BLUE- LINE BATTLE BREWING
Flames’ cuts leave four for two spots
Awfully anxious to finalize grades, the Calgary Flames’ deciders were handed a wonderful weekend opportunity.
A pre- season opposition that would include a rather formidable roster of forwards — Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, Radim Vrbata, Alex Burrows, Bo Horvat.
For the Flames’ baby- faced blue- line, it would be telling. In other words, perfect. Convinced, Flames management cut a wide swath through the main camp on Sunday, determining the fate of 15 players — including three of the six defencemen on display at Rogers Arena.
Kenney Morrison and Oliver Kylington, 18, are now bound for the Stockton Heat of the American Hockey League.
Rasmus Andersson, 18, returns to the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League.
“I had a pretty OK game,” Andersson said after Saturday’s contest against the Vancouver Canucks. “I guess I could join the rush a little bit more, be a little more offensive, but … you have to put defence first. But otherwise I played a pretty good game.
“I don’t try to think about it at all. It’s the coach’s decision. I’m just trying to make as good an impression as I can.”
Defencemen Ryan Culkin, Keegan Kanzig, Pat Sieloff are also destined for Stockton.
Which leaves 11 rearguards in camp.
The top five spots, of course, are spoken for — Mark Giordano, Dougie Hamilton, Kris Russell, Dennis Wideman, Deryk Engelland.
Injuries to T. J. Brodie ( hand) and Ladislav Smid ( neck surgery) leave room for exactly two gents on opening day.
Making their case:
Jakub Nakladal — Czech newcomer, 27 and experienced, suffered a minor undisclosed upperbody injury, which left him skating in a yellow caution jersey on the weekend
Brett Kulak — 2012 fourthrounder, 21, earned a shift in overtime at Rogers Arena and he helped set up Josh Jooris’s golden goal
Tyler Wotherspoon — 2011 second- rounder, 22, threw a plusthree rating on the board Saturday
Ryan Wilson — 28- year- old, here on a professional tryout offer, skated in only three contests last winter because of shoulder surgery
Morrison, post- game, vouched for Wilson, formerly of the Colorado Avalanche, pointing to his steadying influence.
“Willie held his own back there, being a veteran,” Morrison said. “We followed along.”
For Morrison, this had been his first crack at an NHL camp after three seasons at Western Michigan University.
The vibe at tryouts, without doubt, is different.
“Coming from college, you always had a secure spot — every year, you know you’re on the team,” said Morrison. “Here, day to day, it’s kind of like auditioning for a job. You want the job and you have to do whatever it takes for it, try to do a little more than the guy next to you, and hope for the best.
“You want everyone to do well and, hopefully, you do something special or play your consistent game and the brass notices it. I like to take it with a relaxed approach, but, at the same time, be intense about it and want it a little bit more than the next guy.”
Wotherspoon, meanwhile, advances to the next stage.
This week features three exhibition dates — three more chances to extend his stay.
“We’ve all been through this before, kind of the same process,” said the Burnaby native, “so we all know at this point of training camp they’ve got to trim the roster. It can be ( stressful). You try not to think about it too much.”
In 2013- 14, Wotherspoon suited up 14 times for the Flames before shoulder issues derailed his season.
And last winter, despite a multitude of call- ups, he got into only one regular- season date — Game 82 at Winnipeg — before making a half- dozen playoff appearances.
“We live day to day right now,” said Wotherspoon. “You’ve got to live every day like it’s your last one here. So you’ve got to give it all you got.
“We’re a family in here. It’s a friendly competition. We all want the best for each other, but we all have to be a little selfish sometimes. You’ve just got to let your play do the talking.”
C- NOTES: Sunday was a day off for Flames players … Former Calgary LW Curtis Glencross and RW Devin Setoguchi were released Sunday by the Toronto Maple Leafs … Saturday, the Flames assigned D Dustin Stevenson to AHL Stockton and G Mason McDonald to QMJHL Charlottetown.