Preseason Buzz: Tarasenko back practicing with Blues after illness

Welcome to the 2019 preseason! This is a busy time, with rookies looking to make a name for themselves and veterans looking to lock down roster spots. Each day, we will have all the updates of note right here.
Here is the news for Wednesday:

Tarasenko returns to Blues practice; Barbashev day to day

Vladimir Tarasenko practiced with the St. Louis Blues after missing the past three days with an illness.
The forward, who has played in one preseason game, was one of six skaters to take part in an optional skate.
Ivan Barbashev (lower body) is day to day after leaving a 2-1 preseason loss to the Dallas Stars on Tuesday. The forward was checked from behind into the boards at 10:04 of the first period by Stars defenseman Roman Polak. He played three shifts in the second period but did not return for the third.
Robert Thomas will make his preseason debut in the Kraft Hockeyville USA preseason game against the Detroit Red Wings at Calumet Colosseum in Calumet, Michigan, on Thursday (7 p.m. ET, NBCSN). The forward has been skating for most of training camp after having offseason surgery to repair a tendon in his left wrist.
Louie Korac

Patrick questionable for Global Series

Nolan Patrick, who has not practiced during Philadelphia Flyers training camp or the preseason because of an upper-body injury, is questionable to travel to Europe as part of the 2019 NHL Global Series.
"I would say no right now," coach Alain Vigneault said, "but I'm not 100 percent sure."
The Flyers leave Friday for Switzerland, where they will play a preseason game against National League team Lausanne on Monday. They open the regular season against the Chicago Blackhawks at O2 Arena in Prague on Oct. 4 (2 p.m. ET; NBCSP, NBCSCH, NHL.TV).
General manager Chuck Fletcher said Patrick's injury occurred before training camp started Sept. 13. At that time, Fletcher said surgery was not being considered.
"We've known about it for a while," Fletcher said then. "Been working with him for a while to try to get him healthy as quickly as we can."
Adam Kimelman

Dubinsky sidelined indefinitely with wrist injury

Brandon Dubinsky is likely out for the start of the regular season with the Columbus Blue Jackets because of a wrist injury. The center is sidelined indefinitely.
"He's has a nicked wrist for a while," general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said. "He's been dealing with it quite a bit, but I can't get into the specifics of the injury."
Kekalainen said Dubinsky's injury will create opportunities for other Blue Jackets forwards.
"We have Alex Wennberg, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Boone Jenner and Riley Nash, those four guys will fill the center spots," Kekalainen said. "We always deal with injuries. We can't be feeling sorry for ourselves. Life goes on. We'll put the healthy guys in the lineup, but it's always tough to see somebody injured."
Craig Merz

Lehner held out of practice

Robin Lehner did not practice with the Chicago Blackhawks because of a right hip injury, but coach Jeremy Colliton said the goalie's condition isn't serious.

"We'll just give him the day [off], and obviously we have the travel day," Colliton said regarding Thursday, when the Blackhawks go to Berlin for the 2019 NHL Global Series Challenge. "It should be no problem."
Kirby Dach (NHL concussion protocol) will travel to Europe after the forward skated for the third consecutive day. Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman said it's unlikely Dach wil play against Eisbaren Berlin on Sunday (1:30 p.m. ET; NHLN, NBCSCH+, NHL.TV) or in the regular-season opener against the Philadelphia Flyers on Oct. 4.
"I think at this point, it makes sense to bring him with us and then we'll have a better feel for when he's ready for a game," Bowman said. "He's making progress. He's just been off the ice a couple of weeks, so it's going to take some time to be ready to play a game."
Defenseman Connor Murphy left practice with an undisclosed injury, but Colliton said he should be fine.
Tracey Myers

Jets not worried about Morrissey

Josh Morrissey is expected to resume practicing with the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday after sitting out Wednesday, coach Paul Maurice said.
The defenseman left the game against the Calgary Flames in the second period Tuesday for precautionary reasons.
"You know what, he ended up feeling better after the game than I think he did before," Maurice said. "So we're planning on putting him on the ice unless something happens today, he tightens up. We're not worried about that one at all."
Tim Campbell

Panthers release Brouwer from PTO

Troy Brouwer was released from his professional tryout contract by the Florida Panthers.
The 34-year-old forward had 21 points (12 goals, nine assists) in 75 games for the Panthers last season after playing the previous two with the Calgary Flames.

McCabe likely ready for Sabres season opener

Jake McCabe is expected to be ready for the regular season when the Buffalo Sabres play the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena on Oct. 3, coach Ralph Krueger said. The defenseman will be held out the remainder of the preseason after sustaining an upper-body injury at practice Tuesday.
"We're expecting him to be good to go for the first game," Krueger said. "We're going to keep him out of the preseason. It's definitely just short."
Defenseman Brandon Montour was ruled out the rest of the preseason after injuring his hand against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sept. 17, and defensemen Zach Bogosian (hip) and Lawrence Pilut (shoulder) have missed all of training camp and the preseason while recovering from offseason surgery.
The door is open for John Gilmour, who was signed as an unrestricted free agent July 1, to play against the Blue Jackets on Wednesday.
"We'll bring Gilmour in to play with [Colin] Miller, take a look at him on the left side and get to know him a little bit better," Krueger said. "It's an opportunity for that with Jake out."
Heather Engel

Cehlarik kept off ice by Bruins

Peter Cehlarik will be held off the ice for 2-3 days by the Boston Bruins because of a lower-body injury, coach Bruce Cassidy said.
The forward, hoping to break camp with the Bruins after playing 53 games for Providence of the American Hockey League last season, has scored one goal in two preseason games.