Training Camp Buzz: Bergeron not ready to skate with Bruins

Welcome to the 2018 preseason! Veterans are reporting to training camps, and most will hit the ice Friday.
This is a busy time, with rookies looking to make a name for themselves and veterans trying to lock down roster spots. Each day we will have all the updates of note right here.
Here is the training camp news for Thursday:

Bergeron won't skate on first day of camp with Bruins

Patrice Bergeron knew that his recovery from groin surgery in June would limit his participation early at Boston Bruins training camp. Back spasms will delay him even further.
The 33-year-old center confirmed Thursday that he began feeling the spasms this week. The Bruins are scheduled for their first on-ice practices Friday.
"I am not a full go for [Friday]. I'm dealing with some back spasms right now, so a little bit of a setback that way," Bergeron said after the Bruins held their medical and physical testing at Warrior Ice Arena. "But [I am] still shooting for the same schedule I guess for the end of camp and the start of the season, so nothing's changed that way. Sometimes it does happen, I've been told, that people have dealt with a groin and the hip injuries, they've deal with some back injuries as well. You know a little bit of a setback, but otherwise kind of looking forward to being done and feeling good next week."
Defenseman Torey Krug is still recovering from a fractured ankle he sustained in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Second Round against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Neither Krug nor forward Noel Acciari (sports hernia surgery) will be joining his teammates for practices yet either. They are among the players who did not make the trip to the O.R.G. NHL China Games. -- Matt Kalman

Suter cleared for camp activities, might not play in preseason for Wild

Ryan Suter has been cleared to participate in all activities at Minnesota Wild training camp, but coach Bruce Boudreau said the 33-year-old defenseman might not dress for preseason games.
Suter missed Minnesota's last three regular-season games and all five Stanley Cup Playoff games after fracturing his right ankle against the Dallas Stars on March 31. He had surgery in April and was unable to bear weight on the ankle for several weeks.
Suter was back on the ice for the first time in mid-July and passed Boudreau's annual skating test Tuesday, giving him full clearance for camp, which begins Friday. However, Boudreau said Suter is likely to sit out during camp scrimmages and preseason games.
Missing some or all of the preseason does not indicate that Suter will not be ready for the Wild's season-opener at the Colorado Avalanche on Oct. 4.
"I think his experience and knowledge, he's probably one of the few players who can get away with not playing a game [in the preseason]," Boudreau said Thursday. "With him being cleared, unless he pushes it too hard and ends up re-hurting something I don't see any problem (being ready for opening night)."

Pageau injured during Senators fitness test: report

Jean-Gabriel Pageau injured his right ankle during fitness training with the Ottawa Senators on Thursday, The Athletic reported.
It is unknown how long the 25-year-old forward could be out.
Ottawa earlier Thursday traded defenseman Erik Karlsson to the San Jose Sharks. General manager Pierre Dorion said during the press conference following the trade that the Senators would give "a proper update" on Pageau on Friday.
Selected by the Senators in the fourth round (No. 95) in the 2011 NHL Draft, Pageau had 29 points (14 goals, 15 assists) in 78 games last season. He has 130 points (59 goals, 71 assists) in 329 NHL games and 16 points (12 goals, four assists) in 35 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Pageau is entering the second season of a three-year, $9.3 million contract he signed July 17, 2017.
Ottawa opens its season against the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 4.

Barzal not ready to anoint himself new face of Islanders

Mathew Barzal might be the new face of the New York Islanders, but the 21-year-old center isn't ready to accept the title just yet.
Barzal, who won the Calder Trophy last season after leading New York with 85 points (22 goals, 63 assists) figures to be the most recognizable player on the Islanders roster after center John Tavares signed a seven-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 1.
But is he the face of the franchise?
"I don't know if I'd go that far just yet," Barzal said. "We've got a lot of good talent here and a lot of good players, so it's going to be a collective effort. I'm obviously looking to have a big season and help this team win. That's my main priority right now."
Barzal, the No. 16 pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, said he was grateful for the short time he got to play with Tavares, who was captain of the Islanders for the past five seasons.
"John's a great guy," Barzal said. "I didn't have any hard feelings about it. He deserved the opportunity to become an unrestricted free agent. He chose his hometown, so good for him.
"Me and John have a good relationship. I learned a lot from him last year. It was a pleasure playing under him and seeing his habits. He really helped me grow as a pro, so I wish him nothing but the best and a healthy career." -- Brian Compton

Allen to miss start of Blues camp with back spasms

Goaltender Jake Allen will miss the start of training camp with the St. Louis Blues with back spasms. He's expected to be sidelined for 10-14 days. The Blues open camp Friday.
Allen skated last week when he arrived in St. Louis for informal workouts. If he misses the maximum 14 days, Allen would have approximately one week to get ready for the regular-season opener against the Winnipeg Jets at Enterprise Center on Oct. 4.
Forward Nikita Soshnikov sustained a concussion this week while training with some teammates.
Also, forward Erik Foley (concussion) and goaltender Luke Opilka (hip surgery) are out indefinitely.

