Helminen, Rodney to Albany; Injury Notes
Friday, 10.03.2008 / 10:59 AM
/ Tracking the Storm
By Paul Branecky
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Two more roster cuts were made Friday morning, with forward Dwight Helminen and defenseman Bryan Rodney returning to Albany.
Helminen, signed this past summer after a productive season with JYP Jyvaskyla in Finland, did very well at camp and has a good chance to make his NHL debut with the Canes this season in the event of an injury. The 25-year-old stayed in camp longer than other potential call-ups, seeing significant time on scoring lines and on the power play while players like Ray Whitney and Rod Brind'Amour were injured.
Rodney, 24, impressed the team enough to stay longer than Casey Borer and Brett Carson, who were thought to be higher in the pecking order before camp. Having risen rom ECHL regular to NHL prospect in a matter of months last season, it will probably be good for him to develop more slowly in the AHL, where he's played only 50 career games.
"He looks awfully good," said coach Peter Laviolette. "He's smooth, he' s got a high threshold of patience, he's poised out there, he didn't do anything wrong defensively and he looked good offensively. He left a very, very good impression on the organization."
The Canes' training camp roster now stands at 28, with 23 the target number for opening night. That doesn't necessarily mean the Canes will have to cut five more people, because Justin Williams at the very least will be put on injured reserve and won't count against that number.
Notable non-regulars still in camp include Zach Boychuk ,Tim Conboy, Joe Jensen, Dan LaCouture, Trevor Gillies and Brandon Sutter.
Injury update: Boychuk and Conboy skated by themselves before Friday morning's practice, while Niclas Wallin joined Rod Brind'Amour and Ray Whitney in the full session. Still no sign of Tuomo Ruutu.
Patrick Eaves also didn't suit up, but Laviolette said it was just a minor bruise - "nothing really to report." Joe Jensen had to be carried off the ice midway through practice with what is believed to be a hip pointer.
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Rodney, 24, impressed the team enough to stay longer than Casey Borer and Brett Carson, who were thought to be higher in the pecking order before camp. Having risen rom ECHL regular to NHL prospect in a matter of months last season, it will probably be good for him to develop more slowly in the AHL, where he's played only 50 career games.
"He looks awfully good," said coach Peter Laviolette. "He's smooth, he' s got a high threshold of patience, he's poised out there, he didn't do anything wrong defensively and he looked good offensively. He left a very, very good impression on the organization."
The Canes' training camp roster now stands at 28, with 23 the target number for opening night. That doesn't necessarily mean the Canes will have to cut five more people, because Justin Williams at the very least will be put on injured reserve and won't count against that number.
Notable non-regulars still in camp include Zach Boychuk ,Tim Conboy, Joe Jensen, Dan LaCouture, Trevor Gillies and Brandon Sutter.
Injury update: Boychuk and Conboy skated by themselves before Friday morning's practice, while Niclas Wallin joined Rod Brind'Amour and Ray Whitney in the full session. Still no sign of Tuomo Ruutu.
Patrick Eaves also didn't suit up, but Laviolette said it was just a minor bruise - "nothing really to report." Joe Jensen had to be carried off the ice midway through practice with what is believed to be a hip pointer.
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