Training Camp Opportunities

We've already seen plenty of injury cases at training camp and to some key players too with the likes of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Claude Giroux, Pavel Datsyuk, Chris Kunitz, Derek Stepan, Josh Harding, Jordan Staal, Nathan Horton, Tyler Bozak and Jonathan Drouin going down.

Most of them have uncertain timetables, while others are expected to miss the start of the regular season.

Stay up to date on Rotoworld's Injury Report.

There are also still some important restricted free agents who are still waiting for contracts, with Ryan Johansen, Torey Krug, Jaden Schwartz, Reilly Smith and Cody Eakin in the mix.

Injuries at training camp are commonplace and often times the ailment shouldn't be considered a factor until the regular season is about to begin. However, absences at training camp by means of injury or a contract holdout can present other players with an opportunity to shine.

Sign up for some fantasy hockey over at Yahoo and make sure to get a copy of Rotoworld's Draft Guide.

Also don't forget, for everything NHL, check out Rotoworld's up to the minute coverage on Player News, as well as follow @Rotoworld_HK and @CoreAbbott on Twitter.

These replacements could experience some increased value heading into the year if the individual they are filling in for stays away for an extended period of time. Here are some players who are worth keeping an eye on:

Darcy Kuemper (MIN) - G - The Wild responded quickly to the news that Josh Harding would be out of action for two-to-three months because of a fractured foot. Minnesota invited Ilya Bryzgalov to training camp on a professional tryout and they signed Kuemper to a two-year deal worth an average annual value of 1.25 million. The 24-year-old netminder played well in his rookie season, posting a 12-8-4 record to go with a 2.43 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage. He has a legitimate shot to be Minnesota's starting goalie on opening night over Niklas Backstrom and Bryzgalov should the latter get an NHL contract from the Wild. Look for Kuemper as a late-round pickup in your drafts.

Dougie Hamilton (BOS) - D - Hamilton is probably primed to take significant steps forward this season, but the absence of Torey Krug could help that along. Hamilton may end up getting some increased power-play time if negotiations hit a snag with Krug, who remains an unsigned restricted free agent. However, it should be noted that the Bruins will likely have their cap issues settled before the start of the season and Krug's contract will be a top priority once that happens. In all likelihood he'll be there on opening night, but if something goes wrong then Hamilton will prove to be another excellent option. His offensive game will see improvement this year after he displayed plenty of poise and dynamic ability from the back end during the playoffs. The 21-year-old blueliner deserves to have a spot on your fantasy roster this year.

Boone Jenner (CBJ) - C, LW - Jenner lined up as a winger during his rookie year in Columbus. He produced 16 goals, 29 points and 212 hits in 72 games last season. Jenner also stepped up his game during the postseason when he posted three goals and five points in six contests. He played most of minutes at five-on-five alongside Ryan Johansen. Johansen's contract holdout has been nasty at times and there's a real possibility that he won't be available for opening night. If that happens then Jenner could be an option to play center for the Blue Jackets. He started the preseason in his natural position, but was forced to leave the game with an undisclosed injury that is believed to be minor. Jenner is slated to be among Columbus' top-six forwards this year and as a center he could help out fantasy owners in the faceoff circle as well. If Johansen isn't around, the Jackets could also move Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov and Mark Letestu up a line.

Alexander Wennberg (CBJ) - C - Columbus is expected to be missing at least one key player when the regular season begins and that's Nathan Horton. The former Bruins winger has a back injury that has been lingering for most of the summer and he's out indefinitely as a result. His absence will open up a roster spot for Wennberg, Brian Gibbons, Jerry D'Amigo or Simon Hjalmarsson. Wennberg, who was the 14th overall pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, has performed well in the preseason. He's a versatile forward who can play on one of the Jackets' top two lines or as a bottom-six forward, so it's worth keeping an eye on where he ends up.

Elias Lindholm (CAR) - C - Expectations were already higher for Lindholm going into his sophomore season. Now that Jordan Staal will be sidelined for the next three-to-four months, Lindholm could step into Carolina's vacated second-line center position. Staal will undergo surgery to repair a fractured fibula in his right leg and the Hurricanes put Lindholm between Jeff Skinner and Jiri Tlusty during Wednesday's exhibition game against the Islanders. He has a great deal of upside and is bound to improve from the nine goals and 21 points in 58 games he accounted for in 2013-14.

Stephen Weiss (DET) - C - Weiss had a disastrous season with the Detroit Red Wings in 2013-14. He missed most of the year with an ongoing groin problem, which eventually required sports hernia surgery. Weiss began training camp on a line with Gustav Nyquist and Justin Abdelkader. However, his linemates might change because Pavel Datsyuk sustained a second degree shoulder separation, which will keep him on the shelf for the next four-to-five weeks. Henrik Zetterberg and Weiss could start the season as Detroit's top two centers, while Riley Sheahan may see an increased role as well. A healthy Weiss will be given every opportunity to succeed this year and with Datsyuk out his ice time should get a boost.

Kevin Hayes (NYR) - C - Hayes entered training camp with the mindset that he could crack New York's roster because of the off-season departures of Brad Richards, Benoit Pouliot, Brian Boyle and Derek Dorsett. Derek Stepan's fractured fibula will open up another slot. The Rangers will probably move Derick Brassard into their top-line pivot job, which leaves Hayes, J.T. Miller and Dominic Moore in contention to play on their second combination. Hayes has skated as a center since the beginning of camp and he knows the position even though he played his last two years of college as a right winger. The 22-year-old forward was a star for Boston College last campaign and he's displayed some promise during camp. Hayes stands a very good chance of starting the year with the Rangers and there is an opportunity there for placement on a scoring line.

Travis Morin (DAL) - C - Morin is expected to get more playing time with the Dallas Stars this season after he spent most of the 2013-14 campaign in the minors. The Stars anticipate using him much more frequently as an AHL call up, but there's also a chance that he could start the year with the big club because of Rich Pevereley's heart issue and Cody Eakin's unresolved contract. Morin was named the MVP of the AHL playoffs and of the regular season last year. The 30-year-old pivot might see time on the third or fourth line as an NHLer and he is capable of chipping in offensively. You shouldn't go out of your way to draft him, but he could be intriguing to monitor if he manages to stay with Dallas.