With NHL training camps set to open in just a few weeks, gatherings like this week’s 2023 BioSteel NHL Camp in Halifax, N.S. are an opportunity for some of the top players in hockey to shed their offseason rust — and gather some intel.

“I love coming to camps like this,” said Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar. “It’s fun watching all these guys up close, in person, and seeing what they do in practice, whether it’s just a 2-on-2 drill or a 2-on-1. Seeing some of the little tendencies that guys have that make them unique, I find really cool to be able to just come to this camp and basically find out.”

Fellow defener Ryan Graves, a former teammate in Colorado, says that cerebral approach has been a part of Makar’s special skillset from the moment he first joined the Avalanche in the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs.

“What you see with Cale is his skating, but he’s a very cerebral player,” said Graves of the 2022 Norris Trophy winner. “He sees the game so well and he anticipates things defensively, offensively — on both sides of it.

“It’s kind of what makes him an elite player, because a lot of guys that are great skaters are not elite players. He’s kind of got the whole package, and what he’s grown into — I mean, when he first stepped in, he was an elite player. But what he's grown to so quickly is honestly amazing.”

As a native of Yarmouth, N.S., about three hours away from Halifax, second-time BioSteel NHL Camp participant Graves appreciated the excitement that the event brought to his home province, even though on-ice sessions were not open to the public.

“I know the community's really buzzing with just having these guys around,” he said. “To skate on local ice, local hotels, local restaurants. That part’s really cool.”

This summer, 28-year-old Graves realized the dream of many younger hockey players from across Canada — and especially from his region — when he signed a six-year free-agent contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He’ll get to suit up as a teammate of hockey icon Sidney Crosby, a native of the Halifax suburb of Cole Harbour, N.S.

“He’s had such an impact on Canadian hockey, but in the Maritimes everybody’s idolized him growing up,” Graves said. “Nate (MacKinnon) idolized him growing up. Me. Every player that comes up now, their favorite player is either MacKinnon or Crosby. So to play alongside of him is a very cool thing for me.”

And though he hails from North Vancouver, nearly 4,000 miles west of Cole Harbour, 2023 first-overall draft pick Connor Bedard has also cited Crosby as the player he looks up to the most. If all goes according to plan and Bedard cracks the opening-night lineup for the Chicago Blackhawks, he could find himself lining up for the opening faceoff opposite Crosby at PPG Paints Arena on Oct. 10, the opening night of the new season.

As a big-bodied defensive defenseman who will be playing his first game for his new team, Graves will likely be tasked with slowing Bedard down. At camp this week, he got a taste of what awaits.

“He looks pretty good,” Graves chuckled. “You can see it — the way he handles the puck, the way he shoots and the way he carries himself. He’s going to be a good player. I look forward to seeing how he does this year. I’m happy for him. He seems like a nice kid.”

Makar was also impressed.

“He just seems like a super-dedicated guy,” he said. “He’s been the last guy on the ice both days at camp, so you can tell that his commitment’s there. I think he’s going to push a team like Chicago to get better and better.”

Asked if he had any advice for Bedard about making the adjustment to the bright spotlight of the NHL, Makar demurred.

“Guys can get pointers and stuff like that, but you also want a little bit of independence,” he said. “Going through it yourself and kind of seeing how you read and react to different situations through your first year.”

This summer, the Blackhawks made a point of bringing in veteran leaders Nick Foligno and Corey Perry to help Bedard make the adjustment to pro life.

“I’ve gotten to meet Corey when he was (in Chicago), and he seemed like a super nice guy,” Bedard said. “I think Nick Foligno has probably texted me every two weeks, checking in on how I’m doing and giving me calls. I’ve heard from every single person that has mentioned him that he’s one of the best people you’ll ever meet, so I’m pretty excited for that.

“I think it’s good for me, with those guys that have been in the league so long and experienced everything,” he added. “Just kind of learn from them and have them to help out with things.”

While he acknowledges that he’s on the precipice of realizing his lifelong dream when he suits up for his first NHL game, Bedard is not getting ahead of himself.

“I just want to live in the moment right now and prepare myself best for camp,” he said. “Obviously, we’ve got our rookie games coming up here which is which is pretty exciting.

“Of course you want it to come and it’ll be unreal, but I just want to make the most of the days leading up.”