Clicks and Clippings: Beauty of a weekend ahead

If you've been following the Hurricanes prospects this past week in Traverse City, you know they're playing the Detroit Red Wings at 3pm, the final game of the tournament. Following that game, we can look for the roster for Training Camp to be announced.

This coming Friday, the whole group, expected to number 54, will be together at the RBC Center in Raleigh to be measured, tested and photographed, before taking the ice Saturday.

While Saturday's three on-ice sessions will be closed to the public (thanks to NCState's home opener), Sunday is the first Red and White Scrimmage in years, coinciding with the 12th Annual Caniac Carnival at the RBC Center. The weather forecast couldn't be better: Sunny with highs in the 70s!

Here's the latest on Sunday's schedule. There will be an open practice Sunday at 9:30am  and then the scrimmage starts at 12 noon. Admission is free. So yeah, it's gonna be beauty of a day - inside and out.

Over the next couple days, look for our Canes Country previews of Training Camp as well as our popular Guide to Training Camp that you can print out as a .pdf : 7 pages of facts and insight on all 54 players plus the camp's full schedule over the next 3 weeks. 

More previews on what's next

Chip Alexander caught up with Jim Rutherford this morning and had this: Canes Now - Murphy, Faulk impressive in Traverse City Rutherford said he was not yet sure how many of the rookies will be invited to the Canes' training camp but added, "I think we will bring a lot of guys back, more than we usually do."

Plus plenty more from Rutherford via Twitter / @ice_chip:

One camp note: Rutherford said Canes looking to sign depth defenseman, possibly today. Rutherford said adding d-man would help Checkers situation "should Faulk make our team."

There will be no pro tryouts at camp. Rutherford several rookies from TC will be invited to camp.

Rutherford said Murphy has skill level to play in NHL but said comparing him to Skinner "is not apples to apples." Rutherford noted Skinner was a forward and that it's tougher physically as a d-man to make jump from junior.

On Rask, Rutherford said the forward is "open" to playing in N. America this year but that no final decision has been made.

Hearing Canes very pleased in Ponikarovsky's conditioning level going into preseason camp. Had the injury issues last season.

Audio previews of the season

Yesterday morning, the hockey guys from Toronto radio spoke with the Canes GM in Traverse City: Jim Rutherford -  FAN 590 Toronto [7 minutes] talking Tomas Kaberle, the prospects, and how the roster is shaping up. Predicts Cam Ward will start 60 games this year.

John Forslund was on the weekly podcast over at RLDHockey this afternoon. Gives his season preview in depth discussing a lot of the new players, recalls Josef Vasicek, plus some thoughts on developing fans in Atlanta. [Starts at 3:20, runs about 18 minutes]

Reports from the RBC Center

while the prospects are up in Traverse City

• Canes Now - Skinner back after another busy summer The Canes' Jeff Skinner was on the ice Tuesday at the RBC Center, laughing, shooting the puck, smiling, stickhanding, being with the guys.
• Here's more on the Calder Trophy winner: Canes' Skinner to feel the pressure - NewsObserver.com Jeff Skinner laughed Tuesday when asked if there was an NHL award for sophomore of the year.
• Hurricanes' Finnish trio stays intact - NewsObserver.com A year ago, Tuomo Ruutu, Jussi Jokinen and Joni Pitkanen were excited about playing the Carolina Hurricanes' opener in Finland, their home country.
• Informals at RBC: Ponikarovsky's New Home -  Michael Smith, Tracking the Storm For Canes newcomer Alexei Ponikarovsky, training camp can't come soon enough.
• LaRose Brings Game-Night Energy to Offseason Workouts - TTS Chad LaRose led an on-ice workout this morning with the same energy he brings nightly during the regular season.
• Sutter Enjoys Challenge - TTS "I feel a bit bigger and stronger on the ice, and that will help me," Brandon Sutter said. "Every year you try to get more complete – try to find ways to do more at every position and in every place of the game."

Looking ahead to the next few weeks

Red Light District: Training camp battles: Eastern Conference looks at all 15 teams broken down, from the bloggers who know them best. Canes Country's Bob Wage gives his overview for the Canes.

HockeyBuzz.com - Matt Karash - Your pick for a breakout/bounceback year? Kids, vets and wildcards.

Get a preview from Doug Warf of some upcoming marketing plans as the team prepares for opening night: Painting the Home Crease Video - Caniacs selected via social networking sites help the ice crew by painting the crease for the 2011-2012 season.     

