Training Camp Buzz: Pastrnak back for Bruins

Welcome to the Training Camp Buzz. The 24 teams who will be competing for the Stanley Cup began training camp at their facilities Monday. The teams are scheduled to head to their respective hub cities (Toronto for the 12 Eastern Conference teams, Edmonton for the 12 Western Conference teams), on July 26, with the Stanley Cup Qualifiers set to begin Aug. 1.

Here's a look around the League at the latest from training camp:

Boston Bruins

David Pastrnak practiced with the Bruins on Wednesday for the first time in training camp, skating with a small group of teammates.

Pastrnak, who returned to the Czech Republic after the NHL season was paused March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus, was unable to participate the first two days because of quarantine rules for players arriving from Europe, according to general manager Don Sweeney.

The right wing, who plays on the Bruins' top line with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand, tied for the NHL lead in goals with Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals; each scored 48. He finished with 95 points, tied for third with Artemi Panarin of the New York Rangers.

Most of the Bruins remained off the ice, with a small group of mostly young players participating in practice to give the veterans a break after sessions each of the previous two days. Coach Bruce Cassidy said he anticipates having a full team Thursday.

The Bruins will play in the round-robin portion of the Stanley Cup Qualifiers in Toronto with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers. -- Amalie Benjamin

New York Rangers

Igor Shesterkin's performance in the Rangers scrimmage may have vaulted him ahead of Henrik Lundqvist and Alexandar Georgiev in the battle to be New York's starting goalie for Game 1 of the best-of-5 qualifier series against the Carolina Hurricanes on Aug. 1.

"I thought Igor had a great day today," coach David Quinn said. "I thought he was outstanding today."

Shesterkin was establishing himself as New York's No. 1 goalie before the season was paused. He was 10-2-0 with a 2.52 goals-against average and .932 save percentage in 12 starts after being recalled from Hartford of the American Hockey League on Jan. 6.

Quinn did mention after praising Shesterkin that he also liked what he saw from Lundqvist and Georgiev in the scrimmage.

"It's not a surprise," Quinn said. "As I've said, we have a lot of faith in all three of these guys. Let the battle continue." -- Dan Rosen

Pittsburgh Penguins

Tristan Jarry said he has not been informed by Penguins coaches how the goalies will be used against the Montreal Canadiens in the best-of-5 qualifier series, which begins Aug. 1.

Jarry shared the starting role with Matt Murray through much of the regular season before it was paused. He was named to the 2020 Honda NHL All-Star Game and was 20-12-1 with a 2.43 GAA and .921 save percentage in 33 games (31 starts).

"They haven't said anything," Jarry said. "I think it's all up in the air. I think we're just trying to get back in shape as quickly as we can and get ready to play. Get ready for that first exhibition game."

The Penguins will play the Philadelphia Flyers in an exhibition game at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, the Eastern Conference hub city, July 28.

When training camp opened Monday, coach Mike Sullivan said he had an idea of how the goalies would be deployed but would not disclose it.

Murray, who won the Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 2016 and 2017, was 20-11-5 with a 2.87 GAA and .899 save percentage in 38 starts. -- Wes Crosby

Minnesota Wild

Kirill Kaprizov said he doesn't know when he will join the Wild but is eager to do so.

The 23-year-old forward signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Wild on Monday but cannot play until the 2020-21 NHL season. Selected by Minnesota in the fifth round (No. 135) of the 2015 NHL Draft, Kaprizov is awaiting paperwork to be able to leave Moscow and join his new teammates.

"I thought it was going to be a much smoother process once the season was over (in the Kontinental Hockey League)," Kaprizov said. "I know everybody's waiting for me, and I can't wait to put on the [Wild] jersey myself. I hope that's going to happen sometime as soon as next week, and I'm really eager and excited to join the team."

Once he completes quarantine requirements for players arriving from Europe, he would be able to join Minnesota in training camp and practice with the Wild during the Qualifiers in Edmonton, the hub city for the 12 Western Conference teams. Minnesota will travel there July 26 and begin its best-of-5 qualifier series against the Vancouver Canucks on Aug. 2.

"I think it's going to be useful on both ends, for me to get to know my teammates, and since I'm not going to be playing," Kaprizov said. "I'll have more time to get acquainted with the League, with the city and the people. Everything is new to me, I have never been there, so I am looking forward to this." -- Jessi Pierce

Winnipeg Jets

Center Cody Eakin will stay on the second line between Patrik Laine and Nikolaj Ehlers for the Qualifiers against the Calgary Flames in place of Bryan Little, who is recovering from surgery to repair a perforated eardrum.

"It took one or two games to kind of get my legs under me," Eakin said. "You've got two guys on your wings that can really fly and they're really creating offense, creating areas and pockets and speed and just generating room all around the ice, and both lethal with the puck on their sticks. A couple games in, we started to find a bit of a rhythm."

