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player ready...Summer job: Dirk Graham didn`t take the summer off, as hockey players are expected to do. The Hawks` captain was at the Stadium almost every day. He was rehabbing his cracked left kneecap after surgery in May removed a portion of it that split apart when he played injured in last spring`s playoffs.
His work and persistence have paid off, judging from Graham`s first two preseason appearances. He scored two goals last Friday in the Hawk victory against Vancouver in his debut and added two assists Sunday in the win over St. Louis.
”He`s a special guy,” Keenan said. ”He deserves a lot of credit for coming in every day all summer and getting himself in shape to play.”
Late scramble: With center Mike Hudson out with a sore elbow, Mike Stapleton may get a better chance to convince Keenan in the last week that he belongs. Stapleton played in Sweden last season, and Keenan believes it helped him.
”He`s skating a little bit better,” Keenan said. ”He may make this team on his own accord.”
Stapleton, Mike Eagles and Bob Bassen are competing for the same spot.
”We have one opening there at the max,” Keenan noted. ”They`re not making it easy on us to choose.”