Top Line: Canada's Junior camp opens, Ottawa still coping with post-Alfie era
Connor McDavid could become just the sixth 16-year-old to represent Canada at the World Juniors. (Getty Images)
By Sarah Kwak
An annotated guide to this morning’s short list of must-read hockey stories:
• Canada's Junior National team evaluation camp has gotten underway, and Lightning prospect Jonathan Drouin, the third overall pick last June, is sitting out with a sore foot, but all eyes are on teen phenom Connor McDavid, who would be just the sixth 16-year-old to rep Canada at the World Juniors, if he is selected.
• In Ottawa, the Senators are still coping with life without Daniel Alfredsson. Something tells me this will go on for quite a while.
• The Under-18 Select Team USA is out in Slovakia for the Ivan Hlinka Tournament. Follow along @USAHockeyScores.
• A heartwarming story about the power of generosity and how Theo Fleury helped some little girls in Minnesota get to play hockey this year and years to come.
• Remember this scary hit? Canadiens forward Lars Eller doesn't, but he has spent his summer healthy, fit and determined to be even better than he was in last year's breakout season.
• Another former Devil Alex Ponikarovsky joins Ilya Kovalchuk, signing with SKA St. Petersburg on a two-year deal.
• Chris Chelios signs on with Fox Sports 1 as an Olympic and NHL analyst.
• Flyers coach Peter Laviolette is preparing for a very busy year. Named an Olympic assistant for Team USA, he also has to revive Philadelphia after a subpar season.
• Guy Carbonneau was back behind a bench, coaching the Canadian side for the Maccabiah Games (a/k/a the Jewish Olympics), and came out of Israel with gold.
• The Coyotes sale is supposed to go through officially today. And on NHL.com, Phoenix is the next team featured on the ongoing 30-in-30 series.
• The Detroit Free Press's Helene St. James has been taking a deep look at the Red Wings roster this off-season. Her entries on defenseman Jonathan Ericsson, veteran forward Johan Franzen and backup goalie Jonas Gustavsson.
• The Buffalo Sabres couldn't buy a d-zone stop last season. Literally?
• "Ten years later, Chad LaRose exits the scene as quietly as he entered it. His contract with the Hurricanes expired June 30. He didn’t show up for his end-of-season exit interview, according to Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford. He has not been reachable through multiple phone or text messages this summer."
• One year after Nashville re-signed Shea Weber, still looking worth it?