Eakin scored five points (one goal, four assists) in eight games for the Jets after he was acquired in a trade from the Vegas Golden Knights on Feb. 21.

"He's a great player," Laine said. "I think he was a good addition, something we definitely needed since [Little] has been out. So that was great for us, and he's been on some winning teams so that's good for us. He's a good, smart player. He's good with the puck and he's reliable at both ends of the ice so he's good to play with." -- Tim Campbell

Washington Capitals

Connor McMichael could make his NHL debut for the Capitals during the Qualifiers or playoffs when Lars Eller leaves for the birth of his son.

Coach Todd Reirden said that McMichael, the No. 25 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, is among the options to replace Eller at third-line center. Eller's wife, Julie, is due to give birth to the couple's second child Aug. 8.

The Capitals are scheduled to play the Boston Bruins in their final round-robin game that day in Toronto after playing the Tampa Bay Lightning on Aug. 3 and Philadelphia Flyers on Aug. 6.

"If we didn't think he was an option to be able to play, then that would be a player that we wouldn't probably bring to the hub city with us," Reirden said. "So if he's going to be there, and he's going to be in Toronto, then to me he's an option because so many things can change so quickly with everything that's going to happen in this bubble."

Reirden noted that McMichael also played wing while helping Canada finish first at the 2020 IIHF World Championship, so it's possible he could play that position as well. The 19-year-old is coming off a strong season in the Ontario Hockey League when he led London with 47 goals and 102 points.

"I'm going to do everything to prove to the coaches that I can play in the lineup and if not, I'll always be ready in case someone gets hurt or other things happen," McMichael said. "So I'm just really excited to be here and it should be really fun." -- Tom Gulitti

Chicago Blackhawks

Calvin de Haan missed his second consecutive day of training camp because of a family emergency, and coach Jeremy Colliton said it's uncertain when the defenseman will return.

"Nothing concrete right now," Colliton said. "That's where we're at."

De Haan began skating with the Blackhawks during Phase 2 on July 2 and practiced when training camp opened Monday. He had right-shoulder surgery Dec. 27 -- Tracey Myers

Nashville Predators

Filip Forsberg was reunited with center Ryan Johansen and right wing Viktor Arvidsson during the first three days of training camp.

"The chemistry's been good," Forsberg said. "The familiarity has always been there. I think it's been a while since we played together but you can almost tell right away ... in the back of your head what the other guys are going to do.

"Obviously there hasn't been a ton of game-type line drills but a couple of line rushes we had, I thought looked good."

Forsberg (21), Arvidsson (15) and Johansen (14) scored 23 percent of the Predators' 212 goals this season. Forsberg missed 17 games with an upper-body injury and Arvidsson 21 with a broken thumb.

"I think it's important to try and get some chemistry as quick as you can (in Phase 3)," coach John Hynes said. "We know about Johansen, Forsberg and Arvidsson. We set expectations and brought them back with a fresh slate ... they can be a very good line and have been a very good line.

"It's nice to see the way they're practicing and working, and it looks like they're ready to play really good hockey." -- Mike G. Morreale

New York Islanders

Nick Leddy practiced with the Islanders after missing the first two days of training camp.

The defenseman was listed as unfit to play Monday and Tuesday. Islanders coach Barry Trotz said he never considered it to be something serious.

"I really didn't have any doubt that he was coming back; I wasn't worried about that," Trotz said. "I just thought to get him back on the ice … his impact, he's such a great skater. And also, to give the D a little bit of a rest at this point."

Leddy scored 21 points (three goals, 18 assists) in 60 regular-season games. He played at least 78 games in each of his first five seasons with New York, including all 82 last season.

"I felt good today," Leddy said. "I think the conditioning was there and overall I think systems-wise and just kind of connecting with everyone again will take a couple of skates. But with our systems, they're so detailed that I think it'll come back pretty quick.

"It was great getting back out with the guys. It felt like kind of a short summer, but to be back with the guys at such a fun time to be playing in the playoffs, it's really exciting for sure." -- Brian Compton

Vancouver Canucks

Micheal Ferland skated with the Canucks for the first time since training camp opened Monday.

The forward, who was limited to 14 games this season because of recurring concussion symptoms and was unfit to play the first two days of training camp, skated with a smaller second group of players after the main group finished practice. Ferland took part in battle drills along the boards and coach Travis Green said he expects him to soon skate with the top group.

"I don't have a timeline, but it is a good sign that he's out there and closer to joining the bigger team," Green said.

Center Brandon Sutter did not practice after skating the first two days.

"Unfit to play," Green said of Sutter. "No sense of timeline." -- Kevin Woodley

Training Camp Buzz, Day 2: Shaw out for Blackhawks