Training Camp Day 1: Reading in to the line combinations (even if we shouldn’t)

by Erik Erlendsson | @Erik_Erlendsson | Like us on Facebook
September 15, 2017

BRANDON – Don’t read in to the first day of camp. Don’t read in to the first day of camp. Don’t read in to the first day of camp.

Let’s read in to the first day of camp, because where is the fun in not reading into the line combinations, defensive pairings and group settings on the first day.

Who did Steven Stamkos line up with? What position is Brayden Point lined up at? Who played with who in the first scrimmage?.

Let’s break it down as best we can.

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The first thing that jumps out is that Stamkos is in a group with Nikita Kucherov and Vladislav Namestnikov. The trio were a line last season and showed tremendous chemistry before Stamkos went down with a knee injury on Nov. 15. While lines are always a fluid situation, it would not be a surprise to see these three lined up at center ice together when the puck drops for the season opener on Oct. 6.

Head coach Jon Cooper all but indicated that on Friday, even as he suggested not reading in to any of the line combinations.

”When you get to camps like this and it’s the beginning of camp, you have to put guys in to groups,’’ Cooper said. “I’m not sitting here saying those guys are going to be playing together, but Stammer hasn’t played in nine months. He finished his year having some really good chemistry with Kuch and Vladdy so you want guys to feel comfortable so it’s better to put him out there with guys he’s played with before. Exhibition games, we’ll see how things play out, but you like to put some guys with guys they are comfortable with and that’s what happened today.’’

Point, meanwhile, is a natural center, that’s where he finished the season last year and thrived when Tampa Bay was without Tyler Johnson and Stamkos. And one of the big questions entering camp was where would Point play, at center or wing. Early indication is, he will play on the wing after he lined up during the initial scrimmage of camp at right wing with Ondrej Palat and Johnson.

Cooper, again, tried to caution against reading too much in to where players are lined up in the early stages of camp or the early exhibition games.

”At this point we have 63 players here, guys are going to be playing in different positions, testing guys out in different situations,’’ Cooper said. “Pointer is a guy who, if he’s proven one thing with us, he can play everywhere. He pretty much did it all last year except play goal and it’s good to have guys like that.

“Pointer played at least half the year at wing, he’s comfortable with it, you are going to see him that at practice at sometimes but not necessarily in the exhibition games are you always going to see Pointer on wing.’’

In the scrimmage game, Team Lecavalier defeated Team St. Louis 1-0 on a goal by Carter Verhaeghe. The scrimmage started with 5-on-5 play, followed by 4-on-4 and then finishing up at 3-on-3.

The line combinations for Team St. Louis were: Palat-Johnson-Point; Alex Killorn-Yanni Gourde-Cory Conacher; Taylor Raddysh-Mitchell Stephens-Adam Erne; Gabriel Dumont-Cedric Paquette-Michael Bournival. The defensive pairings were Victor Hedman-Jamie McBain; Slater Koekkoek-Andrej Sustr and Dominik Masin-Ben Thomas.

Team Lecavalier saw the line combinations juggled around, but here’s what I was able to gather: Christopher Paquette-Cameron Darcy-Brian Hart; Alex Gallant-Kevin Lynch-Kevin Hancock; Shane Conacher-Hancock-Lynch; Hart-Boris Katchouk-Alexey Lipanov; Verhaeghe-Darcy-Alexandre Volkov. The defensive pairings Oleg Sosunov-Erik Cernak; Reid McNeil-Matt Spencer; Mat Bodie-Dan Walcott.

Team Andreychuk took part in an extended practice session.

WELCOME TO FLORIDA: New Tampa Bay D Dan Girardi was settling in just fine to his new surroundings and then he was greeted rather rudely by an unwelcome guest – Hurricane Irma.

As the storm started to put Florida in its projected path, Girardi wasted little time in getting out of town.

”We were going really good, the kids were in school and everything was going well,’’ Girardi said. “Fortunately we were very lucky that we didn’t get hit too bad, a couple of branches down and our power was out for a little bit, but there is a lot worse going on and I feel really bad for those people. I’m glad we can help out in any way we can.

“Leaving for a week was a little tough, being back in Canada it didn’t even feel like camp was getting ready to start, but I was able to skate. We came back Wednesday, able to take care of a few things and then just jump in to everything.’’

Girardi found out the rarity of dealing with a hurricane in the Tampa Bay area.

”Talking to my daughter’s teacher, who has been on Davis Islands for 30 years, this was only the second time she had to evacuate,’’ Girardi said. “Then the first three weeks that I’m here, we have to evacuate. But luckily everyone was safe and that’s what really matters.’’

FIRST DAY ON THE ICE: There were a lot of noticeable heavy breathing moments on the ice as the team went through the first day of on-ice practices. Which is right on par for what to expect on the first day of practice.

”I thought it was really good, it wasn’t easy today,’’ Cooper said. “One of the things we talked about coming in to camp, especially since we didn’t get to have this type of camp last year, was from day one it’s game on. That’s the way the guys approached it today, that’s the way the coaching staff approached it with the players. So it was a good first day.’’

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