The Canes now have 23 players on their training-camp roster after placing forward Tim Wallace on waivers.
Wallace, if he clears waivers by noon Friday, will be reassigned to the Charlotte Checkers (AHL). Forward Andreas Nodl and Brett Sutter, put on waivers Wednesday, were not claimed by any other NHL team Thursday and were sent to the Checkers.
Canes coach Kirk Muller could not say Thursday if he planned to take a 23-man roster to Florida for Saturday's season opener. That's just one of a few decisions still to made, along with some line combinations.
"As coaches, we obviously like the numbers, but we'll see how it unfolds," Muller said, noting he would meet with general manager Jim Rutherford later Thursday.
Zach Boychuk continued to work at left wing on Eric Staal's line opposite Alexander Semin in Thursday's practice at PNC Arena. Zac Dalpe was the right winger on Jordan Staal's line with Jeff Skinner. The third line, which Muller said he "really likes," continued to be center Jussi Jokinen with Jiri Tlusty and Chad LaRose on the wings.
"They're day to day, with where they are in their career," Muller said of Boychuk and Dalpe. "What you see today is not necessarily going to be what you see start on Saturday night. I did want to see a few days of them playing with certain players, if there's chemistry.
"I know what Jokinen can do, I know what Tlusty can do, LaRose. I just wanted them to have a few days and see how it goes. ... It's a matter of who wants it, who doesn't want to lose that opportunity."
Muller noted he pulled Boychuk aside at practice, telling him, "You've got to play the same way you did in Charlotte. And if you can do that, that opportunity is there. That's where you're going to start, be ready for it."
With Wallace on waivers, the fourth line had Tim Brent at center, with Drayson Bowman, Pat Dwyer and Kevin Westgarth alternating on the wings.
The defensive pairs had Tim Gleason with Joe Corvo, Joni Pitkanen and Justin Faulk, Bobby Sanguinetti with Jay Harrison and Jamie McBain with Ryan Murphy.
Asked if Sanguinetti had earned a spot in the top six for opening night, Muller said, "We liked the pairings we saw today. I won't say it's 100 percent. But 'Sags' has been pushing. We wanted to see him, see if there's chemistry there with him and (Harrison)."
Murphy, who came to camp from the Kitchener Rangers (OHL), can play as many as five games before the first year of his entry-level contract would kick in. He's still in camp, but Muller was noncommittal on whether the defenseman -- the Canes' first-round draft pick in 2011 -- would be on the roster on Saturday or be sent back to junior.
"Again, it's going to be a numbers thing," Muller said. "He's a young guy and we love what he brings. Is it the right year to keep him around with the shortened season, (with) little practice time? It's not the typical season, so there's things we've got to weigh in."
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at