Welcome to the 2023-24 NHL training camp buzz. Training camp is underway for all 32 teams and NHL.com has you covered with all the latest news.
San Jose Sharks
Captain Logan Couture is week to week with a lower-body injury and will miss the start of training camp. There is no timetable yet for his return.
"It's frustrating," the forward said Thursday. "I wish I was out there with the guys. It's been tough, just watching. I hate watching, I want to play. I want to be a part of the everyday (routine)."
Couture said he injured himself over the summer while training for the season.
"It's fortunate that it happened now, so I can get back. Right now, the goal is not to miss any games and that's all I'm focused on right now."
Couture had 67 points (27 goals, 40 assists) in 82 games last season.
"It opens the door for (William) Eklund and other young players, for sure,” Sharks coach David Quinn said. “I think everyone here knows what ‘Cooch’ means to our team on and off the ice. He'll be sorely missed if he isn't able to start the season with us, but, it will also give an opportunity to someone else." -- Chelena Goldman
Anaheim Ducks
Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale did not attend the opening day of training camp Thursday.
Zegras, a 22-year-old forward, and Drysdale, a 21-year-old defenseman, each is a restricted free agent negotiating a contract with the Ducks, but progress has been slow.
"I've gone through it myself," said general manager Pat Verbeek, who played 20 seasons in the NHL. "I went into camp unsigned and I understand what these players are going through. I understand what management's going through, so it's a process. It just has to work itself through. There's constant talks and so you just work through it." -- Dan Arritt
Pittsburgh Penguins
Jake Guentzel skated on the first day of camp but is still expected to miss roughly the first five regular-season games.
The forward is recovering from right ankle surgery on Aug. 4, stemming from an injury late last season. Guentzel skated before Pittsburgh’s practices on the first day of training camp, coach Mike Sullivan said.
On Aug. 7, general manager Kyle Dubas said Guentzel would likely be out around five games. That remains accurate, Sullivan said.
“I’ve always been reluctant to give you guys too many specifics around that stuff because there are so many variables that affect any player’s return to play,” Sullivan said. “But that’s probably a fair assessment based on where’s he’s at right now.”
When healthy, Guentzel is first-line left wing with center Sidney Crosby. He had 73 points (36 goals, 37 assists) in 78 games last season, leading the Penguins in goals and finishing third in points behind Crosby (93) and Evgeni Malkin (83).
"I don't think it's possible to replace Jake and what he brings to our team,” Sullivan said. “He has such great chemistry with Sid. He is such a dynamic offensive player. He's just a good hockey player on both sides of the puck. I think he's quietly emerged as a young star in the League.” -- Wes Crosby
Vegas Golden Knights
Robin Lehner is not ready to play and will begin this season on long-term injured reserve.
The goalie has not played since April 25, 2022, because of hip injury. On Aug. 11, 2022, the Golden Knights announced he would need hip surgery that would cause him to miss last season.
The 31-year-old had shoulder surgery in April 2022 for an injury he sustained Feb. 9. He missed five games before returning. After playing March 8 in a 2-1 loss at the Philadelphia Flyers, he did not play again until a 3-2 overtime win at the Vancouver Canucks on April 3. On April 25, Vegas said he would be out for the season and expected him to be ready for training camp.
Without Lehner last season, the Golden Knights used five different goalies in the regular season and two -- Laurent Broissot and Adin Hill -- in the postseason when they won the Stanley Cup. -- Paul Dello Santos
Ottawa Senators
Josh Norris is expected to be ready for the regular season, but will miss the Senators' first two preseason games.
The forward, who missed 74 games in 2022-23 due to a shoulder injury, said he “tweaked” the same shoulder last week.
“Had a good day today," Norris said. "Probably the best I’ve felt since I’ve been [back in Ottawa]. Definitely a right step. Just trying to compound those days and hopefully just keep getting better over the weekend.”
The 24-year-old was the center on a line with Vladimir Tarasenko and Drake Batherson on Thursday. Norris was a full participant in practice, but was wearing a yellow, non-contact jersey. Coach D.J. Smith said it’s “only a matter of time” before Norris is told he can take it off.
"We just don't want anyone hitting him hard,” Smith said. “And in training camp, you don't blame other guys. Guys are trying to get jobs. And these are big men out there. Having the yellow jersey just lets you know at the last second to let up, but he didn't miss a single drill." -- Callum Fraser
St. Louis Blues
Torey Krug could be ready to play in the Blues' season opener against the Dallas Stars on Oct. 12.
Krug was on the ice taking shots with goalies prior to the start of training camp Thursday. On Sept. 13, the Blues announced the defenseman sustained a right foot injury while training for the 2023-24 season, and will be reevaluated Oct. 1.
"My understanding is [Krug's] doing very well," general manager Doug Armstrong said. "Yes, I think he'll get some exhibition games in. I'm not a doctor, but I'm hoping that he gets back (for the regular-season opener)."
Krug, entering his fourth season with the Blues, has had a string of injuries since his arrival in St. Louis. He missed five games in 2020-21, 18 in 2021-22 and 19 last season after scoring 32 points (seven goals, 25 assists). -- Lou Korac
Calgary Flames
Oliver Kylington will not participate at the start of camp.
The defenseman missed the 2022-23 season for personal reasons.
"Following yesterday's medical and fitness testing, it was determined that Oliver is unable to participate in the opening of training camp today. As this is a private personal matter, no further information will be provided," the team said in a statement.
The 26-year-old had an NHL career-high in games played (73), goals (9), assists (22), points (31), plus/minus (plus-34), and ice time (18:10) in 2021-22.
"We really miss him," Flames alternate captain Mikael Backlund said. "It was good to see him before camp here in Calgary. It's good that he's over here. Hope he finds his way. It was great to catch up with him. We miss him in the room. He brings a lot of energy in the room and on the ice he's a tremendous player. But his health comes first. We've got to let him take his time." -- Aaron Vickers
Buffalo Sabres
Matt Savoie is week to week with an upper-body injury.
The No. 9 pick by the Sabres in the 2022 NHL Draft was injured Monday on the first shift of the final game of the Prospects Challenge against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
“He’ll be out a little bit,” general manager Kevyn Adams said. “It’s honestly best-case scenario after the imaging and everything, but he will miss some time. I put him more in the week-to-week type of range than day to day, but we’re also going to be really patient and make sure that he’s full go before we let him out there. But good news overall.”
The 19-year-old forward was expected to be among several rookies competing to make the roster out of training camp. Adams said “there’s a chance” he returns before the end of it.
“I don’t think this week is likely and then we’ll kind of reevaluate,” he said. “I know he’s begging, but we’ll have to kind of take it week by week here.” -- Heather Engel
Vancouver Canucks
Ilya Mikheyev has left camp for personal reasons.
General manager Patrik Allvin made the announcement Thursday, one day after the Canucks said the forward would wear a non-contact jersey on the first day of camp.
The 28-year-old hasn’t played since Jan. 27, when Vancouver announced he would have surgery to repair a torn ACL.
Mikheyev, who had 28 points (13 goals, 15 assists) in 46 games, had partially torn his ACL during a preseason game Sept. 25, 2022, but decided to play through the injury before being shut down.
Allvin said Wednesday that Tucker Poolman won’t play at all this season.
The 30-year-old defenseman only played three games last season because of his ongoing struggles with migraines that caused him to miss 42 games in 2021-22.
“Tucker is not going to play,” Allvin said. “We're supporting him and helping him in any way to get his life back and feel good about himself. Obviously, when you're coming into a situation like this, over the last couple of years haven't played much, hockey becomes secondary.” -- Kevin Woodley
