Early NHL Training Camp Battles Preview

The 2024 offseason is wrapping up, and teams are gearing up for training camp.

While some teams still have loose ends to tie up, most have done the heavy lifting. Training camp and preseason games will showcase new talent and help trim rosters down to 23 players before October’s opening night. Here’s a look at a few notable training camp battles that have emerged after a busy summer.

Carolina Hurricanes

The Hurricanes have been successful but haven’t clinched a Stanley Cup. They’ve made the playoffs six years in a row with strong lineups. However, losing Jake Guentzel, Teuvo Teravainen, Brett Pesce, and Brady Skjei this summer has raised concerns about their performance this season. They added Sean Walker and Shayne Gostisbehere on budget deals to fill defensive gaps but still need a solid second-line center.

Martin Necas might play center or right-wing on the second line, but his poor faceoff stats make him better suited for the wing. This leaves Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Jack Drury, Jack Roslovic, or Jordan Staal as options for center. The left-wing spot will likely be contested by prospects Bradly Nadeau and Jackson Blake. Both showed promise in college last year at Maine and North Dakota respectively.

Fans might think this roster shuffle could either make or break their season.

Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings are entering year six of the ‘Yzerplan’ without making it back to the playoffs yet. Last year they tied with Washington Capitals in points but missed out due to tiebreakers. They aimed high this summer but didn’t quite hit the mark; they kept Patrick Kane on a one-year deal, signed Vladimir Tarasenko for two years, and added goalie Cam Talbot.

With almost a full roster heading into training camp soon, Simon Edvinsson, Albert Johansson, Carter Mazur, and Nate Danielson will fight for spots in October. The team may need to trade some players to make room for these prospects due to past acquisitions by Steve Yzerman.

Minnesota Wild

Surprisingly starting the 2024-25 season with two-and-a-half goalies on their roster! Extending Marc-Andre Fleury led many to think Filip Gustavsson would be traded over summer so top prospect Jesper Wallstedt could step up. Wallstedt doesn’t need another AHL season but keeping him there isn’t disastrous either.

Gustavsson remains tradable with his $3.75M cap hit over two years but not trading him seems like an oversight given an active market . Wallstedt learning under Fleury is valuable; he might even earn third-string status creating an interesting goalie rotation.

Montreal Canadiens

As Montreal rebuilds from recent struggles they find themselves rich in defensive potential! Mike Matheson and Kaiden Guhle seem set long-term while five other spots remain open among seven candidates: Lane Hutson, Logan Mailloux David Reinbacher alongside David Savard Arber Xhekaj Jayden Struble Justin Barron all vying positions – fans might see trades happening soon!

Pittsburgh Penguins

Unlike Montreal needing more forwards Pittsburgh needs fewer! With 14 forwards listed plus Emil Bemstrom Jesse Puljujarvi minors according PuckPedia Rutger McGroarty Drew O’Connor main contenders wing Sidney Crosby bottom-six crowded each player different style determining scoring defense preference ultimately shaping final lineup Bemstrom Puljujarvi Lars Eller Noel Acciari Anthony Beauvillier Valtteri Puustinen notable talents competing once camp begins weeks away!

St Louis Blues

Initially thought thinning defense Blues instead added Ryan Suter Philip Broberg Pierre-Olivier Joseph only moving Marco Scandella Torey Krug likely out entire regular season opens left-side spot simplifying choices seventh-defenseman battle between Suter Joseph depends Krug availability interesting competition within core members!

What do you think about these upcoming battles?