In the N.H.L. world of guaranteed one-way contracts – by which established veteran players make the same salary even if sent to the minors –the notion of widespread competition for jobs in training camp is primarily a myth. There are, however, a few spots still open on the rosters of the Rangers, Islanders and Devils with a few exhibition games remaining.
Here is a position-by-position breakdown of which players are safe and who needs to make a stand to crack the opening night lineup.
New York Rangers
Forwards
Set for Lineup (11 of 13 available spots): Artem Anisimov, Brian Boyle, Ryan Callahan, Brandon Dubinsky, Ruslan Fedotenko, Marian Gaborik, Brandon Prust, Brad Richards, Mike Rupp, Derek Stepan, Wojtek Wolski
Veterans Pushing: Sean Avery, Erik Christensen, Mats Zuccarello
Prospects Competing: Ryan Bourque, Carl Hagelin, Dale Weise
Notes: As the Rangers play the first of four European preseason games Thursday in Prague, Zuccarello is the front-runner for a spot in the starting 12. The coaching staff is pleased with his off-season workouts and the Norway native provides a bonus with his efficiency in the shootout. Avery, as is his style, will not go quietly. Bourque, Hagelin and Weise are among a group of youngsters to please Coach John Tortorella in camp and will be utilized during the season when injuries hit.
Defensemen
Set for Lineup (5 of 7 available spots): Steve Eminger, Dan Girardi, Ryan McDonagh, Michael Sauer, Marc Staal
Veterans Pushing: Brendan Bell, Stu Bickel
Prospects Competing: Michael Del Zotto, Tim Erixon
Notes: Del Zotto had a very good rookie season in 2009-10, but regressed last year and was sent to the minors. The former first-round pick must improve his play in the defensive zone. Erixon, the son of former Rangers forward Jan Erixon who was born in New York, was acquired in an off-season deal with Calgary and has the most upside of the youngsters. Especially with the uncertain status of Staal (recurring concussion symptoms), the Rangers will consider signing an available free agent for depth.
Goaltenders
Set for Lineup (2 of 2 available spots): Martin Biron, Henrik Lundqvist
Notes: Prospect Scott Stajcer is with the Rangers in Europe for the balance of the exhibition season, but Lundqvist and Biron are entrenched as the team’s tandem in goal.
New York Islanders
Forwards
Set for Lineup (11 of 12 available spots): Josh Bailey, Blake Comeau, Michael Grabner, Matt Moulson, Nino Niederreiter, Frans Nielsen, Kyle Okposo, P.A. Parenteau, Marty Reasoner, Brian Rolston, John Tavares
Enforcer: Trevor Gillies
Veterans Pushing: Matt Martin, Micheal Haley, Jay Pandolfo
Prospects Competing: David Ullstrom, Rhett Rakhshani
Notes: The Swiss rookie Niederreiter will make the club, so the only open jobs are on Coach Jack Capuano’s fourth line. Gillies will be the 13th forward, shuffling in and out of the lineup when a heavyweight fighter is required. Pandolfo, the longtime Devils grinder, has yet to stand out in camp. Martin, young and tough on the wing, is an incumbent and currently the leader to stick. The organization’s most talented prospect, Ryan Strome (the fifth overall draft pick in 2011), needs another year of first-line ice time and bulking up in the Ontario Hockey League.
Defensemen
Set for Lineup (6 of 8 available spots): Mark Eaton, Travis Hamonic, Milan Jurcina, Andrew MacDonald, Mike Mottau, Mark Streit
Veteran Pushing: Steve Staios
Prospect Competing: Calvin de Haan
Notes: The uncertain status of McDonald, the steady two-way defender coming off hip surgery, should prompt General Manager Garth Snow to add a veteran or two to this very thin corps. The 37-year-old Staios is in camp on a tryout agreement. He is gritty and experienced and will likely be signed, but cannot be Snow’s only answer. The talented de Haan is only 20 years old and just out of the Ontario Hockey League. Although he’ll see games with the big club this season, he would be best served by some development time in the minors.
Goaltenders
Set for Lineup (2 of 2 available spots): Rick DiPietro, Al Montoya
Veteran Pushing: Evgeni Nabokov
Prospect Competing: Kevin Poulin
Notes: DiPietro and Montoya got here first, so they will be given the first cracks by management at the No. 1 job. It’s up to Nabokov, the longtime Sharks netminder who sat out most of last season, to steal a job and not let go. (A three-goalie rotation has rarely worked in the N.H.L.) Of all the goaltenders in the Islanders’ system, the Quebec League-developed Poulin is arguably the most talented. He’ll get his chance to lead the position in the next year or two.
New Jersey Devils
Forwards
Set for Lineup (10 of 13 available spots): Eric Boulton, David Clarkson, Patrik Elias, Jacob Josefson, Ilya Kovalchuk, Zack Parise, Rod Pelley David Steckel, Mattias Tedenby, Dainius Zubrus
Injured: Travis Zajac (out until at least December with a torn Achilles’ tendon, suffered during an off-season workout)
Veterans Pushing: Cam Janssen, Petr Sykora
Prospects Competing: Adam Henrique, Adam Mills, Nick Palmieri, Vladimir Zharkov
Notes: Boulton, a rugged wing with a willingness to fight, signed a two-year, one-way contract with New Jersey after playing the last six seasons with the departed Atlanta Thrashers. Janssen is also on a one-way deal, making them a leading contender to stick, but first-year Coach Pete DeBoer may prefer to add skill in Sykora, who is in camp as a tryout and has performed well. The void created by Zajac’s injury may have to be filled with a trade or waiver wire acquisition. Henrique (a playmaker) and Mills (a workhorse) have been standouts in camp.
Defensemen
Set for Lineup (6 of 7 available spots): Mark Fraser, Andy Greene, Adam Larsson, Bryce Salvador, Henrik Tallinder, Anton Volchenkov
Veterans Pushing: Peter Harrold, Anton Stralman
Prospects Competing: Matt Corrente, Mark Fayne, Matt Taormina
Notes: Devils management will do its best to manage expectations for Larsson – the brilliant fourth overall pick in this summer’s draft – but there is no doubt he’s making the team. Stralman, who played the previous two seasons in Columbus, is in camp on a tryout agreement and has made a solid bid for a contract. Fraser, who turns 25 on Thursday, will be pushed for ice time by the trio of prospects.
Goaltenders
Set for Lineup (2 of 2 available spots): Martin Brodeur, Johan Hedberg
Notes: Keith Kinkaid and Jeff Frazee are still in camp, but even they could tell you the Devils are Brodeur’s team and Hedberg will be the backup.
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