On the Beat: Pass it to me, but don’t hit me

What team beat writers are saying this afternoon:

• Columbus Dispatch reporter Tom Reed provides some interesting insight from Blue Jackets training camp, including a take on up-and-coming offensive stars Jakub Voracek and Nikita Filatov.
• Ducks forward Erik Christensen is present at training camp but is still waiting for a new contract to be finalized. It must be awkward for professional hockey players to skate at training camp but not participate in any hitting drills.  What do they do while they wait? Read Cosmopolitan on the bench?
• Bruins forward David Krejci says the probability of him playing in the team’s season opener is “Maybe 10 percent.” Apparently Krejci is an astute statistician.
• Theo Fleury is looking for real as it is being reported by Calgary Sun’s Steve MacFarlane that while the Flames are going to ease him slowly into the line up, his VO2 bike test was close to Iginla’s.  I too have 8% body fat, if you multiply that number by 4.
• There won’t be any down time in Raleigh as the Canes make the most out of each and every practice.  The Canes mindset seems very determined and I expect them to have a quick start this season.
• Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune offers his take on the Wild bringing Sykora to camp.  Could his big shot help the Wild this season?
• Barry Trotz and Jason Arnott offer their takes on the Predators possibly acquiring Phil Kessel.
• Tomas Fleischmann talks about the blood clot he is suffering from.
• Freshly acquired forward Jonathan Cheechoo has arrived in Ottawa and will wear #41 for the Senators at training camp, while Milan Michalek will sport jersey number 9. Please wait for the official Illegal Curve analysis from editor Richard Pollock (just kidding), but I believe this is going to have a positive impact on Ottawa’s season. Imagine if Cheechoo chose a weird number like 65 or 98. That would just be wrong.