James Reimer has no intention of coming to training camp with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a backup goaltender.

Reimer joined The Jeff Blair Show on Sportsnet's Fan 590 radio station in Toronto on Monday to talk about the two-year, $4.6 million contract he signed recently and said he expects to compete with Jonathan Bernier for the starting job.

"I was told there's a definite opportunity," Reimer said. "That's the mindset I'm coming in with, to really take advantage of the opportunity that's been given and earn the No. 1 spot."

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- After scoring 34 goals in the 2014 calendar year, including 10 in the playoffs and four in six Memorial Cup games for the champion Edmonton Oil Kings, Edgars Kulda's draft stock was reportedly on the rise.

His goal and two assists in the championship-game win against the Guelph Storm capped a Memorial Cup MVP performance for the 19-year-old Latvian left wing, and all those late-round draft projections were soon adjusted to third- and fourth-round. Some predicted he could go as high as the second round.

But a funny thing happened on the way to the podium.

NEWARK, N.J. -- The New Jersey Devils wasted no time introducing first-round pick John Quenneville to the rigors of professional hockey.

In a puck-possession drill that opened a morning session at development camp, the No. 30 pick in the 2014 NHL Draft went 1-on-1 against 2012 first-round choice Stefan Matteau, who spent last season with the Albany Devils of the American Hockey League.

"He has shown talent and has size to him; he reminds me of me in my first year," Matteau, a No. 29 pick, said. "He's a good player and will be an NHL player for sure."

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Despite being the middle of summer, the Carolina Hurricanes locker room is buzzing with an unusual kind of hockey energy. The players there, for the most part, are not ready for the NHL, draft picks and camp invitees finishing their first day of prospect development camp. They are wide-eyed and enthusiastic, hustling to get ready for a team dinner.

But just outside the dressing area two players clearly are on another wavelength. They are holding court with Hurricanes general manager Ron Francis, who gives the two young men his undivided attention. The scene looks a bit unusual: Two teenage players driving the conversation with a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.

The two up-and-comers are brothers Mike Chiasson and Ryan Chiasson. They earned their invitations to camp, just as they did their audience with Francis. Yet if there is the sense Francis is giving extra care to these two players in particular, it's because he is.

WILMINGTON, Mass. -- It's a challenge for any athlete to live up to the reputation forged by a father who's excelled at sports' highest level.

For Boston Bruins prospect Ryan Donato, the challenges don't end there.

Boston's second-round pick (No. 56) in the 2014 NHL Draft, Donato attended Bruins development camp at Ristuccia Arena and has to follow in the footsteps of his father, Ted Donato, who played in 796 NHL games, including more than 500 with the Bruins.

Not only is Ryan competing for the same organization that drafted his father in the fifth round (No. 98) of the 1987 draft, but the Massachusetts native was raised in the area and last season attended the Dexter School in Brookline, Mass.

It all adds up to some mighty high expectations for the 18-year-old.

Brad Richards

Center - CHI

GOALS: 20 | ASST: 31 | PTS: 51
SOG: 259 | +/-: -8

But idolizing Eddie Belfour, Richards wanted it to be at another position.

"I always wanted to be a goalie, but my dad, Glen, would never let me," Richards told Blackhawks team historian Bob Verdi in an interview on their website published Friday.

"He played goalie a bit himself, but he wouldn’t have it. I liked all the equipment, the gear, and whenever he wasn’t around, I was a goalie in street hockey. But he wouldn’t allow it, and I cried my eyes out when he said no."

Logan Couture

Center - SJS

GOALS: 23 | ASST: 31 | PTS: 54
SOG: 233 | +/-: 21

Logan Couture's right hand and psyche still bear the scars of the San Jose Sharks' loss to the Los Angeles Kings in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

His hand was injured during the series in a fight with Kings center Mike Richards. He's recovered slowly but expects to be OK by training camp. Recovering emotionally from surrendering a 3-0 series lead against the Kings could take a bit longer.

"I just think about how much it hurts," he said Thursday at the Smashfest charity pingpong event in Toronto, according to The Canadian Press. "The feelings aren't going to go away, probably never. It's just something that sticks with you for a long time."

Arizona Coyotes coach Dave Tippett has no intention of seeing his club miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs for a third straight season. He's optimistic the four veterans acquired by general manager Don Maloney will help.

The Coyotes added veteran forwards Sam Gagner and B.J. Crombeen in a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning on June 29, then signed goaltender Devan Dubnyk and forward Joe Vitale as free agents. Gagner is expected to center one of the top two lines, and Vitale and Crombeen will battle for bottom-six roles. Dubnyk is expected to back up starter Mike Smith.

Arizona is trying to end a two-year absence from the playoffs after finishing two points behind the Dallas Stars for the final wild card in the Western Conference last season.

Dan Boyle signed with the New York Rangers as a free agent, which means not only does Martin St. Louis get to reunite with a former teammate who can fill a void on defense, it gives his dad, Normand, a needed bit of friendship too.

"[Dan's] parents are really close to my parents," Martin St. Louis told Jim Cerny of BlueshirtsUnited.com in a lengthy interview published Thursday. "I think my dad was really excited to have some close friends come on the team, I guess. Obviously with what he's gone through, I think that's going to help him tremendously this next year to have these close friends to him close.

"All in all, I think it's a really exciting time."

Martin's mom and Normand's wife, France, died at age 63 on May 8, during the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Her funeral was held May 18, the day between Games 1 and 2 of the Eastern Conference Final.

SAN JOSE -- San Jose Sharks general manager Doug Wilson repeatedly has talked this offseason about his plan to rebuild the team around its younger players.

Mirco Mueller, a 19-year-old defenseman from Switzerland, heard Wilson's message loud and clear.

"When Doug Wilson says he trusts in younger players and he wants to build on our age group, that gives you a lot of motivation and confidence that you really have a shot to make the team," Mueller said during Sharks development camp this month.