opening night line up.
• Mark Whicker and Dan Wood of the Orange County Register chat back-and-forth about the Ducks heading into training camp.
• As John Vogl of the Buffalo News tells us, this season may be make or break for Sabres’ prospect Mark Mancari.
• The Predators are preparing for life without Alexander Radulov.  In other Predators news, Steve Sullivan is going to hang around the team and do the off-ice exercises that he is able to with his bad back as opposed to go off and get therapy on his own.
• The Stars organization has been very happy with the play of its prospects at the team’s rookie camp.
• Some things about Roberto Luongo may have changed but he still has that burning desire to win that makes him so good, explains Elliot Pap of the Vancouver Sun.
• Lou Lamoriello always stuck by Colin White through all his eye troubles, writes Mark Everson.
• Adrian Dater of the Denver Post wonders if the Western Conference is stronger this year than any year before?  Some are not sure whether the Avs will even make the playoffs but the team’s GM is shooting for a run at the Cup, writes Rick Sadowski.
• Wayne Gretzky is very impressed with his prospects’ work ethic as a whole.
• The Rangers are expecting a big season from the enigma that is Nikolai Zherdev.  The team also wants more from checking line center Blair Betts.
• Here are 10 burning questions from the legendary Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal.
• Lubomir Visnovksy was not happy with how he was dealt from L.A. but he is really looking forward to playing in hockey-mad Edmonton.  Oilers’ prospect Stephane Goulet is looking to have a big year in Springfield.  The same can be said for prospect Colin McDonald.
• Get to know Islanders prospect Jack Hillen because he has impressed the NYI brass and may make the team out of camp.
• Eric Belanger is looking to be the Wild’s number two center this season, writes John Shipley.
• Carey Price dropped weight over the summer and the team is hoping he will fresher especially late in the season, writes Dave Stubbs.
• Get to know Penguins youngster Janne Pesonen he is very good.  Meanwhile, Rob Rossi of the Tribune-Review wonders if Miroslav Satan can replace Marian Hossa?
• It didn’t take long for youngster Jesse Winchester to get a shot at playing on the Senators’ number one line, writes Ken Warren of the Ottawa Citizen.  Meanwhile, enforcer Matt Carkner, who usually plays defense, may line up at right wing this year to provide more toughness up front.  Craig Hartsburg is leaving the past behind, explains Bruce Garrioch.
• With such a young team it is going to be tough to sell the Kings in the L.A. market this season.  Let’s be honest, it is not like the Kings fans have high expecations for this season.
• Look for Alexander Steen to line up between Niklas Hagman and Nikolai Kulemin to start the season.  The Leafs are sick of hearing of the ominous forecasts for their season, writes Lance Hornby.  The Leafs will rely on their defense to provide some offense this season.
• Lightning defenseman Paul Ranger still doesn’t feel 100% after his shoulder surgery.

For Illegal Curve, I’m Richard Pollock.