Training Camp Buzz: Bruins expect full roster at next practice

Welcome to the Training Camp Buzz. The 24 teams who will be competing for the Stanley Cup began training camp at their facilities July 13. 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

The Bruins hope to have their entire roster back on the ice Thursday for their next scheduled practice, coach Bruce Cassidy said Tuesday.

"Thursday will probably be the more accurate count," Cassidy said. "We'll give those guys time away, might be guys that miss for whatever reason. We're discussing that internally, make that decision this afternoon. Thursday will be, hopefully again, we're aiming for full numbers,"

Missing from Boston's final practice before a scheduled off day Wednesday were forwards David Pastrnak, Ondrej Kase and Joakim Nordstrom, and defenseman Charlie McAvoy. Pastrnak and Kase have not been on the ice for five straight practice days; McAvoy has missed the past two sessions.

Nine players missed practice July 18, but six returned Monday after an off day Sunday.

The Bruins said July 14 that Pastrnak, whose 48 goals tied Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals for the NHL lead, was "unfit to participate." As part of the NHL Return to Play Plan, a team is not permitted to disclose player injury or illness information. Since training camp opened July 13, Pastrnak has only practiced one day (July 15).

The Bruins will play in the round-robin portion of the Stanley Cup Qualifiers at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, the Eastern Conference hub city, against the Capitals, Tampa Bay Lightning and Philadelphia Flyers to determine seeding for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Boston's first game is Aug. 2 against Philadelphia. -- Amalie Benjamin

Chicago Blackhawks

Jonathan Toews was ruled unfit to participate and did not practice with the Blackhawks after leaving practice early Monday.

"Just trying to keep him fresh. Nothing other than that," coach Jeremy Colliton said of the center.

Toews scored 60 points (18 goals, 42 assists) in 70 games this season, second on Chicago behind forward Patrick Kane's 84. In Toews' absence, Philipp Kurashev played center on the top line with forwards Alex DeBrincat and Brandon Saad.

Calvin de Haan, who had been out since July 14 because of a family emergency, skated for nearly an hour. The defenseman, who had surgery on his right shoulder on Dec. 27, began skating with the Blackhawks on July 2. He had six points (one goal, five assists) in 29 games this season.

Defenseman Connor Murphy ("unfit to play") skated for about 25 minutes prior to practice. Murphy, who had 19 points (five goals, 14 assists) in 58 games this season, last practiced with the team Wednesday.

"Great to have Murph and de Haan back on the ice," Colliton said. "We'll get them going as quick as we can. When they join the full group, I don't know. But certainly, it's a good sign we got them going and we'll take it day-by-day there."

The Blackhawks play the Edmonton Oilers in a best-of-5 series in the Qualifiers in Edmonton, the Western Conference hub city. Game 1 is Aug. 1. -- Tracey Myers

Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins expect to be completely healthy when they open their best-of-5 qualifier series against the Montreal Canadiens, general manager Jim Rutherford said.

"As of today, we will (enter the Qualifiers healthy)," Rutherford told DKPittsburghSports.com.

Center Sidney Crosby left the bench about 10 minutes into the 25-minute second period of a scrimmage Saturday, and the center did not practice Sunday and skipped a scrimmage Monday. The Penguins were off Tuesday.

Crosby scored 47 points (16 goals, 31 assists) in 41 games before it was paused March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus. He was injured Nov. 9, had core muscle surgery Nov. 14 and missed 28 games before returning to score four points (one goal, three assists) in a 7-3 win against the Minnesota Wild on Jan. 14.

The Penguins will play the Canadiens in Toronto beginning Aug. 1.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Nick Foligno did not play in a simulated game.

It was the second straight day the forward did not participate at Columbus training camp after he sat out a scrimmage Monday.

The No. 9 seed Blue Jackets will play the No. 8 seed Toronto Maple Leafs in a best-of-5 series in Toronto beginning Aug. 2.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Zach Hyman returned to the ice after missing practice during the weekend, skating with Auston Matthews and Mitchell Marner.

"It feels great to be back. Being a short camp, it felt longer than a couple of days," Hyman said. "I took a shot there last week, so it was just precautionary, but I feel good."

John Tavares was the center on a line with William Nylander and Ilya Mikheyev. Nicholas Robertson, who replaced Hyman when he was out, skated with Alex Kerfoot and Kasperi Kapanen.

The Maple Leafs will play the Columbus Blue Jackets in a best-of-5 series in Toronto beginning Aug. 2.

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Philadelphia Flyers

Carter Hart left a scrimmage during the first period.

Hart was 24-13-3 with a 2.42 goals-against average and .914 save percentage in 43 games (40 starts) this season.

"It's important to get in shape and get game-ready, but if you have something that's minor that you don't want to push, it's not a big deal to get off the ice," center Kevin Hayes said. "I'd rather have [Hart] be 100 percent than push it too hard and be 85-90 percent. Probably a smart decision by him. Don't think it's anything major."

The Flyers will play against the Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning and Washington Capitals in the round-robin portion of the Eastern Conference Qualifiers in Toronto to determine seeding for the playoffs. Their first game is against the Bruins on Aug. 2. They have an exhibition game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 28.

Hart is expected to be the Flyers' No. 1 goalie during the playoffs despite having not played in an NHL postseason game. Brian Elliott, who has 45 games of playoff experience, is expected to be the backup.

"[Hart] is a big part of our team," center Sean Couturier said. "He's a good young goalie. But let's not forget we have [Elliott] here, great veteran, lot of experience, he's been great for us all year. Whoever is in net this year, we showed we're a good team. Don't see anything different here."-- Adam Kimelman

New York Rangers

Pavel Buchnevich returned to practice on his usual line with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider.

The forward did not practice Sunday after leaving early Saturday for an undisclosed reason.

When asked Sunday if Buchnevich could miss the start of the best-of-5 qualifier series against the Carolina Hurricanes, which begins Aug. 1 in Toronto, coach David Quinn said, "I can say that is not the case."

St. Louis Blues

Mackenzie MacEachern replaced Ivan Barbashev on the fourth line at practice and could replace him in the lineup for the Qualifiers.

Barbashev, who scored 26 points (11 goals, 15 assists) in 69 games this season, will likely be out for at least part of the Qualifiers for the birth of his first child. MacEachern scored 10 points (seven goals, three assists) in 51 games.

"I've got to prepare other people in his spot right now because they're going to have to play," coach Craig Berube said. "[Barbashev] knows the situation and when he's back, he'll be available to play and he's going to play, but at the same time, he's not going to be available for a bit so we've got to prepare guys in his spot right now."

The Blues will play the Colorado Avalanche (Aug. 2), Vegas Golden Knights (Aug. 6) and Dallas Stars (Aug. 9) in the round-robin portion of the Qualifiers in Edmonton.

"We didn't even talk about it," Barbashev said about possibly opting out of the NHL Return to Play Plan. "I know it's hard and it's really hard for [my wife] to see me going away when the baby's due, but I promised her I'll be back." -- Louie Korac