Preseason Buzz: Karlsson unlikely for Senators opener

Welcome to the 2017 preseason!
This is a busy time with the start of the new season beginning Wednesday. Rookies are looking to make a name for themselves and veterans are aiming to lock down roster spots. Each day, we will have all the updates of note right here.
Here is the preseason news for Monday:

Karlsson likely to miss Senators opener

Defenseman Erik Karlsson said it is unlikely he will play in the Ottawa Senators' regular-season opener against the Washington Capitals at Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday (7:30 p.m. ET; RDS2, TSN5, CSN-DC, NHL.TV).
"I'm going to take it day by day," Karlsson said. "We don't really have a timeline on things. I'm feeling good enough to be able to take practice, but as we all know practice and playing against a different team are two different things and I'm not really there just yet.
"I don't think I'm going to miss significant time, but I want to make sure when I do come back, I'm back. I don't want to come back and play a few (games) and then have to reset and take a few off. Whenever I get back, hopefully I will be able to play the season out."

Karlsson, who had surgery to repair torn tendons in his left foot on June 14, skated at the other end of the ice wearing a yellow no-contact jersey while his teammates took part in battle drills Monday.
Center Derick Brassard, who had surgery on his right shoulder to repair a torn labrum on June 6, said he wouldn't know until Thursday if he will play.
"My parents ask me if I'm playing because they want to buy tickets. I still don't know and I wish I could tell them," Brassard said. "I'm really, really close. It's just a matter of timing out there. There's nothing like on-ice game shape. I'm trying to work hard every day. If I start on Thursday I'm pretty sure (coach Guy Boucher) will manage my minutes and I'll try to give him feedback about the way I feel."
-- Chris Stevenson

Parise ruled out for Wild opener

Forward Zach Parise will not play for the Minnesota Wild in their regular-season opener against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena on Thursday (7:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, NHL.TV). Parise will also miss the Wild's second game of the season at the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday.
General manager Chuck Fletcher said Parise, who has a back injury, is having a hard time getting to 100 percent and hopes he can rejoin the Wild next Monday. Parise did not practice Monday and missed the entire preseason. Following the game against the Hurricanes, the Wild play at the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 12.

Hornqvist likely to miss Penguins opener

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Patric Hornqvist is unlikely to play against the St. Louis Blues at PPG Paints Arena on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, NHL.TV).
Hornqvist, who did not participate in training camp while recovering from offseason surgery to repair a broken right hand, skated with Penguins skills coach Ty Hennes for more than 45 minutes before practice Monday. Following the practice, Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said it's unlikely Hornqvist would play against St. Louis.
"We'd like to get him in some practices before we throw him into the game situation and at this point," Sullivan said. "We're going to make sure that, when we do put him in, that he's ready. I think at this particular point in the season, it's important that we err on the side of caution with him.
"He's making progress, for sure. The hope is he's going to be joining the team for practice here in a timely manner and then we'll make decisions accordingly. But it doesn't look likely that we're going to get him for game one."
-- Wes Crosby

Bonino expected to play in season opener: report

Center Nick Bonino is expected to debut with the Nashville Predators when they begin their 2017-18 regular-season schedule against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; TVA Sports, NESN, FS-TN, NHL.TV), according to The Tennessean.
Bonino missed the entire preseason recovering from a broken left tibia sustained during Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final while playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He could have played in the Predators' preseason finale against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday but chose to rest.
"Barring any setbacks, I feel good," Bonino said Sunday. "That's something we'll take a look (at) with the [doctors] and make a final assessment, but I feel as good as I can right now."
Bonino, 29, was injured blocking a shot by Predators defenseman P.K. Subban and missed the rest of the Cup Final, won by the Penguins in six games. He signed a four-year, $16.4 million contract with Nashville on July 1 after winning the Cup in consecutive seasons with Pittsburgh.

Maple Leafs loan three to AHL

The Toronto Maple Leafs loaned forwards Nikita Soshnikov, Kasperi Kapanen and Miro Aaltonen to their American Hockey League affiliate in Toronto on Monday.
The Maple Leafs roster is at 26 players (14 forwards, 10 defensemen, two goaltenders).
Soshnikov had nine points (five goals, four assists) in 56 games last season. Kapanen had a goal in eight regular-season games and two goals in the Maple Leafs' six-game loss to the Washington Capitals in the Eastern Conference First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
"You're just honest with them," Maple Leafs general manager Lou Lamoriello said. "Both [Soshnikov] and [Kapanen], they played extremely well when they were here last year."
Kapanen was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins with the No. 22 pick in the 2014 NHL Draft. He was acquired by the Maple Leafs as part of the trade that sent forward Phil Kessel to Pittsburgh on July 1, 2015.
"Unfortunately, there comes a business decision that's involved because they have the ability to go down because they don't need waivers," Lamoriello said. "When you have the depth we have right now, you have to make those decisions. They're knocking on the door, they'll be back in the NHL. The most important message is, be disappointed but don't let up on the gas. They have to continue the process to get back."
Aaltonen, who competed with Dominic Moore and Eric Fehr for the fourth-line center role, was assigned to the AHL because the Maple Leafs did not want to risk losing Moore or Fehr on waivers.
"He had an outstanding camp," Lamoriello said about Aaltonen. "It was a very difficult decision but once again, he had the ability to go down because of waivers. When time is on your side, you use it. You never have to worry about bringing a player up a little late rather than too soon."
Defenseman Roman Polak, at training camp on a professional tryout, remains with the Maple Leafs but Lamoriello was noncommittal about his future. There has also been no decision on where defenseman Timothy Liljegren, chosen with the No. 17 pick in the 2017 draft, will play this season.
The Maple Leafs begin the regular season at the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET; SN, TVA Sports, NHL.TV).
-- Dave McCarthy