Jordan Hendry Invited to Camp: Why Should We Care?

Why do we care?

Make the jump, if you need a hockey in August fix for the day.

Who is Jordan Hendry?If you read all of the announcements, posts, tweets, and other discussion, Hendry is a Stanley Cup winning, stay-at-home defenseman with some grit and an NHL level game. If you actually look at the stats (no, not his Corsi), Hendry is a dime-a-dozen, low priced, potential AHL level player with a mid grade game and the ability to stick on a Stanley Cup winning team due to salary cap issues.

Why is This a Big Deal?

To be honest, I'm not sure. He does have NHL experience, and has some decent enough numbers in his college and AHL career. Fourteen points and 74 PIMs in his final season at University of Alaska-Fairbanks, and 16 points and 84 PIMs for Norfolk in 2006-07 are his top seasons. He certainly isn't burning it up on his way to Norris trophy contention, but he seems to be a serviceable d-man. 

He did play defensive partner to Nick "The Savior" Leddy for a stretch, so maybe that's where the excitement is stemming from.

The Bitter End

There are plenty of reasons to be excited about the Wild, and their season, plenty of players to watch and story lines to follow. No offense to the guy, but Jordan Hendry is not likely to be one of them.

Of course, this is another situation where I would absolutely love to be proven wrong. Here's hoping Hendry comes into camp hungry and fighting for a spot, giving some real competition to the guys penciled into the lineup card. Perhaps he even stakes a claim on a spot in Houston.

Other than the fact that this involves the Wild, it still doesn't seem to be something that should be making the rounds the way it has been. Good luck in camp, Mr. Hendry.

Forty days, folks. Forty days.