With Jordan Staal (leg) out indefinitely, Rask's chances of cracking the Hurricanes' opening night roster could get a boost, Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer reports.

With Jordan Staal (leg) out indefinitely, Rask's chances of cracking the Hurricanes' Opening Night roster could get a boost, Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer reports.

Analysis:

After shining for the Hurricanes during the recent prospects tournament in Traverse City, Mich., Rask has carried over those successes to training camp, making a strong impression on new coach Bill Peters and his staff. The 21-year-old is coming off a quality first professional season for AHL Charlotte, with whom he tallied 16 goals and 23 assists over 76 games. It would still be wise to temper expectations for Rask if he manages to earn a roster spot, since he likely wouldn't be in line for a huge allotment of minutes in his first taste of NHL action.