Early arrivers; numbers news

I stopped in at Prudential Center this morning to check in on some of the players who are taking part in the informal, pre-training camp workouts there. There were 18 players on the ice this morning playing 4-on-4, including goaltender Martin Brodeur, who said he took part in his first skate on Thursday.

"The fact that there's two weeks still to the start of training camp and there's 18 guys here right now -- not all of them are returning guys, but just the numbers -- that's good," captain Jamie Langenbrunner said.

The breakdown of those skating today:

Goalies: Brodeur, Jeff Frazee

Defense: Bryce Salvador, Andy Greene, Colin White, Matt Corrente, Sheldon Brookbank, Tyler Eckford.

Forwards: Langenbrunner, Zach Parise, John Madden, Jay Pandolfo, Rod Pelley, Travis Zajac, Dainius Zubrus, David Clarkson, Vladimir Zharkov, Fedor Fedorov.

***

Zubrus' number has been changed from 16 to 8. That's strong evidence that Bobby Holik will be getting back his old No. 16, though there is no official word on that, yet. Brookbank, who wore No. 8 last season, will wear No. 28, which was previously worn by Brian Rafalski, but remained vacant last season.

Fedorov has been assigned No. 25, which was previously worn by Cam Janssen. It's probably just a coincidence that Fedorov was involved in the only fight during the team's development camp in July.

Corrente was assigned No. 32, Eckford No. 37 and Zharkov No. 48 for training camp. Those numbers would almost certainly be changed if any of them were to make the big club.

There's still no word on whether Brian Rolston will definitely be wearing No. 12. Although Rolston has been listed as No. 12 on the team roster on the Devils' Web site, that was only because the NHL assigned him that number because he wore it last season with Minnesota.

***

The Devils have spruced up their practice rink a little by hanging duplicates of all of their championship banners on the walls.

Comments

[Jillian Tullo]

Awesome! I wonder if Zubrus was asked by Bobby if he could have #16 or if Zubrus did it out of courtesy - if that's even the reason Zubrus changed.
psyched for this season - gonna be a good one

[Peter]

Holik probably had to give Zubrus a case of Wyoming steaks to get his old number back.

[Steve]

Zubs did wear #9 in Washington, but its Zach's now, so he chose 8.

[Tiffany]

"Brookbank, who wore No. 8 last season, will wear No. 28, which was previously worn by Brian Rafalski, but remained vacant last season."

Rachunek wore 28 last season.

[Salvatore from Garfield]

"Corrente was assigned No. 32, Eckford No. 37 and Zharkov No. 48 for training camp. Those numbers would almost certainly be changed if any of them were to make the big club."

Yeah, I don't think any number will be higher than marty's.

Nice catch Tiffany. :]

[FOTC]

Wooooo! Finally some updates! TG, how did Frazee look? ECHL? AHL? Trade bait?

[tyler]

"Brookbank, who wore No. 8 last season, will wear No. 28, which was previously worn by Brian Rafalski, but remained vacant last season."

"Rachunek wore 28 last season."

Yes, good point Tiffany.

However, most would still agree with the original post that stated that number "remained vacant last season"

[Ali-P]

Glad to see all those guys out there skating. Just tells me that the last playoff series stung and the players are looking to get back to work. Thanks TG for the post.

[gunnar stahl]

Actually tg, if you recall karl rachunek wore 28 last year. it must be something with defenseman that are rightie....

[Pat D'Amico]

Thanks for the update TG, how did Eckford look?

[Josh]

"Rachunek wore 28 last season." - exactly, the number was vacant last year.

[Pearl Jammed]

LOL i love all these posts about "number 28 was vacant last year" while they are funny, they are not really true, if anything i would call rachunek a detriment :)

[TG]

Very strange that I've completely forgotten about Rachunek already.

[topshlf]

Zubrus gave back his number 16 jersey? Did he by chance offer to give back any of the $3.4 million he totally did not earn last year?

That's a nice little chunk of salary cap for a guy who couldn't hit the side of a barn last year. I hope he feels he has something to prove. I'd much rather give that money and ice time to a winner like Shanahan than for a Zu-bust.

[Scott Kocienda]

Sure give a Dinosaur who needs a wheelchair to get up the ice and is only worth a pot to pee in during the powerplay 3.4 mill. BRILLIANT!

[Falcone]

I like the guys showing up early. Makes me think there's a burning desire more so than last year.

Fedorov- is this guy big? Is he a big fighter? Meaning will Ruppy be gone? DC and Fedorov could take that role.

What do u guys think are potential opening day lines?

[mikeP]

Rupp and Federov will probably rotate in and out of the lineup this season, and with the way Lou set the roster, there isn't much of an opportunity for any rookie forwards (Bergfors, Vrana, Halischuk) to make the roster, unless they have a dynamite camp, which is the way it should be ( a little competition sure doesn't hurt). The (more) interesting competition is on the blue line, because Corrente and Salmela, and possibly Eckford, are going to get long looks in camp. Lou said after the playoffs finished for us that Mottau should be more of a 6th/7th d-man rather than top 4 like he was this past season (maybe his constant falling over the blueline was a sign?). Brookbank, Greene and the three rookies all have to prove their worth. I foresee these lines:

Elias - Rolston - Gionta
Parise - Zajac - Langenbrunner
Pandolfo - Madden - Zubrus
Rupp/Federov - Holik - Clarkson

Oduya - Martin
White - (Mottau/Greene/Corrente/Brookbank)
Salvador - (Corrente/Salmala/Brookbank/Greene)

Brodeur
Weekes

[joe]

Rachunek had 28 on his back. But tons of NHL forwards knew that as they went flying by him!

[Mr. Jones]

Nice prediction mikeP.

Awful lot of backslashs on the defence maybe?

Out of the backslash crowd I would say Mottau is the only definite. Not that he is so great but he is better than the rest. The forwards are tough. Holik makes too much to be on the 4th line and Rolston isn't really a center although he has beeen at times as has been Zubrus. Its going to be interesting!

[Rob D]

There was a picture on the table of contents in an issue of the The Hockey News in July that showed a Rolston jersey being produced. It had #12. So take that for what it's worth.

[Emily]

Is training camp going to be open to the public this year????

[mikeP]

Mr Jones: the slashes and parentheses were because the "D" spots were open for competition in camp

if it means anything, before NHL Live went off the air for the summer on the NHL network, Don and EJ kept a Rolston #12 Devils jersey in their studio. Not sure if that was being sold in the store or if one of the guys made the jersey up

Rolston played center and wing when he came up with the Devils, but played center primarily for Boston and Colorado, then Minnesota shifted him to wing. Sure, he hasn't played center for a few seasons now, but I'm sure he'll be ok

I believe Mottau would either have to get hurt or be completely aweful to not make the roster this season, so I don't think his spot is in jeapordy

[JoeDevs]

Eckford liks to join the rush and gets involved in the offense. He is a former forward. Hopefully the Devils coaching staff does not make him give up his offensive flare.

[Shari]

I wonder if anyone will get Sarges number this year. For Me it would be strange seeing another Guy in that number, I know it was worn before Him, but He's had it for so long. At least wait a year.

[Devilswede]

No, no one will wear Sarge's number this season..I'm pretty sure. Giving out #18 right away would be really low...even in Devils' standards.