Roster Spots – Thoughts From Camp

Training camp officially opened yesterday but due to the lockout, this isn’t your normal training camp. Decisions have to be made quickly on players trying to make the team and all the other roster moves that need to be made.

The Devils open the season Saturday night in Long Island so you can see that there isn’t a lot of time for decisions to be made.

Here is the full training camp roster:
 

Goaltenders
1-Johan Hedberg
30-Martin Brodeur

Defensemen
2-Marek Zidlicky
5-Adam Larsson
6-Andy Greene
7-Henrik Tallinder
10-Peter Harrold
24-Bryce Salvador
28-Anton Volchenkov
29-Mark Fayne

Forwards
8-Dainius Zubrus
9-Bobby Butler
11-Stephen Gionta
12-Tim Sestito
14-Adam Henrique (injured)
15-Harri Pesonen
16-Jacob Josefson
17-Ilya Kovalchuk
18-Steve Bernier
19-Travis Zajac
20-Ryan Carter
21-Mattias Tedenby
22-Krys Barch
23-David Clarkson
25-Cam Janssen
26-Patrik Elias
32-Mathieu Darche*
34-Stefan Matteau
*Unsigned

So what do we make of this roster? Who will we see in Long Island on Saturday night? I’m very interested to see how the guys that didn’t go to Albany or Europe to play. Are they in shape? Here are some thoughts:
 

The Gionta/Carter/Bernier line was so effective last spring that I believe without a doubt they should be given the chance to return this season. Will they be as effective, I don’t know but all three should certainly be on the Devils final roster.

Bobby Butler has emerged as Albany's leading scorer with 15 goals and 8 assists in 32 games. He also has led them in shots with 92. I can’t for any reason figure out why we would send him back to Albany. Let’s hope he makes it and keeps the #9 he is wearing in camp.

A lot of people are hot about Mattias Tedenby but I for one am not. He has talent but he’s been given a shot before and managed to play his way to an AHL ticket. That’s not to say guys don’t deserve multiple chances, they do. We know maturity helps in all sports, I’m just saying I’m not hot on this guy like many are.

I’ll take a pass on Tim Sestito. He’s never really done much for me and he hasn’t been lighting the AHL world on fire this season either.

I believe that  Stefan Matteau is there only so we can get a better look at him. I don’t think he will make the team this season. He needs work, especially when it comes to discipline but he’s a kid, he’ll grow.

Mathieu Darche played for Montreal last season but the free agent has not been signed by anyone. He's in camp on a tryout basis and a lot has already been made about his presence because he appears to have taken Sykora’s place in camp. Lou's decision were made to bring in youth rather than Sykora but they brought Darche in, who is the same age and scores a lot less. I still think the move is smart. You have to respect that the Devils are looking toward their youth and the one thing Darche has over Sykora is size. He’s 6’1” and 217lbs and let’s be honest, Sykora isn’t really much of a tough guy. In a limited role, Darche could be useful.

Coming tomorrow, we will take a look at the Devils first 6 games of the season which will bring us to the beginning of February.