The Checkers took the ice this morning for their first post-trade deadline practice, with two of the recent acquisitions joining the team for the first time this year.
One was a familiar face in Charlotte, as Dennis Robertson donned the Checkers logo for the second time in his young career. As a rookie with the Checkers last season, Robertson worked his way from a healthy extra to a mainstay on the blue line as the year progressed, finishing the campaign as the second-highest scoring defenseman on the team. Then came the offseason, which saw the young blue liner shipped off to Chicago as a part of the trade that landed Carolina Kris Versteeg.
Robertson stepped into the IceHogs’ lineup but saw his point total drop, recording 5 points (2g, 3a) in 37 games before returning to the Carolina organization Monday in exchange for goalie Drew MacIntyre.
Coming back to where he enjoyed some success last season should be a solid spark for Robertson, and the relationships he has in Charlotte should help ease the transition back.
“I have to believe that his familiarity with the organization and with [assistant coach] Geordie Kinnear will help him bring some strong, consistent play right away,” said head coach Mark Morris.
The need for another body on the blue line comes from Carolina’s recent recall of Ryan Murphy. With Justin Faulk out for the Hurricanes, there’s no telling how long Murphy will remain in the NHL (or if he’ll return at all), so Robertson jumping in can help bring some stability to a defensive corps that has relied heavily on their top-end defensemen.
“He can help shoulder some of the minutes that other guys have put in,” said Morris. “He’ll be a welcome addition.”
Robertson’s time with the Central Division-leading IceHogs, however brief it was, was good experience for the young skater and instilled new things that he can carry with him to his new club.
“We had a really great team and a lot of older veteran players and a great coaching staff so I learned a lot,” said Robertson. “Just having a different perspective is good. I feel like I can bring a lot back to the organization here.”
The addition of Robertson gives the Checkers some flexibility on their back end with eight defensemen on their roster without Murphy. Robertson should be a solid option to plug in on the blue line with his two-way style of play, but possibly even more important is the impact he can have on the team chemistry.
“The fact that he’s a character guy and someone who is a core guy helps to keep the team on an even keel,” said Morris. “It’ll be great for the locker room too.”
He was quickly given a warm welcome back, with the relationships he has with his old teammates helping to ease the transition of changing teams midseason.
“It’s never easy to switch teams and move your whole life, but this is good,” said Robertson. “Right away when I got traded the guys were texting me saying they were excited to have me back. It’s a great locker room here.”
The other trade deadline acquisition taking the ice this morning was Anthony Camara, who headed over from Boston as a part of the John-Michael Liles trade.
A third-round pick in 2011, Camara spent his first two and a half pro seasons in the AHL with Providence before joining the Checkers on Monday. Unlike Robertson, Camara is a fairly unknown commodity to the Checkers, having spent his career in the Eastern Conference. Morris’ Manchester Monarch’s faced Camara’s Bruins in 2013-14, but the head coach is using these first few practices to acclimate himself with the winger.
“I really don’t know him much, but today in practice, I noticed that he’s a strong guy and he’s got good skating ability and can shoot the puck,” said Morris. “Obviously I haven’t seen him think the game, but from what I gather, he’s a guy who’s capable of scoring goals as well as bringing that physical element.”
While his numbers have been down over the last two seasons, Camara has shown a scoring flair with a 22-point rookie campaign following a 60-point year in junior.
Still, the six-foot, 192 pound forward points to something else as the main thing he brings to the table.
“My physicality,” said Camara of his biggest asset. “I’m a big guy, I can get in there and get my nose dirty. I take the puck to the net and I like to shoot. I stand up for teammates. I have a strong, simple game and I want to grow from that.”
While the Checkers added some depth to their defensive corps, the team remains thin up front, with Camara helping to patch up some holes. With Derek Ryan and Brock McGinn both in Carolina on a recall, the Checkers will have to shuffle things around with their forward lines and Camara should have a chance to jump right into action.
“The guys are fighting for a playoff spot right now so I just want to do whatever I can to help with that so we can make a run,” said Camara.
One thing Camara and Robertson will both have to get acclimated to is a new coach. They haven’t spent much time with him, but today’s practice, combined with some insight from their teammates has given them a positive outlook.
“They’re saying that he’s good,” said Robertson. “He works them hard and it shows. We’re right on the cusp of a playoff spot, so hopefully with his guidance I can become a better player and we can make that push.”
“He’s definitely a smart guy and knows what he’s talking about,” said Camara. “He said he’s fair but very firm. That’s a great attribute to have as a coach. I’m going to go out there and work and be the best I can.”
Absent from the skate were the other two additions – John Muse, who is on his way from Texas and should be back in Charlotte in the next few days, and Valentin Zykov, the young Russian prospect who Morris has some familiarity with.
“He was pretty young, but the times that I was on the bench during exhibition games or on the ice at development camps and such he impressed me,” said Morris, who was Los Angeles’ AHL coach when Zykov was drafted.
Zykov has been a highly-touted prospect for some time now, and he had some success during the first half of his rookie year with Ontario this season, notching seven goals and 14 points.
“He’s a hard-working guy, good skater, strong on the puck,” said Morris. “He’s a kid with some creativity. He’s not big in stature, but he’s thick. From what I gather he’s a pretty quiet guy, but he’s serious about his career and I’m hopeful that once he’s ready to go we can utilize his skill and add to our depth.”
The bad news for the Checkers is that Zykov may not be able to join them this season. Injured just prior to his trade, the prognosis for his return is uncertain.
“I’ve heard everything from two weeks to six weeks,” said Morris when asked if he had any insight as to how much longer Zykov will be out. “I think he just got operated on a couple days ago. I always kind of hinge on the side of caution. If six weeks is it, I don’t know how much of him we’ll see. But hopefully he heals quickly and we’re able to utilize his skill set and his talent to try and get into the playoffs.”
