Canes general manager Jim Rutherford hasn't come out and fully awarded Jeff Skinner a roster spot for this year, but he has made some strong comments about the team's first-round draft pick.
In an interview last week with the Kitchener (Ont.) Record, Rutherford said this about Skinner, the seventh overall pick of the 2010 draft:
The key word is "probably." But Rutherford, talking Sunday from Traverse City, Mich., didn't hedge or back off on any of his comments about Skinner.
"The roster spot is there for him," Rutherford said. "He has to compete with several other players, but the way he's trained this summer, and with his strength and conditioning work with Gary Roberts, he's very advanced for his age from a strength and conditioning standpoint.
"Everyone knows his skill level. It's a matter of how well he adapts to the tempo of training camp and the games, and it is quite a change from junior hockey. But he's put up a lot of points (in junior) and certainly has a lot of things going for him."
Skinner, who scored 70 goals for the Kitchener Rangers in 84 regular-season and playoff games last year, is competing with the Canes' prospects team in the Traverse City tournament. He did not have a point in the Canes' first two games, a 2-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild and 1-0 win over the New York Rangers.
Rutherford again mentioned that while Skinner was drafted as a center, he could be used on the wing, again comparing him to former Canes standout Jeff O'Neill.
And keep this in mind: Rutherford's comments are similar to those he made before training camp two years ago about Brandon Sutter's chances of gaining a roster spot. Sutter was on the Canes' opening-day roster.
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at
Comments
WAStout, you are one
Tue, 09/14/2010 - 17:02 — Otag1WAStout, you are one negative a**. Why do you bother visiting this website? This a tournament and all the teams have talent on their rosters. Alot depends on what lines, who plays with who, the coaching staff is more interested in watching the palyers individually to see where they are in their developement. They may not necessarily group them to see line results. There is a good article at the Canes website that JR addresses this, you should read it.
http://hurricanes.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=537426&navid=DL|CAR|home
Skinner?
Tue, 09/14/2010 - 09:54 — WAStoutLet me preface this by saying I have never seen Skinner play in person or otherwise...and I am hoping for the best....but....
Our team in the prospects tourney is the lowest in Goals For and near the bottom in SOG.
Where are these offensive-minded prospects everyone has been going on-and-on about?
I'm not seeing it. Literally and Statistically...
Canes Kids Crush Columbus 8 to 1
Wed, 09/15/2010 - 06:33 — abramsdougLast Night the Canes Kids demolished, literally demolished Columbus, 8 to 1. By all accounts the game was even more one-sided than the score. Skinner had four points. Kenney had four points. Dalpe opened the scoring off a great pass from Skinner - per reports (the games were not broadcast). Dalpe had two points, and Staal had two points.
The way they played is how I hope the Canes will play this year - four lines that swarm the puck wave after wave and leave the opponents demoralized and ready to play somebody else. In short, the Canes Kids got accustomed to each other and to the Canes system; and the team reaped the rewards for that effort. As fans, if the Canes can follow the same progression, we'll be thunderously loud in the RBC this year.
I don't even
Wed, 09/15/2010 - 14:56 — Hockeydog... care so much about the teams record this year if we get to see a good number of the young guys doing just what abramsdoug described above. It would be a welcome change from the stiff beginnings we have seen from the mostly aged teams of recent past. Hungry players flying around, scoring goals- making young player mistakes be darned!
Skinner = younger Whitney
Mon, 09/13/2010 - 13:46 — Hockeydad92Skinner = younger Whitney but more physical and with more potential offensive upside.