With their training camp kicking off tomorrow, the Checkers have announced seven additions to the roster.
Forwards Phil Di Giuseppe, Sergey Tolchinsky, Brendan Woods and Brody Sutter, as well as defenseman Trevor Carrick and goalie Drew MacIntyre, arrive from NHL camp with the Hurricanes, while longtime Checker Jared Staal will join on a tryout basis.
Six of the seven players spent last season with Charlotte, including four of the Checkers’ top seven scorers. MacIntyre, who is expected to hold down the starting job for Charlotte this season will have to clear waivers to join the Checkers, as will Sutter. Both will be officially on the Charlotte roster at noon Tuesday, barring any other NHL teams claiming them in the meantime.
The lone new face in this round of assignments is Tolchinsky, who is set to begin his pro career with Charlotte after dazzling in prospect camp earlier this offseason.
Staal, who has logged 255 AHL games with Charlotte, is one of three players invited to Checkers camp. The free agent logged a career high in goals and points last season with Charlotte. The younger brother of Carolina’s Eric and Jordan Staal, the 25-year-old is one of just five players to play at least one game in each of the Checkers five AHL seasons.
With two preseason games left on the Hurricanes’ slate, there are still several players on two-way contracts battling for an opening night roster spot. Brock McGinn is the lone player left who spent the majority of last season with the Checkers and is pushing for an NHL job. The second-year player notched a goal in Carolina’s win yesterday over Ottawa and has continued to garner more looks from the NHL staff. Last season we saw rookie Patrick Brown impress coaches and earn a spot on the NHL roster out of the gate and it looks as if McGinn might have a shot at replicating that.
Rookie blue liners Brett Pesce and Jaccob Slavin are also still fighting for a spot on the Hurricanes. Each have shown some offensive prowess throughout camp and the preseason, earning themselves the right to more time with the big club. Fellow newcomer Derek Ryan, preparing for his first season in North America, also appears to have caught some eyes with his play. After leading the Swedish Hockey League in scoring and being named their MVP last season, it should be no surprise that his talents have intrigued the Hurricanes.
Joakim Nordstrom, Noah Hanifin and Ryan Murphy are the other two-way contracts still in NHL camp who could theoretically begin the season in Charlotte, though they seem to be better bets to make the Hurricanes. Still, however, Murphy and Hanifin can each move back and forth without having to pass through waivers, giving Carolina options.
The Hurricanes and Checkers both kick off their respective 2015-16 campaigns on Oct. 10.
