Training Camp Buzz: Gourde skates with Kraken wearing regular jersey

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

Seattle Kraken

Yanni Gourde skated with the Kraken on Monday wearing a regular jersey.
The forward had been participating in a red non-contact jersey. He was expected to be out two months after having shoulder surgery in July.
"I just need to just to get some more reps and I think when I wear red (jersey), guys are super careful out there and you don't do much so I need to get a little bit more bumps in," Gourde said. "It just doesn't mean much. I mean it's just a different color. We're still working. It's a work in process to get back in shape and get back, ready to play, but we're not there yet."
The Kraken begin their inaugural season at the Vegas Golden Knights on Oct. 12.
Coach Dave Hakstol said Gourde will not be rushed into the lineup before he's ready.
"Our medical group has a real specific plan for him," Hakstol said. "He's still on limited contact and he's working real hard at everything that he can do to be ready, but there's a plan in place for him and he's still on limited contact."
Gourde was selected from the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft. He last played July 7 in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Montreal Canadiens, when he helped the Lightning repeat as Stanley Cup champions.

New Jersey Devils

Ty Smith may not play for the Devils in their season opener against the Chicago Blackhawks at home Oct. 15.
"I think we'll have to evaluate but that's a possibility, yes," coach Lindy Ruff said Monday.
The defenseman has yet to play a preseason game because of an undisclosed injury.
"He's going to be out for a little bit," Ruff said. "I don't have the exact amount of time, but I don't anticipate him practicing for the next little while."
Jack Hughes did not play in a 4-1 preseason win against the Washington Capitals at home Monday. The center was not on the ice for the morning skate and had some tests. Ruff said he hopes Hughes can practice Tuesday.
Hughes was injured in the second period of a 2-1 overtime win against the New York Islanders in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on Oct. 2 when he was cross-checked by New York forward Ross Johnston. He played one more shift before going to the locker room and not returning.
The Devils also were without Damon Severson against the Capitals. The defenseman has a muscle strain sustained when he slipped on a puck and went into the boards during the morning skate.
Jesper Bratt had an assist in 17:41 against Washington in his preseason debut after the forward recovered from an illness unrelated to COVID-19.
"He'll be excited to get in," Ruff said. "He was going to play the other night but didn't feel well, so we took him out. But his practices have been good, scrimmages." -- Mike G. Morreale

Montreal Canadiens

Cole Caufield
returned to practice on a line with center Nick Suzuki and left wing Tyler Toffoli. The 20-year-old had been sidelined with an upper-body injury sustained during the Red vs. White intrasquad game at Bell Centre in Montreal on Sept 26.
"I kind of caught an edge and just fell, it was more precautionary than anything," Caufield said. "I feel back to normal now. It was good to get back out there with the guys. I feel like I've been good for a while, just got to make sure of that last week. So I'm 100 percent now."
Carey Price did not skate because of an illness unrelated to COVID-19. The goalie is recovering from knee surgery, and it's questionable whether he will be ready for the season opener at the Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct. 13.
"If he misses the first game, we don't believe it will drag (on) too long," coach Dominique Ducharme said.
Goalie Sam Montembeault, claimed off waivers from the Florida Panthers on Saturday, will start against Toronto on Tuesday. Jake Allen will start against the Ottawa Senators on Thursday.
Ducharme said Mike Hoffman (lower body) is likely to begin skating this week. The forward will be out for at least the first week of the season. -- Sean Farrell

Tampa Bay Lightning

Steven Stamkos said he is feeling much better physically during training camp than he did three months ago when the forward helped the Lightning win the Stanley Cup for the second straight season.
Stamkos, who missed the final 16 games of the 2020-21 regular season with a lower-body injury before returning for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, confirmed Monday that he had knee surgery during that absence.
"The way things kind of went towards the end of the year and having a little surgery before the playoffs and coming back and feeling, probably not as well as I wanted to, but good enough to play and contribute," Stamkos said. "That's what I'm just comparing it to -- how I ended off the season to how I'm feeling now -- and I'm definitely in a much better place than I was."
He said at the start of camp that he was able to go through a normal offseason conditioning program this summer.
"It's just constant work," Stamkos said." You put in the work in the gym and on the ice and the body will respond. It's been good so far."
The Lightning open the regular season at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 12. -- Corey Long

Florida Panthers

The Panthers expect forwards Joe Thornton, Carter Verhaeghe, Anton Lundell and Maxim Mamin, and defenseman Gustav Forsling will play this week.
Each returned to practice Monday, with Thornton hopeful for the preseason game Thursday at the Tampa Bay Lightning after he was off the ice the past two days because of undisclosed reasons.
Coach Joel Quenneville said that Lundell should play against the Lightning coming off a minor injury.
"He didn't skip a beat (at practice)," Quenneville told the Panthers website. "He looked like he'd been a part of this group for a while."
Quenneville said Verhaeghe, Mamin and Forsling are possible for Saturday at Tampa Bay following undisclosed injuries. Florida begins the regular season at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 14.

Washington Capitals

Ilya Samsonov is day to day with a lower-body injury, coach Peter Laviolette said.
The goalie did not practice Sunday or Monday. He was injured during a 3-1 preseason loss at the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.
"It's day to day," Laviolette said. "I don't read much into it. Hopefully day to day."

Vancouver Canucks

Brock Boeser is out the rest of the preseason because of an undisclosed injury, general manager Jim Benning said Sunday.
The forward missed practice Thursday, but there was no update available at the time. Coach Travis Green announced Boeser would be out at least a week after a 4-1 preseason loss at the Calgary Flames on Friday.
The Canucks begin the regular season at the Edmonton Oilers on Oct. 13.
"We're hoping that he's ready to start the year, but we'll just have to see how the injury progresses," Benning said.
Boeser led the Canucks in goals (23) and points (49) in 56 games last season,
Center Brandon Sutter won't be available to start the regular season. He hasn't skated after reporting to training camp with fatigue that remains undiagnosed.
"He's still undergoing some testing," Benning said. "He won't be available to start the season with us, and we'll just continue to monitor him to see where he's at and then once he starts feeling better, he'll get out on the ice and then we'll have a better timeline as to when he'll be back." -- Kevin Woodley