RALEIGH, NC. – It feels quiet on the hockey front right now, doesn’t it?
Perhaps it’s because we are almost three full months removed from the most recent Canes game, but in just a few weeks we’ll be getting right back into the swing of things.
Which forward line or defensive pairing are you interested in watching the most this season? – @OneTrueZach
While there’s still plenty left to be decided before we hammer down exact lines and pairings, there are definitely things that I, as I’m sure many others, are already looking forward to seeing.
To start, how could you not be excited about the prospect of Jacob Slavin and Brent Burns playing together? Both players that can eat big time minutes and are All-Star caliber, I envision that opposing teams will not be thrilled trying to create offense against them for 20+ minutes per night.
Up front, do Jordan Staal and Jesper Fast stay together? If so, who takes on Nino Niederreiter’s spot? That line was a staple of the team’s success last year. It will be hard to replicate their exact impact, which makes this something to watch as the season gets underway.
Video: CAR@ARI: Fast scores in 2nd period
How many guys from the Wolves (and who) do you see for sure breaking the Canes roster this season? – @BaileyCurtis
(Full Disclosure: This was answered in Mailbag #31 in July, so the below is largely copied and pasted.)
While it’s impossible to say who for sure will be on the roster, Don Waddell mentioned both Jack Drury, Jalen Chatfield and Stefan Noesen as realistic options at his July 13 press conference.
It seems somewhat implied that since Vincent Trocheck left in free agency, Jesperi Kotkaniemi is expected to be the number two center. Both Waddell and Brind’Amour have acknowledged such. That would open up the role down the middle of the fourth line, potentially for Drury. With 52 points in 68 games during his first North American professional season, and then perhaps an even better postseason with 24 points in 18 games, it certainly looks as if he is ready to make the jump.
Brent Burns and Brett Pesce make a really nice one-two punch on the right side of the blue line and at the moment, you’d have to suspect that one of Jalen Chatfield, Ethan Bear or Dylan Coghlan will make up that third spot. Could all three make the team out of camp? Absolutely.
Then lastly, after scoring 48 goals in 70 games this past year with Chicago (AHL), you’d have to think that Noesen will have every opportunity to make the Opening Night roster as well. That will be determined in early October.
Jack Drury puts his hometown on their feet by opening up the scoring in Game 1 of #CHIvsSPR. @Chicago_Wolves | #CalderCup pic.twitter.com/lyI4KuBf6n
– American Hockey League (@TheAHL) June 19, 2022
When does preseason camp begin? – @GoldenCaniac
You’ll start seeing more and more players touching the ice soon, but things will really start to ramp up once the calendar hits September.
Informal ‘Captain’s Skates’ will begin as players make their way back to Raleigh and in short time the Prospects Showcase will start. As that event runs from September 16-19, there will be maybe a day or two following until the official beginning of Training Camp. Training Camp will lead right into the team’s six-game preseason schedule and that will obviously guide us right up to October 12’s Opening Night.
Fear not, hockey is just around the corner.
The Captain is back in town 💪 pic.twitter.com/BQWdjrmsgf
– Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) August 18, 2022
Will training camp and practices be open to the public this season? – @KOTKAN1IEM1
Expect an official announcement from the team on this before the start of Training Camp.
What we do know right now is that The Prospects Showcase will be free and open to the public.
Any hints or days to look forward to receiving teasers regarding Stadium Series uniforms or events or whatever? I recall there being talk of a concert in the arena for the event. Very excited for February! – @ADSheppa
I’ve used this comparison before and the more I learn, the more it sounds like it will be an accurate timeframe for this season as well.
The 2022 Stadium Series game between Nashville and Tampa was on Saturday, February 26.
Their jerseys for the contests were revealed on Thursday, December 2.
As far as the events that come along with the whole ordeal, the organization and league are working to ensure that this becomes on par, if not better than each previous iteration of the Stadium Series game.
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