Sutter sent a bunch of kids home yesterday, in what was the first culling of the 08/09 training camp:
JUNIORS(CHL):
Keith Aulie (LD) Brandon/WHL
Lance Bouma (LW) Vancouver/WHL
TJ Brodie (LD) Saginaw/OHL
Ryley Grantham (LW) Moose Jaw/WHL
Greg Nemisz (RW) Windsor/OHL
Mitch Wahl (C) Spokane/WHL
SWEDEN: Per Jonsson (LD) Farjestads/SWE
Five of these guys were 08 draft picks, so there was little chance of them sticking around for pre-season action anyways.
More significantly, Keith Aulie and Per Jonsson going away this early is bad news for both prospects. Aulie has already played 3 years in the WHL and Jonsson is a 20 year-old player with some pro experience under his belt. The fact that these guys didn't even last till the end of prospects camp (let alone into main camp) can't be a good signal.
On the other hand, it looks like John Negrin will make it into main camp for the 2nd pre-season in a row. Keep in mind, Sutter also called up Negrin as a "black ace" for the big team during the play-offs in April. This is very obviously a kid that management is high on and it wouldn't surprise me to see him make the team next year as a 20 year-old (once the org loses the Aucoin/Eriksson/Warrener contracts).
