The Toronto Maple Leafs took the ice for the second day of training camp without four of their players. Right wing Colton Orr is out with a leg bone bruise and won't skate for a week. Left wing Joffrey Lupul is day-to-day with back spasms.

Traded to the Leafs from the Anaheim Ducks in February 2011, Lupul missed nearly two months last season with a fractured forearm sustained just three games into 2012-13. Orr signed a four-year, $4 million contract with Toronto in 2009.

Coach Randy Carlyle said that Lupul experienced tightness on Tuesday and wasn't cleared medically to be on the ice, but doesn't believe the injury is serious.

"He's had some back issues before, so we don't think it's anything longterm," Carlyle said. "It's just precautionary measures to make sure he's 100 percent. Same thing with Colton Orr."

Prospects Kenny Ryan and Matt Finn, who sustained a shoulder injury at rookie camp, also were not on the skate list.

On the first day of training camp Wednesday, New York Rangers coach Alain Vigneault declared a "clean slate."

Perhaps more than anyone on the Rangers, Vigneault's "clean slate, grab it" philosophy can be embraced by center Brad Richards. Considered a buyout candidate after the 2012-13 season, the Rangers center is embracing a fresh start under Vignealut after admitting to reporters on Thursday that he lost confidence in himself and former coach John Tortorella last season.

"He uses the clean slate thing, but he uses it especially with me that all is forgotten," Richards said. "In the end it's all up to me. It's a new season. I really put all of that in the past. I had a lot of time to get rid of those thoughts and what happened, and regroup. Hopefully this is a positive thing that will get me going in the right direction.

"I didn't sign here to play a year and a half of hockey. I wanted it to be here. I'm happy I'm here. I'm thrilled. I did not want to end my New York Ranger tenure as that. I'm grateful I am still here. Hopefully this is the start of something new and fresh, and get back on the track."

The Carolina Hurricanes' first on-ice session of training camp featured two important newcomers.

Former Boston Bruins goaltender Anton Khudobin and ex-Buffalo Sabres defenseman Andrej Sekera were out on the ice with the morning group.

Both players will play key roles in Carolina. Khudobin will provide insurance for goaltender Cam Ward, who missed more than half of last season with a sprained MCL. Although he has just 21 games of NHL experience, Khudobin's numbers have been eye-popping: a 2.03 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage. Ward is known for carrying a heavy workload, but the Hurricanes would like to rely on a backup who can shoulder enough games to take the heat off the starter.

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Washington Capitals forward Brooks Laich left the first official practice of the season on Thursday with a left hip flexor injury after skating for roughly 10 minutes. He is considered day-to-day, but Laich said he isn't overly concerned about it being a long-term issue.

"It should come back fairly quickly and once I start to feel really good off the ice I'll go back on the ice," Laich said. "We'll monitor it day by day and it should come back fairly quickly."

Laich said he "tweaked" his hip flexor last Thursday during his first workout after returning to the Washington D.C. area from his home in Saskatchewan. He was adamant in saying the new injury is unrelated to the lingering groin injury he had last season that kept him out for all but nine regular season games and eventually required surgery prior to the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

BROSSARD, Quebec -- It was only the first scrimmage of training camp, but Montreal Canadiens coach Michel Therrien may have given a little sneak preview Thursday as to the line combinations he'll use this season.

Canadiens new acquisition Daniel Briere was at right wing on a line with David Desharnais at center and Max Pacioretty on the left, two players who have spent basically the entirety of their professional careers together. With Briere and Desharnais both standing considerably less than 6 feet, it would be a combination lacking size but oozing with skill.

Another combination had Tomas Plekanec and Rene Bourque together at center and left wing, just as they were last season. But the right side was filled by prospect Christian Thomas in the absence of captain Brian Gionta, who is still recovering from a torn biceps muscle. Thomas was acquired in a trade with the New York Rangers for Danny Kristo during the offseason.

BROOKLYN -- The New York Islanders enjoyed a unique start to their 2013 training camp, as they boarded a Long Island Railroad train from Long Island. Their final destination Thursday morning was the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, the building scheduled to become their new home in 2015. It will host the team's preseason game on Sept. 21 against the New Jersey Devils, the first-ever NHL game played in Brooklyn.

Upon their arrival in Brooklyn, the players and coaches received a particularly warm greeting.

"First and foremost, welcome to your new home. We're thrilled to have all of you with us today," Barclays Center CEO Brett Yormark told the team. "Congratulations to you on a great last season. I'm sure you're going to replicate that effort this season."

The New York Rangers underwent on-ice conditioning tests on Thursday with center Derek Stepan remaining absent from the team.

A restricted free agent, Larry Brooks of the New York Post reported Stepan to be seeking a five- or six-year contract worth around $5 million per season, while the Rangers are believed to be offering a two-year contract between $2.75-$3 million person.

Stepan led the Rangers in scoring last season with 44 points (18 goals, 26 assists). Defenseman Ryan McDonagh had a message for his teammate: "Stay positive."

"It's a tough situation for him or anyone to be in," McDonagh said. "He's such a competitive guy and loves the game of hockey. You've got to go with what your agent, and yourself, and your family and your friends all feel. As soon as he gets back here, which we're confident he will, he's going to be welcomed and we’re going to utilize his talents for sure."

PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Flyers held their first on-ice session of training camp Thursday minus one player from their announced roster.

Forward Daniel Cleary, previously announced as a camp invite on a professional tryout, is not with the team.

A Flyers spokesman said the team had no comment.

The Anaheim Ducks will open training camp Thursday with a reunited top line of Dustin Penner, Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry.

Penner is back with Anaheim after playing the past three seasons with the Los Angeles Kings. During the 2006-07 season, he, Getzlaf and Perry played together often during the Ducks' run to the Stanley Cup.

"I think I'll be given a bit more of an opportunity here, playing with guys that are more prone to cycling the puck and wearing down the opposition," Penner told The Associated Press on Wednesday at Honda Center. "For whatever reason, we clicked instantly when we were put together, and we all joined the Ducks, and even in the minors in Portland. We just have that unspoken bond when we're on the ice together."

VANCOUVER -- Roberto Luongo was back in the media spotlight Wednesday, and again he was asked about his state of mind coming back as the No.1 goaltender for a Vancouver Canucks team that took that title away and tried to trade him for almost 18 months.

Except this time Luongo wasn't asked if he was happy about coming back to Vancouver after preparing to leave for so long, a question he danced around in previous interviews, but whether or not it was important. It certainly seems to be among the fan base.

"You guys [have to] understand, after what has happened over two years, it's a process and just kind of got to feel it out and see how it goes" Luongo said. "I am not saying I am unhappy. I am just saying right now I just want to be playing and then we'll see how things go. I think it's tough to do a complete 180 turn on something like this."