Key questions everywhere
Canadian teams training camp preview
TORONTO — Training camps begin Thursday with fitness tests and medicals, and while there are always concerns regarding how much weight Winnipeg’s Dustin Byfuglien put on in the summer, the big questions will not be answered until the teams hit the ice.
With two more weeks until the start of the season, here are some of the things that the seven Canadian teams might be asking:
CALGARY FLAMES
Will Sam Bennett be this year’s Johnny Gaudreau?
Shoulder surgery kept Bennett out of the lineup for the regular season last year, but Calgary’s fourth-overall pick in 2014 made up for the missed time in the playoffs, where he scored three goals and had one assist in 11 games.
The Flames, who had great success with their rookies in the last two years — Sean Monahan had 22 goals in 2013-14, while Gaudreau recorded 24 goals last season — are obviously hoping it was a sign of things to come.
The only question might be where Bennett plays.
Many have the 19-year-old slotted on the wing with Mikael Backlund and Michael Frolik, but head coach Bob Hartley said he would like Bennett to develop as a centre.
Wherever he plays, look for the 19-year-old to challenge Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel for the Calder Trophy.
EDMONTON OILERS
How will all the pieces fit together? The accumulation of talent has never been a problem in Edmonton, where the Oilers have had four first-overall draft picks in the last six years.
But getting that talent to fit together is one of the reasons why they have yet to qualify for the playoffs during that span. It will be interesting to see how this changes now that head coach Todd McLellan is behind the bench.
Connor McDavid will get most of the focus, but he is really the least of your worries. How will Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Nail Yakupov factor into the makeup of the top two lines?
Also, where does Leon Draisaitl fit in? The third-overall pick in 2014 was drafted as a centre, but with McDavid and Nugent-Hopkins ahead of him on the depth chart, look for the big German to start on the wing.
MONTREAL CANADIENS
How long will it take for Max Pacioretty to return from his knee injury?
Goaltender Carey Price is the engine that powers the Canadiens’ success — witness last season’s Hart and Vezina trophies victories — but for a team that can struggle to score goals, Pacioretty is of vital importance.
The power forward, who could be named Montreal’s next captain, scored 39 goals in 2013-14 and had 37 goals last season. On an offensively deprived team that is 20th in goals scored over the last five seasons, Pacioretty’s output is valuable — if not essential. So his health heading into training camp is a major concern.
Look for the Canadiens to experiment with alternatives at training camp. One temporary option could be Tomas Fleischman, who was signed to a professional tryout contract this week.
OTTAWA SENATORS
Who will be the No. 1 goalie? When Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner were lost to injuries last season, Andrew Hammond arrived to become the icon of the Senators’ charge up the standings and into the playoffs. When Hammond faltered in the first two games of the first-round series against Montreal, Anderson took back the net and helped Ottawa get to a Game 6. The question heading training camp is: Who gets the net now?
Hammond, who was 20-1-2 with a 1.79 goals-against average in the regular season, was rewarded with a three-year contract worth US$4.05-million; Anderson is the proven commodity and is in year one of his threeyear contract worth US$12.6million. In other words, expect a healthy competition. And do not expect it to go away once the season starts.
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
Will Tyler Bozak or Nazem Kadri be the top line centre?
Bozak lasted through three coaching regimes (Ron Wilson, Randy Carlyle and Peter Horachek) as the Maple Leafs’ No. 1 centre. Will that change now that Mike Babcock is behind the bench?
Kadri, who only scored 18 goals and 39 points last season, is hoping it does. Armed with a one-year “show-me” contract, the seventhoverall pick in 2009 is in need of a breakout year. Kadri reportedly revved up his off-season workout regimen in hopes of playing on a top line with James van Riemsdyk and Joffrey Lupul.
VANCOUVER CANUCKS
Who will play with the Sedins?
Radim Vrbata began last season as the Sedins’ right-hand man, scoring 18 goals and 31 points in the first 42 games. But Alex Burrows also saw time with his old linemates, scoring 18 goals in 70 games. Either one is an option. But do not be surprised if rookie Jake Virtanen gets a shot to skate with the two former Art Ross Trophy winners.
The rookie impressed management with his gritty play at the team’s rookie tournament last week, where he made headlines for bodychecking his world junior team buddy Connor McDavid. But the 19-year-old’s strength is scoring.
WINNIPEG JETS
Will Nikolaj Ehlers win a job among the top six forwards?
The Jets enter this season with the same roster that qualified for their first post-season appearance in 19 years (and was subsequently swept in four games by Anaheim). Well, there’s one exception.
Ehlers is not only expected to make the roster, the ninth-overall pick in the 2014 draft could be the catalyst for a team that lacked scoring punch. First, the 19-year-old will have to show that he can make the jump to the NHL. Though a spot on the roster is essentially being held for him, Ehlers looked tentative at the team’s rookie tournament; he was without a point in the first two games but picked up three assists in the final game. He will have to build on that output if he hopes to climb the depth chart. If he does, he has the potential to one day become the team’s first 30 goalscorer since Evander Kane.