Here are the morning papers for Saturday the 4th of October:
- The Capitals had the tenth best power play in the NHL last season and think they can be even better this season. The Caps defeated the Flyers last night in pre-season action.
- It wouldn’t be a Saturday without Eric Duhatschek’s weekly notebook.
- Ian White played forward for the Leafs on Friday and impressed coach Ron Wilson.
- The Blues don’t lack tough guys as Cam Janssen and D.J. King can sure handle themselves.
- After all the off-season changes the Lightning underwent, today is the day the organization debuts the new look team, writes Erik Erlendsson. You thought the Bolts defense was young? It is probably younger than you originally anticipated.
- Joe Thornton’s groin problems won’t keep him out of the team’s season opener next week.
- Petr Sykora is out of the Penguins line-up for the season opener with a groin injury. With the season getting underway today, apparently the Penguins were actually focusing “too much on (their) system,” writes Rob Rossi.
- There is reason to be excited about the Coyotes this season, writes Paolo Boivin of the Arizona Republic.
- With the season just around the corner, the Flyers are still playing a lot of youngsters in the pre-season, writes Sam Carchidi.
- Steve Zipay has the details on the Rangers naming Chris Drury team captain. Drury was certainly honored to be the coaches’ choice. Meantime, Larry Brooks of the NY Post does not understand why the Rangers have chosen to sit out Petr Prucha.
- Rick DiPietro was back on the ice on Friday and looking sharp, writes Greg Logan of Newsday.
- So far this pre-season, Brian Rolston is looking like the number one center the Devils wanted this off-season.
- The Predators strung three quick goals together and defeated Atlanta 6-4 last night. Off the ice, Jason Arnott, his son and Ryan Jones are lucky that no one got hurt in a house fire at Arnott’s home.
- Doug Risebrough tells MIchael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune that Marian Gaborik won’t be signed to a long-term deal prior to the regular season. In prospect news, the Wild really like Justin Falk’s game; the 20 year old is slated to begin his pro career in the AHL.
- The Panthers have decided to pair Nick Boynton and Keith Ballard together, as the two played together in Phoenix and have demonstrated good chemistry. Meanwhile, coach Peter DeBoer is expecting David Booth to improve on his 2007/08 season.
- Johan Franzen just keeps scoring for the Red Wings, writes Ted Kulfan.
- Having played very poorly all pre-season long, Stars coach Dave Tippett wants his team focused for the pre-season finale.
- The Blue Jackets top line was really clicking last night versus the Wild. Tom Reed of the Columbus Dispatch tells readers that Kris Russell has had a strong training camp.
- Andrew Raycroft had quite an unimpressive debut last night for the Avs versus the Blackhawks.
- Enforcer Trevor Gillies is still sticking around Hurricanes camp, so he must be doing something right.
- The Sabres didn’t surprise too many people with their roster cuts on Friday, writes John Vogl.
- Kings rookie Teddy Purcell is going to get a look on the top line tonight.
- Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe tells readers of all the tough roster decisions Peter Chiarelli has to make with the season around the corner. Bruins coach Claude Julien thinks his team can score more goals this season.
- The Thrashers were excited to have Slava Kozlov in the line-up on Friday for the first time this pre-season.
- Teemu Selanne popped a hat trick last night versus Phoenix, once again proving why the Ducks went to so much trouble to make room for him under the salary cap. If Bobby Ryan is going to begin the season in the minors, who is going to replace him in the Ducks’ top-six?
- Talk about a crazy ending to the pre-season; the Flames/Oilers game was filled with lots of action, writes Vicki Hall of the Calgary Herald. Flames winger Todd Bertuzzi had to leave last night’s game after taking a shot off the leg, but it was revealed after the game that it wasn’t a fracture. While he may be ticketed for the AHL, Jamie Lundmark is still happy to be back with the Calgary organization.
- The Blackhawks have told Nikolai Khabibulin to hold off on practicing until his situation is resolved.
- The Oilers have loads of depth on defense these days, writes Derek Van Diest.
- Red Fisher of the Montreal Gazette suggests the Habs honor Toe Blake and Elmer Lach as part of their centenary celebrations. Here is a great old story from Fisher about Mathieu Schneider getting into a confrontation with Patrick Roy. Can’t get enough of Fisher? Here is his weekly notebook.
- Dany Heatley has been named an alternate captain by Senators coach Craig Hartsburg. Here are some notes about the Senators/Penguins heading into this afternoon’s contest.
- Iain MacIntyre of the Vancouver Sun wonders whether Mason Raymond and Jannik Hansen can be the answer in Vancouver.
For Illegal Curve, I’m Richard Pollock.
**Illegal Curve’s Fantasy Preview Podcast will be posted on the site in the early afternoon**
