Canes coach Paul Maurice has talked often this season of how important it was to get a look at a young player called up from Albany (AHL), and of how beneficial it was for the player to get a shot with the big team.
But nine at one time? The Canes will have eight players in the lineup tonight against the Caps who have played in Albany this season. Drayson Bowman will be the eighth, being recalled Wednesday to replace Tuomo Ruutu (goaltender Justin Peters will be Manny Legace's backup).
"I didn't think we would have as many young kids," Maurice said today. "But based on what is a painful situation for us, to have them come in, I think we've gone from pencil to pen for a lineup next year and that's what you hope for.
"It is good to come in for what we feel are still exceptionally important games. I mean, you're still in the fight ... because you never know what's going to happen ahead of you.
"So they come in and I think the other mindset for us is not to bring them in and play them 8 minutes. (Jamie) McBain plays 25, then 28. We've brought these kids in to play and we've seen some really good things from them."
Maurice said it might be more helpful to have the large group of Rats playing together. At today's skate, Maurice had McBain paired with Bryan Rodney and Brett Carson with Jay Harrison on defense -- all callups from the River Rats this season.
"I do think sometimes when the kids get out there together they feel less pressure," Maurice said. "There's a certain familiarity.
"One of the stages you have to get through is when you put a young player with a (Eric) Staal. They spend the whole night trying to get Staal the puck. So you never get to see what kind of player this guy is.
"When they go with other young guys, everybody's in the same boat. You see more of their natural game from them."
The lines today at the morning skate had Staal with Zach Boychuk and Chad LaRose; Brandon Sutter centering Erik Cole and Ray Whitney; Pat Dwyer centering Jussi Jokinen and Bowman; and Rod Brind'Amour with Tom Kostopoulos and Sergei Samsonov.
The top defensive pairing had Joni Pitkanen and Brian Pothier working together. Manny Legace will start in net.
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at 
Comments
Hey Chip
Thu, 03/25/2010 - 15:15 — esteban1949Any idea what the % of the teams stats were before the 7-8 of the them were called up verse when there were none of the rats on board ? Can you find out for us...i think it would be interesting to see. have fun tonight...
The Canes are Good,My Grandkids are Better, and Life is Great !! Go Canes !! ...