NHL Training Camp Buzz: Laine, Dach gaining chemistry with Canadiens

Welcome to the 2024-25 NHL training camp buzz. Training camp is underway and NHL.com has you covered with all the latest news.

Montreal Canadiens

Patrik Laine scrimmaged on a line with Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook at training camp Friday for a second straight day.

Laine was limited to 18 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets last season while Dach is returning after sustaining a season-ending knee injury in the Canadiens' second game last season.

Dach looks forward to finding chemistry with his new linemates, which could provide Montreal with a substantial second line behind Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky.

"I thought today was better than yesterday," Dach said. "I think that's all it's going to take is some time. You watch 'Slaf', Cole and 'Suzi', you can tell that they played the last five, six months of the season together and they're kind of snapping it around, and it's definitely a place we want to get to as a line."

Montreal begins the preseason against the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday. They open the regular season against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct. 9. -- Sean Farrell

San Jose Sharks

Logan Couture is dealing with the same lower-body injury that kept him out for all but six games last season.

"There's no immediate plan to get onto the ice," Couture said. "[I've] played hockey for 30-plus years. When it ends abruptly, it's difficult, especially when you don't really have a choice. The body just breaks down. But that's the way professional sports, or sports in general, normally work. It's not always injuries, sometimes other reasons, but yeah, that's the situation."

Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said the team needs to make sure they take care of Couture as a person above all else.

"We're going support him, first and foremost, as a person," Warsofsky said. "He's doing everything he can to get better and better and help this hockey club."

Sharks GM Mike Grier added he expects Couture to start the season on injured reserve.

"I'm sure he is frustrated. He's an athlete. This is something he's probably been doing since he was three or four years old," Grier said. "I think he's in a good frame of mind. He's attacking his rehab and doing the work he needs to do. It's just not a situation or an injury that we can rush or put a timeline on. When his body tells him he's ready to play, then he'll get back out there."

Couture, who has been San Jose's captain since 2019, has 701 points (323 goals, 378 assists) in 933 regular-season games. -- Max Miller

New Jersey Devils

Brett Pesce was not available on the opening day of training camp for the Devils and is week to week as he continues to recover from surgery to repair a fractured fibula.

The 29-year-old defenseman signed a six-year contract with the Devils on July 1 after nine seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes. He sustained a non-contact lower-body injury in the second period of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference First Round against the New York Islanders last season, won by the Hurricanes in five games.

Pesce was three weeks post-surgery when he signed with the Devils.

"Prior to signing him, we all knew he had season-ending surgery with Carolina, and he's made great progress since he's been in town," Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald said. "Our medical staff has done a good job with him. It's just a comfort level with the skate, getting your agility and working on those muscles ... so I consider him week to week."

Additionally, center Erik Haula was not available due to a virus, but is expected to arrive on Friday, Fitzgerald said.

The Devils open the preseason against the New York Islanders on Sunday and begin the regular season against the Buffalo Sabres in Prague in the 2024 NHL Global Series Czechia presented by Fastenal on Oct. 4-5. -- Mike G. Morreale

Boston Bruins

Elias Lindholm was not on the ice for the Bruins on Friday.

Lindholm, who was one of two big offseason acquisitions for the Bruins along with defenseman Nikita Zadorov, was replaced at center on the top line by Matthew Poitras.

"We're just being extra cautious," coach Jim Montgomery said. "He was a little -- I don't know if sore is even the right word. I told him he's not practicing today. Take a maintenance day. He'll be back shortly."

Lindholm had skated with Pavel Zacha and David Pastrnak on Thursday, the first day of camp for the Bruins in a preview of the team's presumptive first line.

Lindholm had 44 points (15 goals, 29 assists) in 75 games for the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames last season, and had 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 13 Stanley Cup Playoff games with the Canucks.

Boston plays its first preseaosn game against the New York Rangers on Sunday.-- Amalie Benjamin

Utah Hockey Club

Nick Bjugstad and John Marino were not available on the opening day of training camp and each is week to week because of an upper-body injury.

Bjugstad, a forward had 45 points (22 goals, 23 assists) in 76 games with the Arizona Coyotes last season.

Marino, a defenseman, who was acquired from the New Jersey Devils on June 29, had 25 points (four goals, 21 assists) in 75 games last season.

Utah plays its first preseason game against the St. Louis Blues in Des Moines, Iowa, on Sunday, and begins the regular season against the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 8. -- Matt Komma

Philadelphia Flyers

Rasmus Ristolainen was a full participant on the first day of training camp after having surgery April 18 to repair a ruptured triceps tendon.

"I feel good," the defenseman said Thursday. "I'm fully healthy and ready to go. ... Not sure when I was cleared, but probably the last couple of weeks I've been fully healthy and doing pretty much everything normal on the ice."

The surgery was the second one he had to address the injury. He played his final game last season Feb. 10.

"There was kind of two injuries in the same place," he said. "It was two different things, two different surgeries. So after the first surgery, I tried to rehab and get back, but then I couldn't, so I had to do another one, and then basically been rehabbing the last six months."

