Specifically, will kid defenseman Harrison Brunicke make the team?
There are plenty of reasons to think he might.
For one, the promising 6’3”, 202-pounder nearly made the cut as an 18-year-old last season. Returned instead to his junior team, the Kamloops Blazers, the smooth-skating rearguard continued to hone the skills that may ultimately make him a steal as a 44th overall pick.
No, his boxcars weren’t brilliant, a fairly modest five goals and 30 points in 41 games for a weak Blazers squad. However, Brunicke’s maturity and overall play earned him a late-season promotion to the Baby Pens.