Rask out for Hurricanes after hand surgery

Victor Rask will be out indefinitely after the Carolina Hurricanes center had surgery on the fourth and fifth fingers of his right hand Thursday.
Rask, 25, was injured while slicing food in his kitchen. He has 31 points (14 goals, 17 assists) in 71 games for the Hurricanes last season. Rask, Carolina's second-round pick (No. 42) in the 2011 NHL Draft, has 157 points (62 goals, 95 assists) in 313 regular-season games during four seasons, all with the Hurricanes.

Devils optimistic Wood will re-sign soon

Forward Miles Wood is expected to re-sign with the New Jersey Devils soon, according to general manager Ray Shero.
Wood, who turned 23 on Thursday, is New Jersey's last unsigned restricted free agent. The Devils opened training camp with off-ice physicals at Prudential Center on Thursday, but Wood was not a participant. He had an NHL career-high 32 points (19 goals, 13 assists) in 76 games last season.
"It's been an ongoing conversation, and we haven't talked in about a week or so because I'm not sure what's left to be said at this point, so we'll see where it takes us," Shero said Thursday. "I don't think there's a big gap, but there's some philosophical issues that need to be worked out with how the system works."
Until then, he said, Wood's absence will give other players a chance to show what they can do.
"Miles is a hockey player and Miles will have to be here at some point, but until then, these other guys are going to have a better opportunity," Shero said. "I don't think this is a reflection on Miles or what we think of him and what he thinks of the organization. It's just one of those things that I hope doesn't drag on too long because he should be here.
"I respect his decision but look forward to having him under contract at some point really soon."
Wood was fourth on the Devils last season with 19 goals despite averaging 12:28 of ice time, less than any other New Jersey player who dressed for at least 40 games. Wood also ranked fourth on the Devils in shots on goal (170) and was 11th in hits (75). -- Mike G. Morreale

Ennis to start Maple Leafs camp on line with Matthews

Tyler Ennis will start Toronto Maple Leafs training camp on a line with center Auston Matthews, general manager Kyle Dubas said Thursday.
Ennis, 28, will skate at right wing in the spot usually filled by forward William Nylander, a restricted free agent who's unsigned. Dubas said he and Nylander's representatives continue to talk but there was no update on a new contract.
"I've gotten to know him pretty well, spent a lot of time with him the last couple weeks, been on the ice with him," Matthews said. "So skilled, shifty, sees the play so well out there. … He works hard, competes. Excited to see how we'd be together at training camp."
Ennis signed a one-year, $650,000 contract with the Maple Leafs on July 6, less than a week after the Minnesota Wild bought out the final season of his contract. He had 22 points (eight goals, 14 assists) in 73 games last season.
Nylander, 22, had 61 points (20 goals, 41 assists) in 82 regular-season games and four points (one goal, three assists) in seven Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Callahan shooting pucks, making progress with Lightning

Ryan Callahan began shooting pucks about two weeks ago, and the Tampa Bay Lightning forward feels he's making progress in his recovery from offseason surgery to his right shoulder.
"Everything's on track," Callahan told the Lightning website. "Everything has gone well."
Callahan, 33, was expected to need five months to recover following surgery May 31. He's not expected to play until November.
He was initially injured during a game against the Arizona Coyotes on Dec. 14. Callahan had 18 points (five goals, 13 assists) in 67 regular-season games and three points (two goals, one assist) in 15 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Werenski gets pass on run at Blue Jackets camp

Zach Werenski was allowed to miss the Columbus Blue Jackets' conditioning run that's started every training camp under coach John Tortorella.
Werenski wasn't allowed to run all summer while recovering from surgery in May to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, so he was exempt from having to run two miles in 12 minutes, as his teammates did.
But the Blue Jackets came up with a different test for the 21-year-old defenseman: He had to maintain 475 watts of energy for 12 consecutive minutes on a wind bike.
Werenski injured his shoulder early last season but managed to play while wearing a brace that restricted his range of motion.
"I have tremendous amount of respect for him and how he handled himself last year through a major injury as it turned out to be with his shoulder," Tortorella said.
Despite the injury, Werenski finished his second NHL season with 37 points (16 goals, 11 assists) in 77 games.
"I just didn't feel like myself out there," he said Thursday. "I thought I could have had a better year offensively, defensively. I could have done more to help the team. It will be nice to get back to 100 percent and do that."
Tortorella said Werenski will not play in the early preseason games.

Lee says Islanders will be OK without captain

The New York Islanders begin training camp without a captain after John Tavares signed with the Maple Leafs on July 1, but left wing Anders Lee believes they'll be OK if they move forward without one.
Lee pointed to the success the Vegas Golden Knights enjoyed last season despite not having a captain. The Golden Knights won the Pacific Division and reached the Stanley Cup Final in their first season.
"I think Vegas did all right with it," the 28-year-old said. "It all matters who's in the room. We've got good character in that room. If that's the way it's going to go, that's fine. It's all about how we handle it as a core and as a group.
"The 'C' does mean a lot in our sport, in hockey. But at the same time, he's not the only person in the room. It's just one of those things."
Lee also enters camp not knowing who his center will be; he scored an NHL career-high 40 goals last season playing alongside Tavares and Josh Bailey.
"You just build off last year, build off the motivation that is the summer and the individual success, I guess, last year to want to be better, to match it and to strive to be an all-around better player," Lee said. -- Brian Compton