1) Prediction: The Checkers will make the playoffs and be a contender for the Calder Cup this season. Last year will be a distant memory soon enough.
2) Current SVP of Hockey Operations for the Checkers and long-time ECHL Checkers head coach and general manager, Derek Wilkinson, got a promotion this summer and will now be helping coach practices. During his time as head coach/GM, he never missed the playoffs and in his final season, Charlotte was the regular-season conference champion. It took a tremendous amount of hard work but the next stage in his career begins now and the team will be better for it.
3) The one characteristic we hear often about new head coach Mark Morris is his energy. He is passionate about making his players better and is absolutely determined to make the Checkers a playoff contender again. To his comfort, the roster this year gives him a great opportunity to do that.4) This Saturday night will be the first of 76 regular-season broadcasts. The pregame show begins 15 minutes prior to every puck drop. You can click the "Listen Live" tab on the team home page or watch the games on AHLLIVE.com. Also, download the TuneIn Radio App to listen to games on your phone by searching for the Charlotte Checkers on ESPN. For our first game, we have an interview with Checkers owner Michael Kahn and we will interview coach Morris as well.
5) Raffi Torres' suspension was 41 games for the intentional hit to the head of Jakob Silfverberg. This is the fifth and most significant suspension in Torres' career. NHL general managers shouldn't sign a player that endangers the health of other players. Torres should never play another game in the NHL.
6) Everyone is thinking about Jack Eichel and Connor McDavid as possible Calder Trophy winners. My guess, the Detroit Red Wings center and Waterford, Michigan, native, Dylan Larkin.
7) Anyone else notice how many kids from Michigan are on the Checkers' roster currently? T.J. Hensick, Patrick Brown, Jake Chelios, Ryan Rashid, David Wohlberg. That's five players from the greatest state in the Union. How can we lose?
8) I think it's proper that I send my thanks and appreciation to former Checkers head coach, Jeff Daniels, who continues to work for the Hurricanes as a pro scout this season. JD is a phenomenal head coach who took this team to within one series of the finals. He has coached numerous prospects to NHL careers and is a wealth of hockey knowledge. I'm certain he will be behind the bench again in the future. Plus, he drove me to and from the airport all the time. I will miss that most of all.
9) Justin Shugg finished last season with 21 goals to lead the team. It's very likely he ends up with over 30 this year.
10) There are several current Checkers who are in a crucial year in their development. The competition for call-ups to Carolina has never been this intense. As a result of the internal competition, we should expect the Checkers to reap the rewards of their hard work.
Bonus Eastern Conference Winner: Detroit Red Wings Western Conference Winner: Los Angeles Kings Stanley Cup Winner: Red Wings Conn Smythe: Pavel Datsyuk