Traverse City prospects plus a terrific debut in Sweden

Murphy hopes to follow in Skinner's footsteps - Mike Morreale, NHL.com Ryan Murphy and Jeff Skinner play different positions, but Murphy hopes to match Skinner's transformation from first-round pick to NHL star. And Rutherford wants Victor Rask in North America

Can Skinner's Traverse City feat be duplicated? - Morreale talked with some of the rookies before the tournament began.

Hurricanes forward Jeff Skinner is just the latest top prospect to use the Traverse City Prospects Tournament to kick start a strong season. "There will be a bunch of high-caliber hockey players at this camp," [Ryan Murphy] told NHL.com. "Hopefully, this one can help tune me up for the upcoming camps. The main thing (Skinner) told me to do was to work my butt off in Traverse City at the conditioning camp and show them that I won't quit."

Canes Danish goalie prospect Frederik Andersen gets a shutout in his Swedish Elite League Debut this week: The Frolunda Indians story is in Swedish with video. [Google Translated link - no video]. You may recall Andersen as the oldest player and biggest goaltender at the Conditioning Camp in Wake Forest in July.

Alumni notes

On Frozen Pond  had this  video of Cory Stillman discussing his next role as he officially announced his retirement after 16 NHL seasons on Saturday. Stillman will join the Panthers front office as an assistant director of player development.

Fourth liner Troy Bodie, a native of Manitoba, has signed a PTO with the Winnipeg Jets. Details: Jets invite local product Bodie to camp

Ask a Hab - Erik Cole He does a pretty good job with question 3 (1:32 ): What was the atmosphere like for games in Carolina? How does it compare to Montreal?

Hockey's dilemma: Fighting, Goons, Entertainment and soul-crushing depression

Michael Landsberg: His depression and his friend, Wade Belak (TSN.ca) I knew Wade walked with a limp. I knew it because he spoke to me about it. I have the same limp. It's how I refer to depression that doesn't disable us – even though we feel it every step of our lives.

Former Predator Wade Belak: Fighting is part of the job | The Tennessean Prior to his death, former Predator Wade Belak spoke with The Tennessean's Josh Cooper about the role of an enforcer in the NHL. 

Hard Hits analysis: A Case Against Fighting - Kurt Dusterberg, HurricanesBeat.com The NHL has endured three deaths to "enforcers" in the past four months. So it raises an obvious question: Will the league finally do away with fighting?

Here's a conundrum. Check out how hockey violence is now in the sights of movie makers. Hockey Movies Star at Toronto Film Festival | The Province Blogs The Toronto International Film Festival -- or "The Tiff" as us highfaluting cinema aficionados like to call it -- is one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world (*adjusts beret*).

Wrapping up some travel before the season gets underway: 

Jamie McBain in Fayetteville

Fayetteville Observer - Recreation: Pro hockey players hit the ice with region youngsters "Especially in the southern states, hockey still isn't as much in the culture as it is other places," Jamie McBain said. "It's important to get kids involved, at any age."

More on this event from Canes Now - McBain spends 'awesome' day at Fort Bragg He joined members of Defending The Blue Line -- a charitable foundation based in Minnesota that supports the children of military families -- who are spending a couple of days experiencing every-day life on the base and hosted hockey clinics and charity games for the kids.

Paul Maurice inducted into the Sault Hall of Fame

Worth reading for a hometown perspective on the Canes beleaguered coach. Hurricanes Maurice inducted into Sault's hockey hall - The Sault Star - Ontario, CA In a centre ice ceremony held prior to the Soo Greyhounds exhibition game against the Sudbury Wolves, Maurice was introduced and received a rousing standing ovation from local fans.

And Jeff Skinner in New York

Mike Sundheim's travelblog covered the two days he and Jeff Skinner spent making the rounds in New York in depth. 

Here's the NHL.com video of the Meet & Greet the first night. Maybe it's just me being the hockeymom, but comparing Skinner's date to Logan Couture's, one senses these two "sophomores" begin this season with different priorities. Plus this story: Player Media Tour commences as tragedy remains fresh - NHL.com With the emotions of Wednesday's tragic plane crash in Russia still weighing on everyone's minds, the 2011 Player Media Tour began.

Social media cuteness: ESPN NHL coverage - Jeff Skinner stopped by and answered @alexxfranzen's "super" question 

Finally, from the Canes yesterday, a happy smiley video recap of Skinner in Manhattan .