RWC REPORT: Cameron eyes contract

By Matthew Wuest - RedWingsCentral.com / October 13, 2008

Randy Cameron is hoping to benefit from playing on one of the best teams in the Canadian Hockey League in a pivotal contract year.

The 19-year-old center is skating for a third season with the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Moncton Wildcats, who have not lost in regulation (8-0-2) all season and are ranked third in the CHL.

Cameron was selected 148th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2007 draft and must earn a contract by June 1, 2009, or re-enter the draft.

"He had a great summer of training, he showed up in terrific shape, and he's worked hard at his two-step quickness," said Danny Flynn, the Wildcats' head coach and director of hockey operations. "If we're going to get anything done this year, he's going to have to be an important player for us."

The Wildcats were one of the worst teams in the QMJHL last season, and Cameron was thrust into the role of No. 1 center. He wasn't quite ready for the job, nor was he conditioned for the ice time. He finished with a disappointing 12 goals among 39 points in 62 games, but learned plenty along the way.

"I had some issues with my conditioning last year but I feel great on the ice now, I'm stronger and I'm winning more battles," the 5-foot-11, 187-pound Cameron said. "It's a big season for me. It's a contract year and I have to put up some good numbers but also try to play a sound two-way game."

Flynn, a former assistant coach with the New York Islanders, said Cameron has learned the "fitness and strength levels needed to play pro."

Through six games, Cameron has a goal, five assists and 18 shots. He is also winning 63.1 percent of his faceoffs, second in the league.

"This is a very important year for Randy," Flynn said. "He's very focused on having a solid season and earning a contract with Detroit."

Cameron is one of three prospects who the Red Wings will seriously consider signing. Fellow forwards Zack Torquato (Erie, Ontario Hockey League) and Joakim Andersson (Frolunda, Swedish Elite League) are the others. Both have shown more promise than Cameron since being drafted.

"At the end of the day, it's just a game," said Cameron, of his approach. "You go out and you do your best, and hopefully it pays off."

— Defenseman Brendan Smith (Wisconsin, NCAA) got into some hot water off the ice and ended up earning a one-game team suspension for the season-opener. BadgerBeat.com reports that Smith "faces four charges stemming from a Sept. 6 citation, according to court records. Two of them involve driving while under the influence; the other charges were for underage drinking or possession of alcohol and driving with a passenger on a moped."

— The Red Wings sent goaltender Jimmy Howard, forwards Darren Helm and Ville Leino and defenseman Jonathan Ericsson to the American Hockey League this week as part of their final round of roster cuts. Helm, Leino and Ericsson had outstanding training camps and are basically ready for NHL duty, but roster-limit constraints and salary-cap issues forced the Red Wings' hand.

Howard, who missed about a week with a broken fingertip, couldn't win the backup job from Ty Conklin and gets another year in the minors.

— Defenseman Kyle Quincey was placed on waivers this week after not setting himself apart in the NHL pre-season. If he clears, it seems probable he'll end up in the AHL this season, as the Red Wings have three superior options (Leino, Helm and Ericsson) waiting in the wings in Grand Rapids.

The following is an up-to-date statistical report for skaters:

NAME	TEAM	LEAGUE	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
A H L
Justin Abdelkader	Grand Rapids	AHL	1	1	0	1	0
Ville Leino	Grand Rapids	AHL	1	1	0	1	0
Ryan Oulahen	Grand Rapids	AHL	1	1	0	1	0
Darren Helm	Grand Rapids	AHL	1	0	1	1	0
Jakub Kindl	Grand Rapids	AHL	1	0	1	1	0
Logan Pyett	Grand Rapids	AHL	1	0	1	1	0
Mattias Ritola	Grand Rapids	AHL	1	0	1	1	0
Cory Emmerton	Grand Rapids	AHL	1	0	0	0	0
Sergei Kolosov	Grand Rapids	AHL	1	0	0	0	0
Jonathan Ericsson	Grand Rapids	AHL	1	0	0	0	4
Evan McGrath	Grand Rapids	AHL	1	0	0	0	2
Jan Mursak	Grand Rapids	AHL	1	0	0	0	0
Jamie Tardif	Grand Rapids	AHL	1	0	0	0	0
K H L
Gennady Stolyarov	Astana Barys	KHL	5	3	1	4	2
Miroslav Blatak	Salavat Yulaev	KHL	13	1	3	4	2
S W E D E N
Anton Axelsson	Timra	SEL	10	2	3	5	0
Jesper Samuelsson	Timra	SEL	10	2	1	3	4
Dick Axelsson	Djurgarden	SEL	2	0	0	0	0
Joakim Andersson	Frolunda	SEL	10	0	0	0	4
Johan Ryno	AIK	SWE-2	4	1	2	3	2
C H L
Randy Cameron	Moncton	QMJHL	6	1	5	6	6
Brent Raedeke	Edmonton	WHL	8	3	2	5	10
Brian Lashoff	Barrie	OHL	6	0	5	5	5
Zack Torquato	Erie	OHL	7	0	3	3	10
Stephen Johnston	Belleville	OHL	8	0	3	3	10
N C A A
Nick Oslund	St. Cloud State	WCHA	2	1	0	1	2
Brendan Smith	Wisconsin	WCHA	1	0	0	0	6
Nils Backstrom	Alaska-Anchorage	WCHA	2	0	0	0	4
U S H L
Max Nicastro	Chicago	USHL	3	0	3	3	11

The following is an up-to-date statistical report for goaltenders:

NAME	TEAM	LEAGUE	GP	W-L-O	GAA	SPCT
Thomas McCollum	Guelph	OHL	8	6-1-1	2.06	.933
Daniel Larsson	Grand Rapids	AHL	1	0-1-0	3.92	.882

LEAGUE LEGEND: AHL — American Hockey League; KHL — Kontinental Hockey League; SEL — Swedish Elite League; SWE-2 — Swedish second level; SWE-J20 — Swedish under-20 league; -->OHL — Ontario Hockey League; WHL — Western Hockey League; QMJHL — Quebec Major Junior Hockey LeagueCCHA — Central Collegiate Hockey Association-->; WCHA — Western Collegiate Hockey AssociationECAC — East Coast Athletic Conference -->; USHL — United States Hockey League.