Overview
- GM Bill Armstrong confirmed Friday that Caleb Desnoyers and Tij Iginla are day-to-day with injuries and will not attend Utah’s rookie camp but are expected to join the Mammoth for the main training camp.
- Desnoyers is recovering from a leg injury suffered in early August after a collision at the World Junior Summer Showcase and will sit out on-ice rookie games while participating in off-ice work.
- Iginla’s current setback was not detailed in reporting, but his recent history of hip surgeries and a 41-goal, 90-point season in the WHL make his short-term health a key concern for the club.
- Rookie-camp on-ice sessions and the three Rookie Faceoff games in San Jose will go ahead, with Utah’s Sunday matchup versus the San Jose prospects singled out as a key test for the players who remain.
- The absences create a clearer path for other prospects to take leadership roles and earn early evaluation minutes, and they reduce immediate pressure to rush two top picks into preseason play so the team can manage their recoveries.