Training camp notes from day two: Pairings, lines, and groups

Big chance for McIlrath, paired with McDonagh

The second day of training camp is underway, and Alain Vigneault has divided the team into three groups. Each group will partake in their own set of drills, but the construction of each group and line combinations gives us a glimpse into AV’s thought process.

• Group 1 consists of: Dan Girardi, Dylan McIlrath, Brian Gibbons, Tanner Glass, Adam Luke, Jesper Fast, Chris Kreider, Derek Stepan, Dan Boyle, Jayson Megna, Oscar Lindberg, Ryan McDonagh, Dominic Moore, Ryan Bourque, Henrik Lundqvist, Chris Summer, Rick Nash, Travis Oleksuk, Jeff Malcolm, Calle Andersson, Keith Yandle, Petr Zamorsky.
• Group 1’s lines and pairings are certainly interesting:
  • Bourque-Lindberg-Fast; Oleksuk-Moore-Glass; Kreider-Stepan-Nash
    • Lindberg ripped a one-timer past Hank.
  • Yandle-Girardi; McDonagh-McIlrath
• Group 2 consists of: Kevin Klein, J.T. Miller, Kevin Hayes, Derick Brassard, Marc Staal, Viktor Stalberg, Jarret Stoll, Antti Raanta, Raphael Diaz, Mats Zuccarello, Brett Bellemore, Magnus Hellberg, Marek Hrivik, Tommy Hughes, Ryan Graves, Brady Skjei, Adam Tambellini, Kirill Kabanov, Richard Nejezchleb, Mat Bodie, Jayden Hart, Emerson Etem.

• Group 2 lines and pairings:
  • Hrivik-Stoll-Etem; Stalberg-Hayes-Nejezchleb; Zuccarello-Brassard-Miller
  • Staal-Diaz; Klein-Skjei
• AV noted that Nash and Moore were some of the best conditioned players.

AV usually pairs some guys together in camp, especially at forward, to see how they gel. It’s interesting to see some of these lines. There is certainly some excitement and uncertainty regarding the lines and the pairings.

One thing seems certain: Kevin Hayes will be at center, barring injury.