Chatham-Kent NHLers Back in Action
Ryan Jones of the Edmonton Oilers – CKSN.ca File Photo
The new collective bargaining agreement, which is slated to span 10 years, still needs to be ratified, and details of the season still need to be ironed out, but players are expected to be in camps as soon as Wednesday or Thursday, with the NHL regular season beginning no later than January 20th.
Chatham’s Ryan Jones will return to his Edmonton Oilers, who could be poised for a breakout season as many of their young stars played elsewhere during the lockout, allowing them to enter the year in midseason form. Jones had 17 goals and 16 assists in 79 games last season for the Edmonton Oilers.
After playing his first full season with the Calgary Flames last season, Dresden’s TJ Brodie is expected to have a larger impact on the Flames’ blueline this season. Through 54 games in a Calgary uniform last year, Brodie had 2 goals and 12 assists before his season was prematurely ended due to a concussion. This year, Brodie has stayed in game shape playing for Calgary’s AHL affiliate the Abbotsford Heat. In 34 games with the Heat this season, Brodie has 1 goal and 19 assists.
As a question mark entering NHL training camps this week, it is unknown whether or not Wallaceburg’s Seth Griffith will get his first chance to make the Boston Bruins lineup after he was drafted by the NHL club last year in the 5th round. Griffith is currently leading the OHL in scoring and could be a surprise at camp given the season he is having in the OHL.
As well, other players including goaltender Jason Missiaen could see his role change as organizations shuffle their depth charts and bring players up for the start of the regular season. Missiaen is currently serving as the back up for the New York Rangers AHL affiliate, the Connecticut Whale. Missiaen has also seen time in the ECHL this season after struggling through a few early starts.
Continue to follow the Chatham-Kent Sports Network for more on these stories as NHL training camps begin.