With Training Camp Underway, What Prospects Will Make the Show?

Normally every year the 1st, 2nd and 3rd overall players play the next season. But recently we've players impressing management like Luke Schenn and Ryan O'Reily crack the roster (as a 2nd rounder nonetheless) from the previous draft. So I'm going to count down the top 3 players who might make the Show, with an impressive training camp.


-Brett Connoly



Brett Connoly and his well known hip injury that affected him the majority of his season last year. But know we have been told that he is completely healthy and performing normally. Being healthy Brett Connoly has been turning his heads during the summer. Scouts were saying that had he not fallen to injury it would have been Taylor, Tyler or Brett. Less catchy of slogan, but scouts think he has the talent to have gone top 3, which is why Yzerman took the chance and selected Connoly.

- Nino Niederreiter



Nino Niederreiter seems to me as a player that would make the Islanders roster by default. Not because he isn't talented enough to earn the spot; but the Islanders do not have much scoring depth. I really think El Nino has a bright future with the Islanders, but just not this year. He has shown he can play in North America. But for only one season. He has the potential to be more dominant the the 60pts he had last year. So I believe he will play with the Islanders this year, whether it will be a good thing remains to be seen. Maybe playing with Tavares and Co. will aide his development greatly.


-Jeff Skinner



Skinner shares some characteristics with Niederreiter and Connoly. Skinner had an impressive rookie camp and has available spots on the big club in Raleigh. Skinner is definitley the epitome of a pure goal scorer. With 70 goals throughout his last season with 50 in the regular and 20 in the postseason. Skinner is listed as a center but I'm sure Paul Maurice would like to see what he can do on a line with Eric Staal. The posibilities are a plenty. On a side note, I have recently found a gameday program of my first ever NHL game. Infact it was the program of Sidney Crosby's first ever NHL game in Canada. But in this gameday program had an article of Jeff Skinner, back when he was about 14. Claiming he could be a phenom and go top 10 in the 2010 Draft. Well that is some very acurate scouting from 2005. With scouts today actually comparing him to Sindey Crosby with his offensive skill but also his explosiveness. So if this accurate scouting keeps up, we could see some great hockey coming out of Carolina, with two offensive stars on the team.