TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. -- Dallas Stars prospect Remi Elie believes riding shotgun with Connor McDavid for half the year with the Erie Otters in the Ontario Hockey League last season provided him with plenty of motivation on the road to success.

"Everything [McDavid] did was unbelievable; his ability to slow down the game was remarkable," Elie said. "I had to be ready all the time because he hit you with passes when you didn't even know they were coming."

McDavid, of course, was selected No. 1 by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2015 NHL Draft.

Boston Bruins defenseman Kevan Miller said Friday he is ahead of schedule in his recovery from shoulder surgery that ended his 2014-15 season in February.

"I got about six months -- a little bit more than six months -- of recovery now, so I think it's ahead of schedule, if you want to say that," Miller told the Bruins website.

Vancouver Canucks coach Willie Desjardins should be able to coach the season opener after he is expected to miss training camp following hip surgery this week.

The Canucks play at the Calgary Flames on Oct. 7.

"I don't expect him to miss more than one or two exhibition games," general manager Jim Benning told the Vancouver Sun on Friday. "He for sure is going to be ready [for the start of the regular season]. He is chomping at the bit now. He is bugging me to get back at it right now. He had the operation (Tuesday) and later that day was hobbling around on crutches. There is no way that he is going to sit around idly. He is ready to get going."

Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Kristers Gudlevskis has appeared in one regular-season NHL game during his career. But after spending last season with the Syracuse Crunch, the Lightning's American Hockey League affiliate, Gudlevskis could be the backup goalie with Tampa Bay to start the season.

"I think I always have a chance no matter who is here and who is not here," Gudlevskis told the Tampa Tribune on Friday. "The main thing is to just work hard. This organization is really fair, and if you prove yourself you are going to get the chance anyway."

Tomas Jurco knows he has more to give offensively, and the young Detroit Red Wings forward hopes to show that this season under first-year NHL coach Jeff Blashill.

Jurco, who was a point-per-game player in 32 games in the American Hockey League in 2013-14 (13 goals, 19 assists) with Grand Rapids and had eight goals in 36 games for the Red Wings, was limited to three goals and 18 points in 63 games in his first full NHL season. He had a goal and an assist in seven Stanley Cup Playoff games as the Red Wings lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference First Round.

"Providing more offense is the main thing for me," Jurco told the Red Wings website. "I've been working hard all summer, to get stronger, faster, so I think it's going to help me. I'm excited and hopefully I'm going to have a good season."

Phil Kessel knows what it's like to be on the ice against Pittsburgh Penguins forwards Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. On Thursday, Kessel got his first chance to see what it's like to play with them.

Kessel, acquired by the Penguins in a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 1, skated with Crosby and Malkin for the first time during an informal workout at the Penguins practice facility.

"Obviously they're great players," Kessel told the Penguins website. "Best players in the world. I'm lucky to play with them."

Shane Doan is entering his 20th season in the NHL and the final season of a four-year contract, but the Arizona Coyotes captain isn't quite sure this will be his final season.

"I think I'm playing," Doan told the Arizona Republic on Wednesday. "At the same time, I mean, if I'm terrible, I don't want to be a nuisance to anybody. But if I can show I can play, then I want to be playing.

"I think this is going to be a big year to let me know more. As your contract winds down and my career obviously at the same time, you're getting older and you recognize I've got to do some things here if I want to keep playing. I want to prove as much to myself as anybody that I can keep playing."

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Noah Juulsen, the 26th pick of the 2015 NHL Draft, will not participate in rookie camp because of a concussion, the Canadiens announced Thursday.

The Canadiens' rookies will join rookies from the Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs and Pittsburgh Penguins at the Toronto Rookie Tournament, which will be held Sept. 11-13 in London, Ontario.