[Cali Panthers Fan]

My thoughts on how this will shake out:
Green=almost assuredly safe and on the opening day roster
Orange=in contention for one of the last few spots
Red=has a shot at a roster spot, but is a long shot
Purple=outside extreme long shot at the roster, but still has a chance
Bold=almost assuredly cut due to injury status or extreme lack of talent
So here's who's left:

Forwards (18):
Raymond (injured)
Monahan
Hudler
Gaudreau
Backlund (injured)
Colborne
Glencross
Stajan
Jones (injured)
Bollig
Bouma
McGrattan
Byron
Setoguchi
Bennett
Baertschi
Reinhart
Ferland
Granlund (injured)
Knight
Poirier (injured)
Klimchuk (injured)
Arnold
Elson
Jooris

Defence (9):
Giordano
Brodie
Smid
Wideman
Russell
Engelland
Brookbank (try-out)
Diaz (try-out)
Yonkman (try-out)
Wotherspoon (injured)
Potter (injured)
Kulak
Sieloff
Cundari
Culkin
Ramage
Acolatse

Goalies (3)
Hiller
Ramo
Ortio

I've upgraded Jooris from red to orange due to his 2 goal game last night. I think he's really impressed at camp and might actually be one of the guys who makes this team. I am no longer skeptical that he will start the year with the Flames. IMO, he has just as good a chance as Baertschi, Bennett, Jones, and Setoguchi. Bennett stays as long as Backlund is hurt, so he might get a few games to start the year. I think the other 4 are battling for spots and Jones gets his by default of being injured.

I think Gaudreau should make the team opening night, but you know that it will still be a difficult decision for management to give him a spot. I think even if he starts on the farm he'll only be down there for a few weeks before getting recalled. He'll play pretty close to a full year in the NHL. But I think he's all but locked up his spot on the team unless management sees it differently than just about everyone else.

The defense is set IMO, Potter and Wotherspoon will begin the year on the injured reserve and likely both are sent down for conditioning once they are healthy. I think Diaz has earned the 7th man spot for now and will be battling those 2 for it the rest of the year, but he'll get first crack at it.

Here's my opening day roster if nobody gets healthy:

Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler
Baertschi-Colborne-Byron
Glencross-Stajan-Jooris
Bouma-Bennett-McGrattan
Extras: Bollig, Setoguchi

Giordano-Brodie
Russell-Engelland
Smid-Wideman
Extra: Diaz

Ramo-Hiller

Injured reserve: Raymond, Jones, Backlund, Granlund, Potter, Wotherspoon