Hitchcock suggested we keep a close eye on players in the lineup for both Monday and Tuesday's games.
Among those players who are getting back-to-back looks from the coaching staff, and who would be considered bubble players, are Remi Elie, Roope Hintz and Gemel Smith -- all forwards. Jason Dickinson did not play Monday but draws back into the lineup Tuesday and the natural center will likely again play on the wing where the remaining roster spots offensively exist.
Curiously, R.J. Umberger is not in the Tuesday lineup after playing his best game on Monday night. As a player without a contract, who is in camp on a tryout basis, it's hard to see how Umberger fits for the final roster but every day he's still here is a good day for the veteran NHLer looking to make a comeback after missing all of last year with injury.
"Obviously he's made a good account of himself and he's gotten better and better," Hitchcock said.
Hintz has been playing center throughout camp, so in spite of strong play and ongoing praise from Hitchcock, there really seems to be no place for him in Dallas to start the season. Likewise, Elie and Smith appear destined to start the season in the American Hockey League in spite of impressive play. Part of this is simple economics and will play into final decisions made by GM Jim Nill and his staff.
If players like Dickinson et al. can be sent to the minors without fear of losing them on waivers, and paying them an AHL salary as opposed to an NHL salary, that's what happens.
"If the guys are the same then obviously the one-way stays and the two-way goes down. That's just the economics of the game," Hitchcock said. "What's been good for us and difficult for Jim is that some of the younger guys who can go down have been pushing the older guys who have contracts so that's what competition is about, that's what's taken place here."