might fit. And now they know there’s a possibility they can make the team if they play well.

“That’s what these (preseason) games are going to be. … We’re going to have an opportunity to see how they perform in a game setting. The scrimmages are important … but it is an intrasquad scrimmage. The next step up is how they’ll perform against another team.

“So I think they like the chance we have given them. It’s a fair opportunity for all.”

Does winger Alexandre Fortin have a chance to make the team, or is he likely headed back to juniors?

“He’s a great story. We brought him to our camp this summer and we were impressed with how he played. … But sometimes you have to take that with a grain of salt (because) it’s summer hockey.

“So we brought him to our rookie camp in Traverse City and he continued to play well. And then you bring him here and he just continues to play at that same level, so then you start to feel like it’s not a fluke. This guy’s got something.

“We’re going to give him a chance to play and we’ll see how it looks and where it goes.”

Will the guys who played in the World Cup be more ready for opening night?

“Normally those guys sort of ramp up slower to the beginning of the season. … We saw them all play at a pretty high level over the past couple weeks and they should be in great form by the time we start the season. … They will be sharp, and I think that’s the upside.

“There’s always the risk of injury, but the other side is these guys get to play against the best players in the world and from a confidence standpoint you can feel good about your game knowing you can compete on that stage.”