Training Camp Buzz: Tavares playing in preseason opener for Maple Leafs

Welcome to the 2021-22 NHL training camp buzz. With training camps opening for all 32 teams this week, NHL.com has you covered with all the latest news.

Toronto Maple Leafs

John Tavares is playing for the Maple Leafs in their preseason opener against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday (NHLN, SN1, RDS).
The center had not played since a concussion and knee injury sustained in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup First Round against the Canadiens on May 20 when he fell after being checked by Montreal defenseman Ben Chiarot and then was hit in the head by the left knee of forward Corey Perry. Tavares left the ice on a stretcher and was hospitalized overnight.
"Just turning into that that nervous energy or anxiety towards excitement," Tavares said. "It's getting to play the game again doing what I love."
Tavares was expected to play on a line with
Joshua Ho-Sang
and Michael Bunting.
"He's put a tremendous amount of work in," coach Sheldon Keefe said. "From what I've seen from him in the first three days, he's ready. He's prepared. He's focused, both for himself getting back to playing and also to setting our team up for a good season"
Center Auston Matthews handled the puck Friday for the first time since he had wrist surgery Aug. 13, but Keefe said there is no timeline for when he will join the main group at camp.
"We are very confident it is going to be before the opening of the regular season (Oct. 13 against the Canadiens in Toronto) and of course, if we can get him into some exhibition games, that would be even better," Keefe said. -- Dave McCarthy

Florida Panthers

Sergei Bobrovsky will enter the season as the starting goalie for the Panthers, coach Joel Quenneville said.
"'Bob's' got the net and (Spencer Knight) is going to be the guy learning and observing," Quenneville said Friday. "I'm not going to say we're going to budget him at so many games and Spencer at so many games, but Bob's going to have the workload, and then off of that 'Spence' pushes him in some areas and some ways. It's a healthy situation when you look at it."
Bobrovsky started 30 games for the Panthers last season; Chris Driedger, who signed with the Seattle Kraken, started 23. Knight started three games in the regular season and two in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
"Every situation, the coaches decide who is going to be in and my job is to be ready and to be prepared when my turn is to show my best," Bobrovsky said. "This is a new opportunity. I'm going to prepare myself to play my best hockey."
Forward Joe Thornton returned to practice Saturday after not practicing Friday because of an injury.

Detroit Red Wings

Jakub Vrana injured his shoulder in practice Saturday and the Red Wings forward will be reevaluated Sunday.
Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said the injury occurred during the first 10 minutes of practice.
Vrana was participating in camp for the first day because of visa issues.

Montreal Canadiens

Mike Hoffman will be out for at least the first week of the regular season for the Canadiens because of a lower-body injury.
The injury occurred before Hoffman got to Montreal and the forward is expected to be sidelined up to four weeks. Montreal opens the season at the Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct. 13.
Forward Brendan Gallagher will be on the ice Sunday and is expected to play in the third preseason game (Oct. 1), coach Dominique Ducharme said.
Gallagher has been absent from camp for personal reasons.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Radim Zohorna was used in center Evgeni Malkin's usual position at Penguins training camp Friday.
The forward skated with left wing Jason Zucker and right wing Kasperi Kapanen, Malkin's linemates from late last season, on the second line. Malkin will be out for the first two months of the regular season after having knee surgery.
"I don't know if he's played center before, but he's doing a good job out there," Kapanen said of Zohorna. "He can move. He's a big guy (6-foot-6, 220 pounds), but he also loves passing the puck. He makes great plays."
"It's amazing. They both are amazing players," Zohorna said Saturday of his linemates. "I have so much respect for them. I'm just trying to learn something from them. I hope I will be playing some games with these two guys. They are unbelievable. We'll see."
First-line center Sidney Crosby is expected to miss at least the first week of the season after having wrist surgery Sept. 8. Crosby has skated on his own before each of the first two days of training camp.
Jeff Carter would likely take Crosby's place on the first line, possibly with Jake Guentzel at left wing and Bryan Rust to the right. Teddy Blueger, normally on the fourth line, is an option for the second line. -- Wes Crosby