But it's off the ice where things started for Quenneville this year. His off-season training leading him to arrive at camp in the best shape he has been in, something not only he has noticed in himself, but something the coaching staff has taken notice to as well.
"I think probably my skating," Quenneville added when asked where he's seen the most improvement. "I think I have maybe, two, three or four steps more than I did last year. I feel really quick, and the speed changes all parts of my game. I've got more time with the puck, and when I have more speed, I have more chances. That's just the way it goes."
"He's certainly come back in better shape," Hynes said. You can see that in his physical demeanor, his test results in the physical testing, that's one of the first steps for him to become a full-time NHL player. John has done a good job of that, when you see him practice now his attention to detail is much better than what it was last year. We're seeing the concepts that we want him to play with, the intensity level that he needed to practice with at this level to develop into a full-time player."
For Lappin, he says he's ready to take the next step in his career. While he played 43 games in the NHL during the 2016-17 NHL season, he spent the better part of last season with the Binghamton Devils. Now, it's about proving he deserves that chance at the NHL level.
"It's good knowing that there are spots available," Lappin said. "I think that I'm ready to take the next step here and help the Devils in an 82 game schedule and get back to the playoffs. Lappin said he worked on his skating this off-season as a way to take his game to the next level.
The coaching staff can see the difference through five days of training camp.