Welcome to the NHL Buzz. The 2022-23 regular season is underway, and NHL.com has you covered with all the latest news.
Boston Bruins
Matt Grzelcyk will make his season debut for the Bruins against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday (7 pm ET; NESN, BSSC, ESPN+, SN NOW).
The defenseman had right shoulder stabilization surgery on June 3 with an expected recovery of five months, but returns to the lineup about a month ahead of the initial schedule.
“I do [feel good],” Grzelcyk said. “It was good to get out there today. A little bit of a longer pregame skate. It was nice to bump around a little bit with the guys. I feel ready to go.”
Grzelcyk played through the injury last season, which occurred Jan. 22 against the Winnipeg Jets. He had the same procedure on his left shoulder eight years ago.
This will be Grzelcyk’s first chance to play under coach Jim Montgomery. He said he has been following Montgomery’s system since the coach was working at the University of Denver and always admired it.
“I think it’s pretty friendly to how I want to play,” Grzelcyk said. “I haven’t played a game in a long time so I’m going to take it a period at a time and go from there. But just trying to get used to some of the different terminology that are used throughout the video and making sure that becomes sort of second-nature now.”
The Bruins are still without a defenseman Charlie McAvoywho is expected to be out until December after offseason shoulder surgery, and forward Brad Marchand, who is expected to be out until late November after offseason hip surgery. — Amalie Benjamin
Minnesota Wild
Jordan Greenway will make his season debut for the Wild against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday (8 pm ET; SNP, BSN, BSWI, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).
Greenway had shoulder surgery this offseason for an injury he suffered on Feb. 22, last season and re-injured it shortly before the playoffs, when the Wild lost to the Blues in six games in the Western Conference First Round.
“He does a lot of things physically for us, that line does a lot for our team, but emotionally he’ll be a spark,” Wild coach Dean Evason said. “He was [Wednesday] when he knew he was playing and he’s taking the normal reps and line rushes, there was an energy level.”
Greenway, who had 27 points (10 goals, 17 assists) in 62 games last season, will be on the right wing with Joel Eriksson Ek at center and Marcus Foligno at left wing. Last season, the three formed the Wild’s shutdown line.
“It’s going to be great,” Greenway said. “It’s very exciting. It’s been a long summer for me, and watching from the stands gets very old, so it’ll be great to get back out there for them and get back on track.
“Knowing that there’s not really much you can do from the stands outside of being a support factor, but after a while, there’s more that you want to do and the opportunity has presented itself here tonight, and I’m ready to go get it ” — Jessie Pierce
Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche claimed Dryden Hunt off waivers from the New York Rangers.
The Rangers placed the forward on waivers Wednesday.
Hunt had a goal in three games with the Rangers this season. He was a healthy scratch in their season-opening 3-1 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Oct. 11, but played in each of their past three games.
Hunt likely would have been a healthy scratch for the Rangers against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday (7 pm ET; MSG, NBCSCA, ESPN+, SN NOW) had he cleared waivers and stayed on the NHL roster.
He set NHL career bests in goals (six), assists (11), points (17), hits (153) and games played (76) with the Rangers last season and did not have a point in three games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. .
Hunt has 41 points (13 goals, 28 assists) in 168 NHL games with the Florida Panthers, Arizona Coyotes and Rangers.
The Avalanche announced Wednesday that forward Gabriel Landeskog would miss 12 weeks after having arthroscopic knee surgery Tuesday. — Dan Rosen
Toronto Maple Leafs
Jake Muzzin was placed on injured reserve Wednesday.
The defenseman left a 3-2 loss to the Arizona Coyotes on Monday at 11:03 of the second period with a neck injury sustained in a collision with the Coyotes forward. Clayton Keller. Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said he was told it is not a recurrence of any head injury but that there is no timeline for a return.
“Jake has had a number of injuries that have been cause for concern for us,” Keefe said Wednesday. “Anytime a player gets injured and has had as many injuries as Jake has had to deal with, there is concern of course. How much concern? I don’t know. I think it’s probably too early to say at this point. We had an event last night he was at and looked like himself in a lot of ways and was here in the facility today. We will let the process take care of itself with the medical folks and take it from there.”
Muzzin has one assist in four games this season. He had two concussions last season and missed part of training camp with back discomfort.
“On the ice, he’s a big missing piece,” Maple Leafs forward Mitchell Marner said. “He does a lot for us on and off the ice. Calmness on the ice when he has the puck, penalty killing, leadership he brings. It’s definitely a big piece we will be missing but life off the ice is always more important.”
Defenseman Victor Mete will enter the lineup for Muzzin against the Dallas Stars on Thursday (7 pm ET; SNO, BSSW, SN NOW, ESPN+). Defenseman Filip Kral was recalled from Toronto of the American Hockey League on Wednesday. — Dave McCarthy
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