Veteran jobs not secured

There’s a more enthusiastic feeling in the Colorado Avalanche camp this year. For the first time in three seasons, there are real opportunities for some rookies to make the team. That, in turn, has given the veterans a bit of a push. Some of them know, if they don’t watch out, they could lose their job to a youngster, making this year’s camp very spirited. New coach Bob Hartley has let it be known nobody’s job is guaranteed (well, not unless your name is Forsberg, Sakic or Roy). Job openings Fourth-line center. Rookie Chris Drury may be the top candidate to fill the hole on the fourth fine. Also needed are a big defenseman to replace Uwe Krupp and a heavyweight enforcer. As long as Sandis Ozolinsh keeps holding out, the Avs will…

NHL TEAM DEPTH CHARTS

DOUBLE DECADE

ALL three were bom within a scant four weeks of each other-one in Alberta, one in Ontario and one in Quebec. All three burst onto the NHL scene at precisely the same time. All three, playing with and against each other, established themselves as pre-eminent players in the game. All three were the standard-bearers for Canadian dominance in international hockey. And now, all three are set to make history of sorts by walking lock step into their 20th NHL season. What are the odds of that? Pretty good if you’re talking about Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier and Ray Bourque. It doesn’t get much better than that, does it? Perhaps only if this hockey trinity all decided to continue playing for the same number of years, retire at the same time and walk together forever…

Road show gets high marks as players bond in Ontario

Sometimes what you do off the ice means as much as when you’re on it. That’s the thinking behind the Philadelphia Flyers’ decision to take their training camp on the road, to Peterborough, Ont., this year. In addition to practising together, the Flyers participated in a volleyball tournament, played golf and took part in several team dinners. Reviews of the experiment were universally good. Almost to a man, the Flyers said it was a success. Captain Eric Lindros did his part by coming in for camp in the best shape of his career. He won the most-fit Flyer award, which was presented at a team luncheon. Here’s a brief look at other camp developments: Job opening No. 1 right winger. Mike Maneluk, last year’s scoring sensation in the Calder Cup playoffs, began the pre-season…