“Caeden Bankier looks better. He looks like he had a great summer and a great NHL camp. His confidence is higher, he competes higher, he looks stronger,” said Clouston.
“I think I have a lot to prove this year. Obviously, I didn’t like how the season ended for the team and myself last season. I kind of had that on my mind all summer and leading up to the season that is what I’ve been trying to strive towards,” added Bankier.
While they will start the season on different lines, longtime friend Stankoven believes Bankier could have a special season.
“Since he has come back from Minnesota, he’s been able to put up some pretty impressive numbers. I watched the last two games in Dallas on my iPad and he was our best player out there. A guy who makes a difference every time he’s on the ice and someone other teams are going to have to look out for,” said the Blazers captain.
The Blazers will be far older this weekend when they take on Portland Saturday for the first time since opening night. That key returning depth should benefit the Blazers roster.
“Having key players come back, you can spread them around the lineup. When other teams are trying to match up against the top line, we have three or four lines that can make a difference out there,” said Stankoven.
The Blazers are back home at the Sandman Center on Tuesday (Oct. 18) for a mid-week matchup versus the Brandon Wheat Kings.