NHL training camps are fast approaching, and for young talent, they provide a chance to show what they've got to the NHL squad, or better yet, nab a spot on the roster. Which young players in the Atlantic Division need a strong camp showing this year?
NHL training camps are just around the corner. That means we get to see how the young players around the league have grown and developed, which prospects surprise in camp and how many veterans have slowed down just a bit as they get toward the latter stages of their careers.
The Atlantic Division is full of players with important camps ahead of them. Now is the perfect time to look at a young player on each team that is heading into camp with something to prove or that is looking to earn a spot on the NHL club.
Boston Bruins: Matthew Poitras, C
After earning a spot with the Bruins in training camp last year and then playing important minutes for them early in the season. Poitras helped fill out the team’s center depth after they lost franchise icons Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci last off-season and although he wasn’t either of those players, he did a great job of contributing at both ends of the ice.
Unfortunately, after a bit of a disappointing performance when he was lent to Team Canada at the World Junior Championship, Poitras returned to the Bruins lineup and suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in January. With a five-month recovery time, he was able to get a mostly healthy summer of training in preparation for what he and the Bruins hope is a big sophomore season, building on the 15 points in 33 games he had last year.
Buffalo Sabres: Zach Benson, LW
There were four players from the 2023 NHL draft class to play in the NHL full-time last season. The top three picks (Connor Bedard, Leo Carlsson, and Adam Fantilli) all made their squads but none of them played more games in the NHL last season than Zach Benson, the 13th overall pick. Only Connor Bedard scored more than Benson on the season. Needless to say, the Sabres were ecstatic with stealing Benson outside of the top ten and immediately inserting him into their lineup.
With a full NHL season under his belt, Benson could be in line to take a big step forward offensively this season. His tactical intelligence and cerebral playmaking have always been the strength of his game and now that he’s had a year to see what will and won’t work at the NHL level, he should be able to take a step toward earning a role in the team’s top six.
Detroit Red Wings: Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, RW
The Red Wings have several players that easily fit into this category. You could look at the blueline where Simon Edvinsson is all but assured a spot in the lineup. Albert Johansson is a low-ceiling defensive prospect who has shown to be a reliable defensive presence and he is no longer waiver-exempt, so does he earn a role on their crowded blueline? Up front, Carter Mazur is looking to find a role in the middle six while recent first-round picks, Nate Danielson and Marco Kasper, are looking to make good impressions in hopes of getting some NHL playing time.
The most interesting player at Wings camp is a player who may not actually have much of a shot at making the team this year in Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, the 15th overall pick in the 2024 NHL draft. He plays a smart, powerful game and he has a number of NHL-ready tools but he is still a long shot to make this team. The winger is going to get a good look at what areas of his game need to take a step forward before heading back to Sweden for the season and that could set him up for his first North American season next year.
Florida Panthers: Spencer Knight, G
Although his rookie year came in 2021-22, Spencer Knight is looking to restart his NHL journey after spending last season in the AHL with the Charlotte Checkers. He was working his way back from being in the NHL Players’ Assistance Program to help him with OCD after entering mid-season during his sophomore season.
Although the team brought in Chris Driedger, Knight will be given every opportunity to reclaim his role on the Panthers. Should the 23-year-old make the NHL roster once again, he could be in line for an excellent season, forming one of the NHL’s best tandems alongside Sergei Bobrovsky as the Panthers look to repeat as champions.
Montreal Canadiens: David Reinbacher, D
The Canadiens took some notable steps last season even if they still finished near the bottom of the league in the standings. The rise of their incredibly young blueline will be a focus once again this season and there will be two players in training camp that are going to be the focal point of the group – Lane Hutson and David Reinbacher.
We saw what Hutson looked like in the NHL in a brief two-game stint toward the end of last season. Although we saw Reinbacher play in some AHL games, it will be fun to see him at NHL training camp to see where his game is at compared to the other young defenders on the team. Reinbacher plays the right side, where David Savard and Justin Barron are slotted into the lineup, along with left-shot Kaiden Guhle on the top pair. Although Reinbacher may not have much of a chance to make the NHL roster on day one, getting a taste and going back to the AHL will be great for his development, especially if Savard gets moved at the trade deadline and they have a hole on the right side.
Ottawa Senators: Tyler Kleven, D
The Ottawa Senators have had young players routinely enter the lineup over the last few years and the name that everyone should be watching this year is Tyler Kleven on the back end. He’s seen a few NHL games in each of the last two seasons but this could be the year where the hulking blueliner takes a full-time role with the Sens.
Kleven is a massive defender who doesn’t bring much offensively but he brings a physical presence that is absolutely punishing. He skates fairly well and seeks out hits like a missile. As long as the Sens don’t try and play him too much or elevate him in the lineup beyond a depth role, Kleven could become a fan favorite overnight. Sens fans love rough-and-tumble hockey and Kleven is going to provide exactly that.
Tampa Bay Lightning: Conor Geekie, C
The Lightning haven’t had many high-end prospects in recent years but with the trade of Mikhail Sergachev that brought back Conor Geekie, Tampa could be injecting some impactful youth into the lineup. There is no guarantee that Geekie will make the Lightning roster but they could use him with the departure of former captain Steven Stamkos among others.
Geekie has put up some massive numbers at the WHL level in recent years. His skating has always been his biggest flaw, lacking the speed and agility that is required to be a lethal NHLer. With that said, Tampa has always found a way to work with players and play them to their strengths so Geekie could be in the perfect situation to be his best self.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Nick Robertson, LW
This was a weird off-season for Robertson. It started with a trade request that ended up going nowhere. He went unsigned until a few days ago when he settled on a one-year deal worth $875,000. Even with the new deal, there have been reports that he could still be on the move. With most teams around the league having fairly set rosters or likely looking to their own young players to grab a spot, that might not make a ton of sense.
What hasn’t been as widely discussed is the clear opportunity that the Leafs have for Robertson in the middle six on the left wing. Robertson has proven that he can be a fairly steady goal scorer in limited minutes. If he can win a spot on the second or third line, he could reasonably put up roughly 25 goals and earn himself a much bigger deal next off-season with Toronto or elsewhere. What he does in training camp will be one of the most intriguing things Leafs fans should be watching.
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