Downtown Trains Are Full - Morning Links (9/19)
Saturday kicked off the Blackhawks Training Camp Festival with practices and two fifty-minute scrimmages, in which Duncan Keith played like he was saving orphaned children from mustachioed villains and Nick Leddy showed several very reassuring flashes. The relatively solid play of Ray Emery and Alexander Salak also had my house breathing a little easier. However, a couple days of camp practices are hardly sufficient to judge future performance, whether it be Duncan "Rested" Keith, or Rostislav Olesz, who was. . .well, he was.
The pre-season match against Edmonton on Tuesday should shine a little more light on the strengths and weaknesses of this group, but until then, no reason for pessimism. It's a new season. Let's Go Hawks.
- Patrick Sharp looks to be back by opening night. [Chicago Tribune]
- Olesz isn't going anywhere, at least for the foreseeable future. [CSNChicago] [Sun-Times]
- Pierre LeBrun's camp tour checks in with Duncan Keith, presses the "rested" theory. [ESPN]
- Then interviews Corey Crawford, who refuses to have a sophomore slump. [ESPN]
- TTMI has a wrap of Saturday. [Third Man In]
- Jeremy Morin took the ice on Sunday and seems to be healing. [ESPNChicago] [CSNChicago]
- Sami Lepisto loves Chicago; Dan Carcillo is frustrated with his play, does what he does. [Chicago Tribune]
- Patrick Kane scrimmages, scores two. [Sun-Times] [Trib]
- Ray Emery's ready to battle for the back-up spot. [Sun Times] [Trib]
- Marian Hossa should get into town on Tuesday after attending services for Pavol Demitra. He and his wife also recently had a baby. [CSNChicago]
- Some of the best pictures from Saturday and Sunday here, including Alexander Salak's mask. [Trib] [Hockey Broad's Flickr]