The 29-year-old is going into his fourth season with the Flyers but said he's looking forward to playing his first season opener with them after missing the previous three because of injury.

"It's annoying because before that, I've never barely been hurt and played most of the games," he said. "Stuff happens and you can't control and it's sometimes bad luck too. But yeah, I'm extremely excited. Big plan is to stay healthy."

Center Sean Couturier also is healthy after having surgery in April to repair a core muscle injury. He said he was able to get in his full offseason training program.

"I was able to do pretty much everything I wanted to as the summer went on," he said. "I think it's 6-8 weeks recovery, rehab. But honestly, after like two weeks, you feel great. It's just a matter of being patient and not pushing it too hard to let it heal and make sure it's fine. But yeah, I had a good summer of training. Feel good and ready to go." -- Adam Kimelman

Vegas Golden Knights

Robin Lehner will not report to the Golden Knights this season, general manager Kelly McCrimmon said.

The 33-year-old goalie last played an NHL game April 20, 2022, when he allowed one goal on 13 shots before being replaced at the start of the second period by Logan Thompson. The Golden Knights defeated the Washington Capitals 4-3 in overtime at T-Mobile Arena.

He was on long-term injured reserve last season after having hip surgery in August of 2023.

"He continues to be unfit to play,” McCrimmon said Thursday. “There are unique circumstances surrounding this situation that the NHL, the NHLPA and (Vegas) are working through. Collectively, we are assessing our next steps, and when we have more to say, we will."

Lehner is 152-141-49 with a 2.71 goals-against average, .917 save percentage and 17 shutouts in 364 regular-season games (345 starts) for the Ottawa Senators, Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, Chicago Blackhawks and Golden Knights. He's 14-14 with a 2.19 GAA and .919 save percentage in 29 Stanley Cup Playoff games (27 starts).

Lehner wrote about his mental health issues and alcoholism during his time with the Sabres before the 2018-19 season and the treatment that helped him recover. He went on to have the best season of his NHL career (25-13-5, 2.13 GAA, .930 save percentage), helping the Islanders return to the playoffs and allow the fewest goals in the NHL. He won the Masterton Trophy, given for perseverance and dedication to hockey, and was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, awarded to the top goalie in the NHL.

Buffalo Sabres

Rasmus Dahlin will miss "a couple days of practice" coach Lindy Ruff said on Thursday, one day after the defenseman left early into the first practice of training camp with an injury.

The defenseman participated in a few drills before leaving the ice with what Ruff said was a "mid-range" body ailment. Ruff also said the injury was not serious.

Dahlin led the Sabres with 59 points (20 goals, 39 assists) last season and was fifth in the NHL in ice time per game (25:25).

"That guy is a game-changer each and every night," forward Alex Tuch said. "His consistency on the compete factor has been incredible ever since I got to town, and I've seen it grow and just blossom into the player that he's become."

The Sabres play their first preseason games against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, and begin the regular season against the New Jersey Devils in Prague in the 2024 NHL Global Series Czechia presented by Fastenal on Oct. 4-5. -- Heather Engel

Pittsburgh Penguins

Anthony Beauvillier has been first-line left wing with center Sidney Crosby and right wing Bryan Rust in the first three days of training camp.

That spot is unclaimed after Guentzel, now with the Tampa Bay Lightning, was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes on March 7.

Beauvillier, a 27-year-old forward, who signed a one-year contract on July 1, could be an option.

"He skates well and I think he's a guy that is pretty good in the puck pursuit game, the way he hunts pucks and gets after the puck," Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. "He's got a good stick, some decent offensive instincts. We thought we could put him there for the first little while and see how it goes."

Beauvillier had 17 points (five goals, 12 assists) in 60 games last season for the Vancouver Canucks, Chicago Blackhawks and Nashville Predators. In 2022-23, he had an NHL career-high 40 points (18 goals, 22 assists) in 82 games for the Canucks and New York Islanders.

However, Drew O'Connor had 12 points (seven goals, five assists) in the final 18 games last season and could receive a look as camp progresses.

"We're just trying to give guys an opportunity to play alongside our core guys," Sullivan said. "We'll make observations, see what we see and make decisions from there. We'll probably move guys around a little bit. For example, we know what we're going to get if we put [O'Connor] up there." -- Wes Crosby

Toronto Maple Leafs

Jake McCabe, who is entering the final season of a four-year contract, said he has had preliminary discussions with the Maple Leafs on a new contract and is not averse to negotiating during the season.

"I love it here and I think they enjoy my game too so that's why you have agents and now it's training camp time," the defenseman said Friday. "I love it here. We've been chatting and we will see where things go."

McCabe, who was acquired in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks on February 27, 2023, had 28 points (eight goals, 20 assists) in 73 regular-season games last season.

Forward Steven Lorentz, who is attending Maple Leafs training camp on a professional tryout, did not practice Friday because of an upper body injury. He is considered day to day.

Defenseman Ben Danford, who was selected No. 31 by Toronto in the 2024 NHL Draft, skated by himself prior to the full on-ice sessions while he continues to recover from a concussion sustained on September 13 at practice for the 2024 Rookie Showdown. -- Dave McCarthy

Edmonton Oilers

Darnell Nurse is "confident" he will be ready when the Oilers open the season against the Winnipeg Jets on Oct. 9, but the defenseman is not certain he will be able to play in any preseason games.

