Here are the morning papers for Friday the 26th of September:
- Mike Cammalleri admits that he was nervous for his first game in a Flames uniform last night. With the players the Flames added in the off-season, Miikka Kiprusoff shouldn’t be facing as many scoring chances, explains Darryl Sutter. Former Flame Martin Gelinas wants to continue his NHL career but right now he doesn’t have that chance.
- Both Cristobal Huet and Nikolai Khabibulin are handling the goalie controversy in Chicago like true professionals.
- Terry Frei profiles Peter Budaj. Adrian Dater explains how Claude Lemieux’s comeback attempt came about. Meanwhile, the Avalanche has a lot more confidence in Andrew Raycroft than the Leafs did.
- Oilers first round pick Jordan Eberle is going to be re-assigned to Regina of the WHL today. Tough guy Guillaume Lefebvre has played his way onto the radar screen at Oilers camp. Coach Craig MacTavish just couldn’t come into camp and split up the kid line.
- Jacques Lemaire says Colton Gillies does not have much to learn back in the CHL, so it makes you wonder whether the 19 year old power-forward will start the season with the big club. However, it is important to remember that the Wild does have a history of keeping teenagers around. Both Marian Gaborik and Brent Burns are close to returning to the Wild line up, writes Michael Russo.
- Everywhere you turn at Habs camp, someone has a minor injury, writes Kevin Mio of the Montreal Gazette.
- Senators coach Craig Hartsburg wants his players to put their egos aside and play wherever they are needed. Jesse Winchester is surprised he was picked to play alongside Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza and is sure relishing the opportunity.
- Luke Schenn won’t be cut by the Leafs today. Former Leaf Jonas Hoglund played a part in newcomer Jonas Frogren signing with the Leafs. Dave Feschuk is onto Ron Wilson.
- Ed Willes of the Vancouver Province wonders whether the Canucks should keep Cody Hodgson with the big club. Henrik and Daniel Sedin like what they’ve seen from Steve Bernier so far. Make no mistake; the Canucks want to keep Mattias Ohlund around past this season.
- John Anderson was happy to get his first victory under his belt, even if it was only pre-season.
- The Bruins are hoping that Marc Savard and Michael Ryder will soon click on the ice. Dennis Wideman just wants to prove he is worth the contract he signed this off-season, writes Stephen Harris.
- Coach Lindy Ruff would love to see another solid season out of winger Daniel Paille.
- The Canes iced a far inferior team to the Capitals on Thursday night, writes Chip Alexander.
- Ken Hitchcock says the Jackets haven’t had anyone like Kristian Huselius in their organization. Unlike some coaches, Hitchcock likes to play his top players in the pre-season.
- Mike Ribiero and Brenden Morrow have continued to demonstrate their chemistry from last season.
- Nicklas Lidstrom is lucky he only broke his nose and didn’t suffer an eye injury.
- Age will not be a factor when Peter DeBoer sets the Panthers’ final roster.
- The Kings have still yet to sign youngster Patrick O’Sullivan.
- John Glennon recaps the good and the bad from the Predators tilt against Atlanta last night. In a bit of a surprise move, Kevin Klein was seeing some power play time last night.
- The Devils roster is almost final, so one of the decisions Brent Sutter has to make is whether he will keep Fedor Fedorov or not.
- Bruno Gervais came into camp trying to make the team as a seventh defenseman, but with the injury to Chris Campoli, he is not in the top-six.
- Lauri Korpikoski has forced the Rangers’ hand with his terrific play this pre-season. Petr Nedved has also impressed the Rangers brass and is in close contention for a roster spot.
- Flyers owner Ed Snider has so many memories of the Spectrum that he can’t believe it is going to be closed.
- Sounds like Mark Messier wants to be a GM.
- Sergei Gonchar is expected to be out of the line up a minimum of six weeks but it could be a lot longer than that too. With the Gonchar injury, Evgeni Malkin is seeing some time on the point.
- Jeff Friesen hasn’t been bad but hasn’t been great either at Sharks camp, writes David Pollak.
- For some Lightning players, the start to the season in Europe is a chance to return home. Vincent Lecavalier hopes to play in Berlin on Sunday so he can test his shoulder.
- Brooks Laich took his coach’s advice and slowed down his game last season, and boy did it work, writes Tarik El-Bashir of the Washington Post.
For Illegal Curve, I’m Richard Pollock.
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