CAMP AT A GLANCE
	Brathwaite will compete with old Flame, Mike Vernon.
	Coach: Don Hay '99-00 record: 31-41-10 Camp location: Saddledome (Calgary, Alberta) Report date: Sept. 9 Preseason schedule: Sept. 14: at Montreal Sept. 17: at Toronto Sept. 18: at Ottawa Sept. 22: Toronto Sept. 24: Ottawa Sept. 26: Montreal Sept. 29: at Edmonton Sept. 30: Edmonton

After missing the playoffs last spring for the fourth consecutive season, ownership had enough and brought the broom out, firing both general manager Al Coates and head coach Brian Sutter. To give you a better idea of just how desperate the times are these days around Calgary, consider that prior to this four-year drought, the Flames had missed the playoffs just once (1992) in 16 seasons since moving from Atlanta back in 1980-81.

In training camp, new coach Don Hay must mold a large group of young forwards. You could do worse than players like Valeri Bure, Jarome Iginla, Marc Savard and Andrei Nazarov. But the problem in Calgary will be a lack of depth. Adding to that is a lack of experience. Last season, the Flames used 42 different players in their lineup last season -- 12 were rookies.

Here's a look at the rest of Calgary's training camp.

Biggest question: Anyone on D?
Veteran Phil Housley leads a group of defensemen, many of whom don't have a lot of experience: Derek Morris, Robyn Regehr, Denis Gauthier and Wade Belak. There are a few vets sprinkled in the mix -- Dallas Eakins, Darryl Shannon, Brad Werenka, Tommy Albelin and Bobby Dollas -- but the Flames need to work the kids into the lineup.

Biggest position battle: Defense and goalie
When you have a team that has missed the playoffs each of the last four seasons, no position is safe. But in training camp, the blueline will be the most competitive place. Housley is as dependable as it gets, but how much more production can the Flames expect out of the 36-year-old?

Morris surprised a lot of people last season with nine goals and 38 points. Darryl Shannon and Brad Werenka can also provide a spark now and then. But after those four, six players will battle it out for the final three slots: Regehr, Gauthier, Belak, Darrel Scoville, Steve Smith and Dallas Eakins.

Goalie Mike Vernon returns to the city where he won the Cup for the first time in 1989, but that doesn't mean he's being handed the starting job. The veteran will battle it out with Fred Brathwaite in camp. Vernon appeared in a combined 49 games last season with San Jose and Florida, going 24-18-3. Brathwaite, meanwhile, played well on a lousy Calgary club last season, going 25-25-7 with a 2.75 GAA.

Future watch
Here, ESPN.com looks at one or two young players who could make an impact, either now or in the future.

Rico Fata (Center):
Fata was selected sixth overall in the 1998 Entry Draft, and the punchless Flames didn't waste time with his development, giving him NHL exposure right away. The 5-foot-11, 202-pound Ontario native got his first taste of the NHL as an 18-year-old during the '98-99 season, notching just one assist in 20 contests. He came back and played in just two games last season. Fata once scored 43 goals in the OHL. Even if he was rushed to the NHL, Fata will get another long look this season.

Oleg Saprykin (Center):
Saprykin came out of the Russian Elite League and played great in his first season playing hockey in North America. In 66 games for Seattle (WHL) in '98-99, the center scored 47 goals in just 66 games. Based on that performance, Calgary made him its first pick (11th overall) in the 1999 Entry Draft. The Flames gave Saprykin a four-game tryout last season, and he has a good chance to crack the lineup for good if he has a good camp. He does, however, need to add bulk to his 6-foot, 187-pound frame.

Training camp roster
Goaltenders: Craig Andersson, Fred Brathwaite, Martin Brochu, Tyrone Garner, Brad Guzda, Brent Krahn, Dany Sabourin, Levente Szuper, Mike Vernon.

Defensemen: Tommy Albelin, Wade Davis, Micki Dupont, Dallas Eakins, Kurtis Foster, Denis Gauthier, Phil Housley, Toni Lydman, Mike Martin, Steve Montador, Derek Morris, Robyn Regehr, Dimitri Riabykin, Chris St. Croix, Darrel Scoville, Steve Smith, Mike Vellinga, Derrick Walser, Brad Werenka.

Left wings: Niklas Andersson, Jason Botterill, Jeff Cowan, Miika Elomo, Quinton Laing, Bill Lindsay, Dave Lowry, Travis Moen, Andrei Nazarov, Warren Peters, Dave Roche, Oleg Saprykin, Blair Stayzer, Cory Stillman.

Centers: Steve Begin, Blair Betts, Marc Bureau, Kenny Corupe, Mathieu Cusson, Benoit Gratton, Marty Murray, Cory Pecker, Marc Savard, Jeff Shantz, Jarrett Stoll, Daniel Tkaczuk, Jason Wiemer, Clarke Wilm.

Right wings: Valeri Bure, Chris Clark, Rico Fata, Jarome Iginla, Ronald Petrovicky, Shaun Sutter, Sergei Varlamov.

Charles Avellino is a lead NHL researcher at ESPN.