Skinner not with Charlotte as AHL team opens camp

Carolina Hurricanes center Jeff Skinner was not with the Charlotte Checkers when the AHL affiliate opened training camp on Friday.

Checkers coach Jeff Daniels told the Hurricanes' website that Skinner -- who was assigned to Charlotte on Sept. 15 -- is not expected to be with the team when it holds its first on-ice session on Saturday.

"He's still back in the Toronto area, training," Daniels said. "He has the team's consent, and we'll see where things go from here."

Though the Hurricanes officially assigned Skinner to Charlotte along with 27 other players, the move only served to guarantee Skinner’s AHL eligibility.

"If [the work stoppage] drags on and he decides he wants to play some games, Charlotte will be an option for him," Daniels said.