Panthers @ Hurricanes: Preseason Premiere Preview

by Bob Wage on Sep 21, 2010 2:54 PM EDT

Carolina Hurricanes training camp. Skating in circles, everyone's favorite camp activity. (photo by LTD)

Tonight's preseason game between the Florida Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes at the RBC will feature rookies and prospects galore. For instance, the four centers listed to start for the Canes have yet to play a single NHL game. Regardless, each of those players are in the mix of a tight competition to make the team. The coaching staff will be watching very closely tonight.

Think the preseason games are not important? Think again. When asked which players stood out the most so far this training camp, Jim Rutherford said that he would have to wait until after the games to answer that question.

"I'm not going to mention names because we don't start ranking them until the games start up. We look to see how these players do in a game. After the third game or so, we'll know the players most likely to make the team".

While the veterans who have already earned spots might go through the motions as they try to save themselves for the regular season, not so much for the prospects, who are fighting for an NHL career.

Here is the Canes' expected lineup:

Skinner-LaRose-Dwyer

Nash-Bowman-Ruutu

Dalpe-O`Sullivan-Kostopoulos

Matsumoto-Boychuk-Samson

Gleason-Sanguinetti

McBain-Babchuk

Borer-Harrison

Cam Ward and Justin Pogge will split time in net.

Florida will also have a prospect laden lineup featuring their prize pick who was selected third overall, Erik Gudbranson. To see their entire lineup, check out this link at On Frozen Pond.

HM updated her training camp guideline with the lineup for tonight's game. You can click on it and print it from the link below.

Canes Country Guide Sept 20 2010

We will have a live open thread running throughout the game tonight and Cory and I will be chiming in during the course of the game as we report from the arena. Have a question about what is happening? Hit us up during the game tonight. We'll have that thread starting at 6:30.

There will be no television, but you can listen to Chuck Kaiton on 99.9 The Fan. The puck drops at 7 p.m.

Tweet Comment 20 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

ANY EXTRA TICKETS OUT THERE?

Any one have any extra tickets that they need to get rid of for tonights game? I could use 2 maybe 3. Let me know! THANKS!!!

by letsgocanes on Sep 21, 2010 3:16 PM EDT reply actions

Tickets

Have you found any yet? It looks like we’ll have 2 spares if you still need ’em…

[My Hockey Photoshops] [My Music] [Beat a Dead Horse]

by Raccoon Fink on Sep 21, 2010 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions

26 Gam STH

I didn’t realize 26 STH don’t have a ticket to this game until now. I could use one (you can’t get them through the caniac account manager anymore).

by darman1484 on Sep 21, 2010 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Alright...

You’re the only one who responded. :)

Tweet me at RangerRick or send me an email at <a href="mailto:ticketsraccoonfink.com">tickets@raccoonfink.com …

We should be outside the box office around 6.

[My Hockey Photoshops] [My Music] [Beat a Dead Horse]

by Raccoon Fink on Sep 21, 2010 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Whoa, that was weird… I didn’t try putting any HTML or anything in. Guess the at-sign is special markup. :)

Anyways, it’s RangerRick on twitter, or tickets at raccoonfink.com

[My Hockey Photoshops] [My Music] [Beat a Dead Horse]

by Raccoon Fink on Sep 21, 2010 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Got to the box office early

Thanks anyway. Going to make it!

by darman1484 on Sep 21, 2010 6:00 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

thanks

Racoon. Thanks for the offer. I totally forgot to check back and ended up not going due to not having tix.

by letsgocanes on Sep 21, 2010 7:24 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Watch Out

I hope the Canes are watching out for Triston Grant on the Panthers. We have no goon to match him so hopefully he doesn’t take free reign. At least Harrison is in the lineup so he can step up & keep Gleason and Sanguinetti from having to. But this will be an ongoing concern over the coming season. As Bob mentioned in his Season Preview, are the Canes gonna be able to match up physically to other teams?

As exciting as many of the rookies are, I don’t really see any intimidating aggressors in the lot and that is a concern…I hope they at least survive the preseason goons…

by tarheelicane9 on Sep 21, 2010 4:02 PM EDT reply actions

As long as Gleason doesn’t get injured I wouldn’t mind him “welcoming” Gudbranson or any other goon they have to the RBC tonight. But – I’m certain the coaches have told him no fighting so he doesn’t risk injury.

It’s finally here – some actual hockey!!!

Yeah, well, you know, that's just like, uh, your opinion, man.

by anonymousJ on Sep 21, 2010 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Don’t forget TKO is in the lineup.

www.prosportsblogging.com

by Great Ice-Pectations on Sep 21, 2010 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Harrison will drop the gloves too.

by Caniac1026 on Sep 21, 2010 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Looking up the scouting report on Gudbranson, who apparently drove Steve Weiss into the wall at practice yesterday. And I quote: “Can play a shutdown role with aplomb”.

Aplomb may be a little too happy and old-fashioned a word choice for me. Just sayin’ Then remembered both Harrison nd Gleason will be on hand if Gudbranson gets a little ambitious trying to show off for the coaches.

Twitter @HMof2

by Carolyn Christians on Sep 21, 2010 4:07 PM EDT reply actions

Did a little more research on any history between Gudbranson and Skinner. Ran into this entirely new achievement from Skinner:

Gudbransen was awarded the Scholastic Player of the year Award for the OHL. Guess who came in second? Jeff Skinner. Here’s the story – not clear to me why Gudbranson got it over Skinner with the same academic grade averages.

Hadn’t seen this mentioned before.

Twitter @HMof2

by Carolyn Christians on Sep 21, 2010 4:12 PM EDT reply actions