Training Camp Group Breakdown

Friday, 09.19.2008 / 2:37 PM / Tracking the Storm
By Paul Branecky
You might have already seen on our site that the training camp groups have been released.  If you haven't, here they are.

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Besides helping to plan your trip out to practice if you're looking to see a specific player or players, the groupings can give little hints as to where the coaching staff thinks certain players might fit into the lineup.  I mean, we could always wait until tomorrow to see who's skating with whom, but why not speculate a little bit?  I was dead on about Drayson Bowman's headshot (you'll see it soon, and you all owe me a dollar), so I might as welI continue my psychic momentum.

I updated the Depth Chart with possible cominations based on the groupings if you want to check that out.  Here's some observations that led me to those lines:
  • The defensive pairings are the easiest to figure out.  Tim Gleason, Joni Pitkanen, Frank Kaberle and Dennis Seidenberg are all in Group C, and it's pretty safe to assume Gleason and Pitkanen will be together.  With eight NHL-capable defensemen on the roster, somebody has to be pairing number four.  I picked Kaberle/Seidenberg for that since each group seems to have an "alpha pairing" on it (Corvo/Wallin in Group B and Melichar/Babchuk in Group A).  Group C is the only one with four NHL regulars.
     
  • On the flip side, Group A seems to be the one with two NHL lines on it - the first and fourth.  Only five NHL forwards are in that group, however.  Seeing as how the team wants to give him a good look and his talents are more suited for the first line than the fourth, I'm guessing Drayson Bowman plays with Eric Staal and Ray Whitney on the top line, while Brandon Sutter, Ryan Bayda and Chad LaRose play on the fourth.  Of course, any of the guys I have pegged for the fourth line could see time on the first, so this one could shift around a bit.
     
  • The natural forward line in Group B is Brind'Amour, Sergei Samsonov and Tuomo Ruutu, but as you know, Brind'Amour will miss a good chunk of camp.  Enter Jeff O'Neill, who could end up skating on that line with Brind'Amour out (Ruutu can also play center).  Matt Murley is also in Group B, so they could both get a look.  Note that I can't add O'Neill to the Depth Chart since he's a tryout and isn't technically in the organization.
     
  • Matt Cullen, Patrick Eaves and Scott Walker headline the forwards in Group C and will clearly start off playing together.
That's my best guess.  Feel free to roast me on the message boards if you disagree.



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EASTERN CONFERENCE
  TEAM GP W L OT GF GA PTS
1 z - PIT 48 36 12 0 165 119 72
2 y - MTL 48 29 14 5 149 126 63
3 y - WSH 48 27 18 3 149 130 57
4 x - BOS 48 28 14 6 131 109 62
5 x - TOR 48 26 17 5 145 133 57
6 x - NYR 48 26 18 4 130 112 56
7 x - OTT 48 25 17 6 116 104 56
8 x - NYI 48 24 17 7 139 139 55
9 WPG 48 24 21 3 128 144 51
10 PHI 48 23 22 3 133 141 49
11 NJD 48 19 19 10 112 129 48
12 BUF 48 21 21 6 125 143 48
13 CAR 48 19 25 4 128 160 42
14 TBL 48 18 26 4 148 150 40
15 FLA 48 15 27 6 112 171 36

STATS

2012-2013 REGULAR SEASON
SKATERS: GP G A +/- Pts
E. Staal 48 18 35 5 53
A. Semin 44 13 31 14 44
J. Tlusty 48 23 15 15 38
J. Staal 48 10 21 -18 31
J. Skinner 42 13 11 -21 24
J. Corvo 40 6 11 -3 17
P. Dwyer 46 8 8 -7 16
J. Faulk 38 5 10 1 15
J. Harrison 47 3 7 -10 10
R. Nash 32 4 5 -4 9
 
GOALIES: W L OT Sv% GAA
C. Ward 9 6 1 .908 2.84
D. Ellis 6 8 2 .906 3.13
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