Young phenoms may steal show at NHL camps once they’re back from World Cup
The 2016 draft produced a bumper crop of young talent, and now it’s time to see if they are ready to make the jump straight into the National Hockey League.
Rookie camps are over and the main training camps for the league’s 30 clubs open on Thursday, although many will start without players and coaches participating in the World Cup of Hockey in Toronto.
The last possible game at the tournament is Oct. 1, so participants from the two finalist teams may miss several workouts and some pre-season games. Assistant coaches will be in charge for the start of many camps.
When all returns to normal, tough choices will be made both on youngsters and on the many as-yet unsigned veterans attending camps on player — deals.