Preseason Buzz: Kotkaniemi makes Canadiens roster

Welcome to the NHL preseason! The 2018-19 regular season opens Wednesday.
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 preseason news for Saturday:

Kotkaniemi will start season with Canadiens

Jesperi Kotkaniemi, the No. 3 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, will start the season with the Montreal Canadiens.
Coach Claude Julien made the announcement after the morning skate before the Canadiens' final preseason game against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on Saturday. The 18-year-old center was not scheduled to dress.
Kotkaniemi has three points (one goal, two assists) in five preseason games.
"We decided that he'll start the season here in Montreal," Julien said. "It's good news for him, and it's good news for us."
The Canadiens open their regular season Wednesday at Toronto (7 p.m. ET; RDS, SN, NHL.TV).

Couturier, Simmonds could play in preseason finale for Flyers

Center Sean Couturier and forward Wayne Simmonds each could make his preseason debut when the Philadelphia Flyers play the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on Saturday (5 p.m. ET; NHLN, NESN).
"I know they want to go. It's a big benefit for them to be able to play a game," coach Dave Hakstol said Friday.
Simmonds had offseason abdominal surgery but has been skating as the third-line right wing with center Mikhail Vorobyev and left wing James van Riemsdyk. Simmonds said he would like to get into a game before the Flyers open their regular season at the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday (10 p.m. ET; NBCSN, NBCSP, SN360, TVAS).
"I've had seven or eight days in a row without any hiccups, so that's a good thing," he told philly.com. "There's not a doubt in my mind that I'm ready, physically."
Couturier, who sustained a lower-body injury during a charity hockey game in Quebec on Aug. 10, also is eager to play.
"Practice is never the same as a real game," he said. "Even a preseason game to a regular-season game is a little different. It's just a matter of getting back into rhythm, get some good habits back and getting a feel for the game."

Andrighetto may be out month for Avalanche

Sven Andrighetto will miss the start of the Colorado Avalanche regular season with a lower-body injury sustained in
a 3-1 preseason loss
against the Dallas Stars on Wednesday.
Coach Jared Bednar said the forward could miss the first month of the season.
"I think he's going to be a couple weeks, two to three to four," Bednar said after the Avalanche defeated the Minnesota Wild 4-3 in overtime on Friday. "Somewhere in there. Not real long, but it's a significant amount of time to start the season."
The Avalanche open their regular season against the Wild on Thursday (9 p.m. ET; FS-WI, FS-N, ALT, NHL.TV).

Cizikas leaves game for Islanders

Casey Cizikas left during the second period of
the New York Islanders' 5-4 preseason loss
to the Buffalo Sabres at Oshawa, Ontario, on Friday and didn't return.
The center was checked into the glass near the Islanders bench by Buffalo defenseman Jake McCabe and went directly to the dressing room. The Islanders don't practice again until Sunday.
New York opens its regular season at the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; MSG+, FS-CR, NHL.TV).