Illegal Curve Hockey

NHL Morning Papers (Monday Edition): Theoren Fleury continues to impress, Pat Quinn not happy with Oilers and the Lightning would prefer less travel

So far in training camp, Thrashers coach John Anderson has been impressed with the play of Maxim Afinogenov.
The Bruins beat the Habs 2-1 in Quebec City last night.
Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk has learned a lot from Zdeno Chara so far at training camp.
Bruins netminder Tuukka Rask is proving that he belongs at the NHL level.
It is difficult to judge if the Sabres are going to be a more accountable this year than they were last year by only watching training camp and exhibition games, explains John Vogl of the Buffalo News.
Buffalo’s off-season acquisition Cody McCormick really improved his skating over the summer.
Theoren Fleury continued his amazing comeback story last night by posting a goal and an assist.
Here are the Calgary Sun’s grades for each player from last night’s contest.
The Flames are trying to see if the defense combination of Jay Bouwmeester and Robyn Regehr can develop some solid chemistry.
While the Flames are trying to determine if Regehr and Bouwmeester have chemistry, it appears that Olli Jokinen and Jarome Iginla are starting to develop a nice read on each other.
It appears that former Hurricanes defenseman Anton Babchuk is headed to play in the KHL.
So far the Avalanche organization likes what it sees from Kyle Quincey, one of the main assets they received in return for Ryan Smyth.
Derick Brassard is showing an interest in the NHLPA and its dealings, which is a welcome sight for some of the Blue Jackets’ veteran players.
Fredrik Modin (knee) is expected to be out of the Blue Jackets line-up for at least a month.

Fredrik Modin will be lost to the Jackets for at least a month with a knee injury. (Picture courtesy of cbc.ca)

Philip Larsen impressed all onlookers at Dallas camp this month, however, he is not yet ready to take the next step to the NHL.
Tomas Holmstrom is beginning to resemble his old self again, writes Helene St. James.
Who says Johan Franzen cannot score 40 goals this season?
“Our intention is not to have Khabibulin play 78 games … that’s not in our best interest or his,” said Oilers coach Pat Quinn.
“We became pretty individual out there and it showed up,” said coach Quinn about his team’s performance in their loss to the Islanders last night.
The Oilers certainly do not mind the low expectations most have for them this season.
The Sunrise Express is back together and all three members are happy about the reunion, writes Steve Gorten.
Wild fans are already loving what they see from Martin Havlat, writes Michael Russo.
Wild GM Chuck Fletcher says a player’s contract status will not determine if he makes the team.
The Predators have sent ten players to the AHL, including Mark Santorelli.
The Predators’ best players have led by example so far this training camp, writes John Glennon.

So far at camp, the Predators' best players have been just that. (Picture courtesy of sportsnet.ca)

Mark Fraser is the only remaining rookie defenseman at Devils camp.
John Tavares posted his first NHL exhibition point last night.
It appears that Erik Karlsson is essentially a lock to make the Senators out of training camp, writes Bruce Garrioch.
Senators forward Jesse Winchester is expected to be out of the line-up for three weeks with a lower-body injury.
Flyers coach John Stevens likes Darroll Powe’s game.
The Coyotes have sent 13 players to the team’s AHL affiliate in San Antontio.
Bob Young of the Arizona Republic wonders why Wayne Gretzky isn’t working if everyone else involved with the Coyotes is?
Will Tyler Kennedy continue to perform well enough to take Max Talbot’s spot on Evgeni Malkin’s wing?
There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that Chris Kunitz is a team-first player, writes Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Ty Conklin says that when he was with Detroit last season, that team took notice of the Blues coming onto the scene.
Meanwhile, Paul Kariya is showing no ill effects of the hip injury that cost him a majority of the 2008/09 season.

Paul Kariya is showing no signs of the hip injury that cost him the majority of 2008/09. (Picture courtesy of canoe.com)

The Lightning has had a very long pre-season road and here are some opinions about that road from some Lightning players.
The early favorites to play with Phil Kessel are Matt Stajan and John Mitchell.
Here are eight things you did not know about Phil Kessel.
Here is a Q & A with Christian Hanson.
Brian Burke is giving John Ferguson Jr. credit for the moves in Toronto that he did right.
With possibly only one game remaining on his pre-season schedule, Cory Schneider wants to make sure he steps up and secures the Canucks’ back-up netminder spot.
Mathieu Schneider is not expecting to get into a pre-season game before the regular season begins.
Sergei Shirokov is going to miss a week of play because of a sprained knee.
Anton Gustafsson has been cut from Washington camp, as coach Bruce Boudreau says he needs more seasoning.