"I think with the young players, they want to know that they're going to be counted on in key situations, that they're going to be an important part of the team," Ruff said. "As a coach, it's going to be my job to help develop that and put them in that position to help succeed and at the same time be very demanding of how we need to play as a team to be successful."

One of the other factors at play is the uncertainty of when farm teams will be able to resume play. While the NHL is set to start in mid-January, it's not as clear a path forward for the AHL and ECHL, the latter of which has already had a number of teams opt out of the upcoming season. The lack of places to put prospects to allow them to continue to develop might force some teams to give longer looks at the NHL level.Tennessee Titans for NHL Face Masks

That foundation includes centers Nico Hischier, selected No. 1 in the 2017 NHL Draft, and Jack Hughes, the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft.

The Gasol brothers were traded for each other in 2008, when the Memphis Grizzlies swapped the elder Gasol to the Lakers for a package -- widely derided at the time -- that included Marc, who was then playing overseas.

NHL’s older coaches debate wearing masks, taking precautionsMiami Dolphins for NHL Face Masks

The Canes have another week of training camp — Phase 3 of the NHL’s Return to Play plan — before leaving for Toronto to enter the protective “bubble” for Phase 4 and the postseason competition.

Blackwood, who turns 24 on Dec. 9, emerged after Cory Schneider struggled at the start of last season (0-6-1, 4.65 GAA, .852 save percentage in nine games) and was assigned to Binghamton of the American Hockey League on two occasions. Schneider is an unrestricted free agent.