NHL Status Report: Seguin makes preseason debut for Stars

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

Dallas Stars

Tyler Seguin made his preseason debut for the Stars in a 2-1 win at the Minnesota Wild on Friday. The forward was plus-1 in 13:57 of ice time. Seguin hadn't played since Dec. 2, when he tore the ACL in his right knee during a 3-2 overtime loss at the New York Rangers. Seguin had surgery Dec. 16. The typical timeline for recovery is nine months. "It's great. Feels like your first game all over again," Seguin said. "In one way it’s nice to get that out of the way, in another way it was just so much fun."  Seguin had 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) and was plus-10 in 27 games for Dallas prior to the injury. … Forwards Matt Duchene (maintenance) Colin Blackwell (lower body) will not play Friday but coach Glen Gulutzan expects them to be ready for the season opener against the St. Louis Blues on Oct. 2.

Buffalo Sabres

Goalie Alex Lyon is being evaluated for an upper-body injury He was injured in the first period of a 3-2 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday. After diving forward and corralling a loose puck, he flexed his left arm and immediately skated toward the bench. He was replaced by Colten Ellis. … Forward Jiri Kulich did not practice Friday for maintenance. He left Thursday's game midway through the second period for precautionary reasons but is expected to skate or play in their preseason finale on Saturday. … Olen Zellweger (concussion) skated Friday and will skate Saturday. Coach Lindy Ruff said he expects the defenseman to be ready for next week. … As insurance on defense, the Sabres signed Matt Grzelcyk to a one-year $850,000 contract on Friday. The 32-year-old had 12 assists in 69 games for the Chicago Blackhawks last season.

Vancouver Canucks

Filip Chytil is out week to week with a shoulder injury the forward sustained in the Canucks’ 2-1 preseason loss to the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Arena on Thursday. The 27-year-old was injured at 14:54 after he was bumped by an Oilers player as he skated towards the corner in pursuit of a loose puck, causing him to clip skates with referee Riley Brace and fall heavily into the boards with his right shoulder. “As nasty as that looked, came down on the shoulder in more of a muscular strain,” general manager Ryan Johnson said on Friday. “He was in great spirits this morning. It will be a week-to-week thing, but nothing at this point that is alarming. We're just glad he's okay after such an unfortunate spill.” Chytil played just 12 games last season after sustaining a concussion six games into the season, experiencing migraines after returning to action in late January. He then fractured his cheekbone after getting hit by a teammate’s shot at practice during the Olympic break in February.   ... Leevi Merilainen was claimed by the Canucks off waivers from the Ottawa Senators on Friday. The 24-year-old goalie played in a career-high 20 games last season, going 8-10-1 with a 3.51 goals-against average and .869 save percentage. He has played 34 NHL games with Ottawa over the past three seasons.

New York Islanders

Alexander Romanov made his preseason debut in the Islanders' 6-1 loss to the New York Rangers on Friday. The defenseman played 20: 24 with one shot on goal. He hadn't played since Nov. 19, when he sustained a right shoulder injury that required surgery in a 3-2 win against the Dallas Stars. Romanov was challenged by coach Pete DeBoer to come into training camp in better shape and arrived 13 pounds lighter. "I was waiting, like, the whole year, you know?" Romanov said. "And yeah, just excited to play my first game since I was injured. It's an important game for me just to feel how it feels to play hockey and join the team." DeBoer said that Romanov will also play on Saturday in the preseason finale for the Islanders against the Devils (7:30 p.m. ET). … Defenseman Ryan Pulock, who had offseason shoulder surgery, also made his preseason debut Friday, playing 18:29.

New Jersey Devils

Seamus Casey sustained an undisclosed injury midway through the second period of a 4-3 preseason shootout loss to the New York Rangers on Thursday. The defenseman collided with a Rangers player and didn't return to the game. His last shift came at 9:39 of the second. "He's going to need to get evaluated," Devils coach Sheldon Keefe said after the game. "He's going to miss some time. We just don't know the extent of it." Casey had an assist in 11:58 of ice time on 13 shifts before his injury.