One day of Team Canada Orientation Camp is in the books at the Pengrowth Saddledome, with 2 more on-ice sessions and a red-white scrimmage still to come.  Some pretty cool trends coming out of the first day at camp, including a potential first line come February and some pretty impressive performances.  But, at the same time, you have to balance it all with the fact that this is just an orientation camp…but still, day 1 was pretty cool

I’m not going to lie, I thought I was a kid in a candy store on Monday night.  I was having a very hard time containing my inner 5-year-old…you know, “oh man, that’s Sidney Crosby!”  and “wow, Vinny Lecavalier!”.  But eventually, I got my faculties back and was able to watch like an adult.  However, the first line combinataion that stuck out for everyone at the Dome may make the most mature of all hockey fans a little giddy.  The coaching staff was running drills with Sidney Crosby, Rick Nash and Jarome Iginla playing on a constant practice line.  Gotta be honest, late August or not, they looked pretty stellar and already the buzz is “can you imagine those 3 in Vancouver?”  Obviously, it’s no sure thing…they may not be together for the rest of camp for all we know, but seeing those 3 jerseys sitting beside eachother was pretty neat.  But when skating together, you could tell there was potential there.

Watching Scott Niedermayer in a practice situation is always a genuine treat.  The guy is just so effortless to watch, and glides at the speed of most guys in full stride…but if you’re reading this, you already knew that.  He was one of a few players that Head Coach Mike Babcock called upon to lead a group stretch (Iginla was also one of them), and it got me to thinking.  Niedermayer has played in the last 3 major international tournaments for Team Canada, so clearly he has the experience angle…but watching the guy, I think I’ve come around to the notion that this guy has got to be on the team in February.  He has the leadership ability and all those intangible things, sure…but on the ice, he’s still able to lead a rush as good as anyone on the planet.  That’s something that Steve Yzerman is looking for…more I think about it, more I believe Niedermayer will be and should be on this team.

Brent Burns and Shae Weber both had some impressive spurts on Monday night.  Burns is such a fluid skater, which again, suits Yzerman’s vision fairly well, we’re lead to believe.  There was one drill where Burns took a bad pass, kicked the puck to his stick and, all in one motion, wired a shot glove on Brodeur.  I thought he stood out early, same with Weber who is just such a great combo of size and skill.  Boom and I kept turning to eachother and using the term “beast” and “monster” when watching Weber…he’s huge.  But he’s got a great wrist shot, and an unreal slap shot…he was fun to watch.

In net, Brodeur is always a blast to watch…he robbed Shane Doan on a breakaway, flashing his patented glove and drawing a reaction from the entire group on the ice.  Marc-Andre Fleury is interesting…as Dean pointed out, he’s not one of those perfect position guys, but his reflexes are lightning quick and he showed that numerous times.  Cam Ward didn’t suit up with back pain, an injury that affected him at times last season.

Highlight was a Crosby breakaway…faked the hell out of Brodeur with skate and head fakes, and eventually put it wide side.  Dany Heatley is a stud on the ice…we may not all like his off-ice posturing as of late, but the guy is unreal in person.  It’s very noticeable just how high caliber the talent is right now.  Passes are ALWAYS tape to tape, and more often than not threading through a few skates and sticks too.  If you can swing it, it’s certainly worth it to make your way down to the Red-White scrimmage on Thursday night at 7 pm.

I won’t be able to attend on Tuesday and Wednesady, but I’ll be posting pictures from Thursday’s scrimmage.  Tons of pictures right now already uploaded…follow me on Twitter, www.twitter.com/Steinberg960.

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