[SLake]

Alright, just got back from practice and this explains a few things and really seals the deal for me on our roster.

Blum has zero confidence right now and is honestly going through camp as if he doesn't believe he belongs there. Maybe it was being the centerpiece of trade rumors for the past two weeks or maybe it is just the speed of the game. I don't know what the reason is, but the one thing that is clear is that he needs to go to Milwaukee and play quality minutes there in a learning environment. Now before people get me confused...he is by no means a bust and still has a very bright future ahead. He just has to get his feet back underneath himself.

Franson hasn't been that impressive in camp and by breaking his nose fighting, he has lost his shot at making the team out of camp IMO.

Laakso has been our fourth best defender (Suter, Weber, Hamhuis, Laakso, then Klein) thus far in camp and IMO has made the roster unless he totally falls apart this week.

Sulzer hasn't looked as sharp as he was last season and that has been a disappointment, but he appeared to simplify his game in the second half of the game against Atlanta and play reasonably well, although not what he has shown before. Sulzer has a one-way deal this year, so I really don't see him getting sent down, but rather kept as the No. 6/7 defenseman to start the year with Bouillon fighting him for ice time.

Yonkman today seriously looked like someone with a major chip on his shoulder and was playing a very mean game out on the ice. I was honestly expecting Nolan to start another fight today. He just looked very upset and I was originally thinking that it was because he only got one exhibition game this week, but obviously it was due to the fact that Bouillon was in for a physical and that all, but slammed his distant hope of taking that No. 7 spot in Nashville.

Colin Wilson watched practice in street clothes (8 players didn't skate today) and about halfway through the second half of practice (10 AM to around 11:45 today) a short tanned looking guy with black hair started standing next to him...obviously...it was in fact Francois Bouillon watching practice...

Solid addition, rounds out the d-core, and allows guys to develop at their own pace rather than being forced into roles they aren't ready for yet.

Pairings today were:
Suter - Weber
Hamhuis - Klein
Ellis - Laakso
Yonkman - Blum

Sulzer and Franson did not practice today...