Canes' training camp to be smaller

The Canes will have a different kind of September this year, with a smaller preseason training camp and fewer exhibition games.

A year ago, the Hurricanes had 59 players attend training camp and played six preseason games. This year, general manager Jim Rutherford said there would be roughly 40-to-44 players in camp. The preseason schedule has the Canes playing four exhibition games.

"It will be easier to watch and evaluate players with that (smaller) number in camp," Rutherford said. 

Rutherford said five players probably would be invited from the rookie team the Hurricanes will enter in the rookie tournament in Traverse City, Mich., early next month. He said he had received calls from other players hoping to get tryouts in training camp, but said no decisions had been made.

Of the four preseason games, Rutherford said it was a "more workable number."

"Ideally, five would be a good number," he said. "But it's hard to get a team to play an odd game. All want a home-and-home arrangement.

"But four is a good number. The top prospects can play three or four and the veteran players two or three."

The Canes will play the Atlanta Thrashers and Nashville Predators in preseason games. The preseason opener is Sept. 18 against Nashville at the RBC Center.