NHL Status Report: Kane to make Blackhawks preseason debut against Blues

Welcome to the NHL Status Report. With training camp and preseason games underway, here is the latest lineup/injury news around the NHL.

Chicago Blackhawks

Patrick Kane will make his preseason debut for the Blackhawks when they play the St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center on Thursday (8 p.m. ET; CHSN). This likely will be the only game Kane will play prior to the start of the regular season. Asked if Kane would be held out of the final preseason game against the Blues at United Center on Saturday so he’d make his home debut Oct. 6 against St. Louis, Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill said there "might be something like that." Kane is in his second stint with the Blackhawks after signing a two-year, $16 million contract ($8 million average annual value) with them July 23. Selected by Chicago with the No. 1 pick in the 2007 NHL Draft, Kane helped the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup three times (2010, 2013, 2015) during his 16 seasons with them (2007-23). The Blackhawks open the regular season against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Sept. 29.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Nick Paul did not practice Thursday and the forward is questionable for the Maple Leafs' season opener against the Montreal Canadiens on Sept. 29. Paul left a 6-1 win against the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Wednesday during the first period because of an undisclosed injury. He played 4:42 and had one shot on goal. "It's nothing we are overly concerned about but we have to take it day by day," coach Jim Hiller said Thursday. "I can't say (Paul will be ready to start the regular season) with certainty." ... Forward Steven Lorentz will be placed on waivers. He did not practice Thursday.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Ben Kindel is considered week to week because of a lower-body injury. The forward missed the final two periods of the Penguins' 4-1 win against the Buffalo Sabres on Monday and initially was considered day to day. "Looking more week to week at this point," Penguins director of minor league operations Amanda Kessel said Thursday. "We're waiting for more testing results today." The Penguins open the regular season against the Philadelphia Flyers on Sept. 30.

Philadelphia Flyers

Denver Barkey remains a possibility to play against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the season opener Sept. 30. The forward sustained a lower-body injury during a preseason game against the Washington Capitals on Monday but practiced in a noncontact jersey Thursday. Coach Rick Tocchet said Thursday that Barkey remains day to day but could play in the Flyers' final preseason game, against the Capitals on Saturday. If that happens, it makes Barkey's availability for the season opener that much more of a possibility. "I think if he plays Saturday, unless something else happens on the ice, you’d think he’d be ready to go for opening night," Tocchet said. ... Forward Nikita Grebenkin, who last played March 21 because of an upper-body injury and missed the first two preseason games, will play against the Boston Bruins on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; NBCSP+, NESNplus).

Dallas Stars

Jake Oettinger didn't practice Thursday after being scratched from a scheduled start against the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday because of lower-body tightness. "Jake was a bit precautionary," coach Glen Gulutzan said Wednesday. "He had a little tightness, lower-body tightness, and we weren't going to take a chance." Also sitting out practice were forward Matt Duchene and Tyler Seguin. Seguin is working his way back from surgery Dec. 16 to repair a torn ACL in  his right knee and missed the first two preseason games. Duchene has been receiving maintenance days during training camp.