Patrick Roy: Is He Calling the Wrong Shots?

Mikko Rantanen and Jack Skille

Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; Mikko Rantanen poses with team executives after being selected as the number ten overall pick to the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The immediate fate of forwards Mikko Rantanen and Jake Skille was unknown until today. Rantanen was trying to make the team as this year’s draft pick, and Skille was on a professional tryout.

We were all pretty sure both had performed well enough in training camp and the preseason that they had roster spots. I don’t know if all coaches are this way, but Patrick Roy seems to be a big believer in letting certain players earns spots in the preseason. (Nate Guenin a couple years ago, Dennis Everberg last year.)

Assigning Rantanen and Skille roster spots left very little wiggle room once you considered nine spots were already claimed. That left two openings, and only one that could make opening night.

With Winchester on injured reserve, that left three players competing for those two spots — right wings Borna Rendulic and Dennis Everberg and center Mikhail Grigorenko.

The Word of Roy on Rantanen: “He’s been impressive. I like his work ethic. I like the way he is on the ice. He’s strong on the puck. He seems ready to me.”

The Word of Roy on Skille: “I like the energy that Jack has brought to the team. He understands his role. He will play on the fourth line, and he accepts it. It’s good for us.”

Next: Everberg