news bits: Habs, Leafs, Blues, Isles, Thrashers

[fzusher]

Habs PP news

Looks like the Habs are trying Kovalev on the point in PP. That should open up an extra forward spot on PP and relegate one of Hamrlik and Markov to 2nd PP.

Leafs news

Looks like tiny Tim Stapleton has forced himself into roster contention in camp; he\'ll get looks on scoring lines over the next two games, as will Kulemin and Dale Mitchell.

Blues news

Berglund will be tried out with Kariya. D Jonas Junland has been turning heads in camp.

Isles News

DiPietro\'s still healing from hip surgery, and had a minor meniscus surgery early June, so he probably won\'t play in exhibition games and may miss the season opener

More Isles news

One of the decisions Gordon is looking to make in camp is whether to carry a full-time or part-time enforcer. Mitch Fritz, Joel Rechlicz and Brandon Sugden are competing for the spot.

Thrashers news

Kozlov will miss the first few exhibition games to ensure he starts the season fully healed from shoulder and knee surgeries in the summer. He says his knee is fully recovered, and the shoulder is getting there. He will play in the later exhibition games. Apparently he played through on-and-off knee pain all of last year, after an MRI last summer found nothing wrong with his knee, despite the discomfort he was feeling with it.

[VintageVibe]

Thanks for the update fz. Nice to see some of these young guys getting their chances to play on the top lines with top players (cough*berlgund+kariya*cough).

[Anze]

Markov is a lock for the 1st PP, on the left side, he\'s the set-up guy. They must be trying Kovalev on the right point where Streit was playing ( and Souray the year before ). That would still open a forward spot if Kovy stays on the point.

[starglider]

Not sure if that bit about the Habs says much. That was just speculation that Kovalev might get a shot on the point on the PP (indeed, he might). There\'s no word from the team thus far that that will be the case.