Three Free Agent Try-outs Confirmed

Last week Bruce MacLeod, posted that the Wings would be inviting a handful of veteran defensemen to training camp as free agent try-outs. Specifically mentioned was the rumor that Brent Sopel (formerly of Vancouver, the NY Islanders, Los Angeles, and Vancouver again) would be one of them.

Today, MacLeod confirms that rumor. Three of the invitees are Sopel, Jassen Cullimore, and Aaron Downey.

Over at Abel to Yzerman, Bill posits that Sopel wouldn’t be invited if he weren’t promised a roster spot. Sopel would likely be one of the Wings’ top four defensemen, also taking time on the power play. With a top four of Nick Lidstrom, Brian Rafalski, Niklas Kronwall and Brent Sopel, it would look like Andreas Lilja is the odd-man out.

That’s easier said than done, of course.