The Canes reduced their roster to 28 today, assigning defenseman Bryan Rodney and forward Dwight Helminen to the Albany River Rats of the AHL.

It apparently was a tough decision on Rodney, who played well in the Canes' 4-2 win Thursday night in Nashville and has been sound and hard-working in training camp.

"He's smooth, he' s got a high threshold of patience, he didn't do anything wrong defensively and he looked good offensively," Canes coach Peter Laviolette said after practice today. "He left a very, very good impression on the organization."

Don't be surprised to see Rodney back in Raleigh this year if there's an injury or two.

Zach Boychuk, the Canes' first-round draft choice, said he is close to signing an entry-level contract with the team.

"Hopefully we can get something done in the next day or two," the forward said today.

General manager Jim Rutherford said the Canes had made a final contract offer to Boychuk, adding, "We think it's a good one."

Rutherford would not discuss the terms of the contract, but the pact is believed to match the one given to forward Brandon Sutter, the Canes' first-round draft pick in 2007.

For those wondering how center Matt Cullen would fare after that big blindside hit Sunday in the Flyers game, check out his line from the 4-2 win over the Predators:

A game-high 22:44 ice time, 25 shifts, 11-5 on faceoffs (consider that Eric Staal and Brandon Sutter were combined 10-26), two takeaways and a blocked shot. Looks like he's ready for the regular season. ...

Staal had two goals, including the winner, but had to shake his head when asked about being stoned on a breakaway by Preds goalie Dan Ellis in the third period with the Canes leading 3-2.

"I tried to go five-hole and he made a good save and then on the rebound I thought I had the whole net and he came across with his toe," Staal said with a smile.

AP photo

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Some rapid-fire scoring staked the Hurricanes to an early lead at the Sommet Center, but the Nashville Predators didn't get floored by Carolina's big early punch.

Barely three minutes into the game, the Canes led 2-0 on goals by Brandon Sutter and Ryan Bayda. Eric Staal added a power-play goal early in the second period for a 3-0 lead, and the Hurricanes held on for a 4-2 win.

The Canes now are down to two goalies and 30 players on their roster.

The team announced today that goaltenders Daniel Manzato and Justin Peters have been reassigned to the Albany River Rats of the AHL. That leaves goalies Cam Ward and Michael Leighton on the roster.

For Niclas Wallin, the timing couldn't have been worse. The Canes have a glut of defensemen and some tough decisions on a regular-season roster, and Wallin has been sidelined after suffering a concussion in the first preseason game against the Washington Capitals.

While Wallin sat, such players as Dennis Seidenberg and Frantisek Kaberle have played well and been solid. The talk of possibly trading Kaberle has subsided. Anton Babchuk has come off a leg injury and is paired with Josef Melichar, and the two will play together tonight against the Nashville Predators. Something has to give.

"We all know the deal," Wallin said today after an on-ice workout at the RecZone. "We're all professional and all NHL defensemen. Obviously it's a coaching decision and a management decision to see who will be there."

Defenseman Niclas Wallin is back at practice. Wallin joined the players not going to Nashville for tonight's exhibition game for a morning workout at the RecZone.

Forward Zach Boychuk, who had a pin surgically removed from his left wrist Tuesday, also is at the workout along with forward Ray Whitney. Tuomo Ruutu continues to be sidelined with a leg injury.

UPDATE: Ruutu was at the RecZone going through some off-ice workouts and appears closer to being able to skate.

An educated guess at the Canes' roster for Thursday's preseason game at Nashville:

The lines:

Sergei Samsonov, Eric Staal. Patrick Eaves

Dwight Helminen, Matt Cullen, Ryan Bayda

Chad LaRose, Brandon Sutter, Dan LaCouture

Staff photo by Chris Seward

The captain is back. Rod Brind'Amour rejoined practice today at the RBC Center.

Brind'Amour is coming off arthroscopic knee surgery to repair cartilage damage. He said Sunday he was close to getting back on the ice and still hoped to play in a preseason game.

Brind'Amour joined the team for the second half of practice following some special-teams work, and got in some hard skating.

"It's good to get back in the mix," Brind'Amour said.

There's a story in today's print edition of the N&O about the toughness Scott Walker brings to the Canes. Here's more of what the veteran forward had to say:

On being called the toughest player, pound for pound, on the team by general manager Jim Rutherford:

"It’s a big compliment and something I pride myself on. I could be tougher mentally, I know that. But it’s really the reason I’m in the league.

"It’s not so much because I’m  fighting. It’s because when I first broke in the league, everybody was big. To be a small guy, I had to try to do not only something different but had to just make sure I was willing to battle with the big guys or the strong guys."