Day 1: Schedule released, Rovers open against Selects

Well, the schedule is out and the Rovers have to wait a while to kick off, but they play a lot once they do. Day 3 marks the season opener and an initial stretch of 4 games in 5 nights. The Selects await in the home opener, followed by a road game against the Sockeyes, back home to host the Wicked Ale and then, strangely, another road matchup with the Sockeyes.

It will be interesting to see the Selects in the Champions division. Two questions must be asked: how will their offense be affected by the loss of Joe Sakic, and will they achieve more balanced scoring now that Hossa and Hejduk must play on separate lines? Zednik/Modin represent two pretty good LWs to play with Hossa/Hejduk, but will they be held back by their centers (probably Linden and Ricci), or will they thrive regardless?

Lines have yet to be submitted for the opener, and questions still abound on the Rover roster about forward chemistry and defensive personnel. Demitra and Murray have always played well together, but would Demitra be a better fit between Korolyuk and Ekman than would Draper? Perhaps Olli Jokinen fits there, though that forces someone (probably a winger like Frolov) to a lower line. There are a lot of skilled pieces here, so it's not a bad problem to have. But extracting the max chemistry will be a test all year.

On defense, rookie John-Michael Liles looked ok through two preseason games and was assumed to be the #6, but free-agent signee Cale Hulse played very well in his two games (and played a lot more) and he may get the nod, allowing Liles to be brought along slowly. With Pronger, Johnsson, and Brewer, the Rovers have guys that bring what Liles brings; perhaps Hulse's physical play is a better match for the current blueline makeup.

The starting goalie also has not been decided. The coaching staff has been instructed to keep Mason to a strict GP limit this year to prevent him from wearing down physically, so perhaps Gerber gets the call in game 1. Decisions can (and likely will) be analysed when the lines are submitted tomorrow.