Game Book: Projecting a lineup for 1st exhibition game...

              ....which is Thursday against the Devs at MSG.

              NHL rules require that each team must dress a minimum of eight players with NHL experience, and my guess is that won't be a problem. I expect most of the stars to sit, although Henrik Lundqvist might play half the game in goal at home, perhaps with Chad Johnson as backup, and then skip the road trips to Detroit and Ottawa.

               IMO, on defense, the two tryouts, Alexei Semenov and Garnet Exelby  will dress, perhaps Matt Gilroy and Steve Eminger and Mike Sauer, and probably Ryan McDonagh.  Pavel Valentenko also could be there in place of one of the above.

              Will the coaches subject Wade Redden, who just looks troubled by his situation, to abuse from many corners of  the home crowd? Don't think so.

               Continuing with my fearless forecast (nod to Steve Somers) I believe at least three of the four centers who are competing for jobs, if not all four, will dress: Todd White, Tim Kennedy, Derek Stepan and Brian Boyle.

               I think Sean Avery, Evgeny Grachev, Ruslan Fedotenko and Dane Byers will be the left wings. On the right side, fans will probably get their first live glimpse of Mats Zuccarello Aasen, Dale Weise, maybe Brandon Prust and Jeremy Williams.  Maybe a couple of other Hartford guys from last season get a look. We'll know for sure tomorrow, and see how far I am off the mark....Just speculating after all, not coaching.

             Your thoughts?

             And my last reminders of the day: Live chat tomorrow at 1 pm. Climb aboard.

             And don't miss all the real-time coverage at twitter.com/stevezipay, if you need the latest flashes and the occasional clever turn of phrase.

             Final tip: If you're craving for some live games, Devs/Flyers tonight on NHL Network...I'll be tuning, maybe from the porch on one of the final nights before autumn begins to pull us away...