Rookie camp for future NHL players used to involve an exhausting amount of drills and repetitive practice time over a few days. Actual game-type situations were an afterthought.
That’s gradually evolved into the inaugural rookie tournament that the Kings and Ducks, with four other NHL organizations, are part of in Las Vegas. It runs through Tuesday.
They are glorified scrimmages, mostly for players who are years away from the NHL, and aren’t played in NHL venues (this year’s tournament is at City National Arena, and next year the Ducks will host the event in Irvine). But it’s still a competitive atmosphere.