Nurse is still recovering from an undisclosed injury sustained in the Stanley Cup Final but took part in the opening day of training camp on Thursday, participating in all the drills.

"It's a fluid thing," Nurse said. "I'll take it day by day, but I'm feeling good out there."

Nurse sustained the injury in the first period of Game 2 against the Panthers on a hit from forward Evan Rodrigues. Nurse was limited to seven shifts over the course of the rest of the game, but did play the remainder of the series, which Edmonton lost in seven games.

He said the injury affected his offseason routine.

"It kind of forced me to kick my feet up and relax for the first time, and it was good," Nurse said. "For me, I just relaxed got away from everything and reset. It was a great summer."

Edmonton opens the preseason against the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday.

"I absolutely do," Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said when asked if he thought Nurse would be ready for the regular season. "I haven't been able to talk to him today, but I think he feels pretty good. I'm very confident he'll play at least two exhibition games." -- Derek Van Diest

Winnipeg Jets

Ville Heinola is out indefinitely because of an infection in his surgically repaired ankle.

The issue for the 23-year-old defenseman can be traced back to training camp last season when he suffered a broken ankle in the team’s final preseason game. Heinola needed surgery and a screw inserted to repair the injury, which limited him to 41 games with Manitoba of the American Hockey League last season.

“It’s not good,” Jets coach Scott Arniel said Friday. “I don’t know what the next steps are. Doctors are going to have to look at him a little bit more.”

Heinola was on the ice and took part in Winnipeg’s first day of camp on Thursday, but was absent on Friday.

“The last couple of days it’s sort of swollen-up on him and we weren’t sure what it was,” Arniel said. “They looked at it; it’s infected.

“This isn’t day to day, so we will come back around to this in maybe a week or so and see where he’s at. It’s a little bit more serious than we thought.”

A first-round pick (No. 20) in the 2019 NHL Draft, Heinola had 27 points (10 goals, 17 assists) in 41 games with Manitoba in 2023-24. He has 11 points (one goal, 10 assists) in 35 career games with the Jets. -- Darrin Bauming

Ottawa Senators

Josh Norris is healthy and on track to play in the season opener against the Florida Panthers on Oct. 10.

"[We had] honest conversations [in the offseason] about where he's at physically, mentally," coach Travis Green said of Norris. "And obviously, we'll continue to have a dialogue with him to see where he's at.

"There's always bumps and bruises along the way, especially when you're coming off injury and we'll monitor it daily to assess where he's at and what he needs to be ready for the home opener."

Norris, who missed 96 games over the past two seasons due to a recurring shoulder injury, took part in fitness and medical testing Wednesday at Canadian Tire Centre on the first day of training camp. The 25-year-old underwent the third shoulder operation of his career in March.

"I'm in a much better position than I was last year, so I'm happy about that and I'm just excited to get things going," Norris said Thursday. "I've felt good for a long time now. I'm just happy to be 100 percent and ready to go for camp."

Norris, who had 30 points (16 goals, 14 assists) in 50 games last season, is expected to begin the season at center.

"It's his natural position," Green said. "He's had success at this level at this position. So, I think, to start, it's important to put him in that spot. But just in my conversations without knowing him in the past, he seems very confident and excited to get going and mature, as well."

The Senators are hoping Norris can stay healthy and contribute offensively. He had 55 points (35 goals, 20 assists) in 66 games in 2021-22.

"It's good to see Josh out there," forward Shane Pinto said. "Just to see the smile on his face. Obviously, one of my good buddies. We've been through a couple tough years here and there together, so it's just good to see him out here. It's been a tough last year for him and it's just good to see him out here and just enjoying the game again. I'm just excited to see what he does this year. I know he's going to have a good year for us." -- Callum Fraser

Vancouver Canucks

Elias Pettersson had to adjust his offseason training around a nagging knee injury that affected his performance late last season and into the playoffs, but the Canucks center felt good after the first day of training camp.

"I had a good summer. It was a little different. I had to train around my knee injury, but I feel great,” Pettersson said. "I don't know how exactly to explain it, but it's like a nagging injury that doesn't want to go away easily, but we figured out a way to work around it and I feel good.”

Pettersson had 89 points (34 goals, 55 assists) in 82 games last season, but his production fell off after January, with 25 points in the final 33 games after 64 in the first 49, and just one goal and five assists in 13 playoff games. In his season-ending interview with the media in late May, Pettersson cited a knee injury, which coach Rick Tocchet later described as tendinitis, for the decline in scoring.

Heading into the first season of an eight-year, $92.8 million contract signed on March 3, Pettersson conceded he might need to rest the knee during training camp, but the 25-year-old said it felt good after practicing on a line with free agent addition Jake DeBrusk and rookie Jonathan Lekkerimaki on the first day.

"I don't feel any pain in it now or after so it's not a big thing,” Pettersson said. “The knee is fine.” -- Kevin Woodley