Welcome to the 2022-23 NHL training camp buzz. Training camp is underway for all 32 teams and NHL.com has you covered with all the latest news.
Montreal Canadiens
Nick Suzuki will be out two weeks with a lower-body injury, the Canadiens said Thursday.
The forward, who was named captain Sept. 12, set NHL career highs in games (82), goals (21), assists (40) and points (61) last season.
Defenseman Joel Edmundson is out indefinitely with a lower-body injury, and forwards Josh Anderson (upper body) and Jake Evans (upper body) are each day to day. Forward Paul Byron is recovering from a hip injury.
Evans skated Thursday with forward Sean Monahan, who is recovering from hip surgery. The Canadiens are without a goalie Carey Price (knee), who is not expected to play this season and is on long-term injured reserve.
“It’s tough but it’s kind of a nice lesson for us to learn early on, guys are going to go down,” forward Brendan Gallagher said. “You know it’s a long season, it’s a grind, you’re not going to have it going all year. So it’s good for other people to step up, and obviously right now through camp here trying to work on things, chemistry and build on the systems that we kind of implemented last year. So it’s an opportunity for guys to kind of take charge.”
The Canadiens begin the regular season Oct. 12 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. — Sean Farrell
Toronto Maple Leafs
Jake Muzzin will be unavailable for the start of training camp because of back discomfort.
The defenseman is expected to return early next week.
Muzzin was limited to 47 regular-season games (three goals, 11 assists), missing time with two separate concussions and an undisclosed injury last season.
“A few injuries but we looked after those during the season and during the offseason, just kind of did my similar stuff where we got the body ready to go for another season,” Muzzin said Wednesday. “I’m feeling good, I haven’t thought anything about the concussions I’ve had in the past and I’m feeling good and ready to go for this year.” — Dave McCarthy
New Jersey Devils
Goalie Mackenzie Blackwood and defenseman Dougie Hamilton are healthy after each missed significant time due to injury last season.
Blackwood was limited to 25 games (24 starts) because of COVID-19 and a recurring left heel injury.
“The summer was good for me, good for my ankle … I have no pain anymore,” Blackwood said. “I’m feeling good so I’m able to do everything on the ice that I need to do. I’m feeling refreshed, excited, and ready to put in the work and try and have a great year.”
Hamilton missed 17 games with a broken jaw.
“I’m obviously excited to get out there today and start working with the new coaches and some new players and I think it was a good first day,” Hamilton said. “I think it’s going to take some time for … I might never ever be normal but there’s still some nerve damage. I think when I returned to the lineup last season, it wasn’t about the pain necessarily, but just the mask I had to wear.”
Hamilton practiced without a mask Thursday and said he doesn’t intend to wear one during the preseason or regular season.
“I definitely didn’t feel the same as I felt at the beginning of last year after the injury, so for me, it was just trying to work as hard as I could this summer to feel better and get healthier and play like I did at the start of the season,” Hamilton said. “I think I can do that.” — Mike G. Morreale
Boston Bruins
Matt Grzelcyk was on the ice ahead of practice Thursday. The defenseman started shooting again Monday as he works his way back from offseason shoulder surgery.
“It’s exciting to get back out there and do a little more than I was able to in the first few months,” he said.
Grzelcyk had right shoulder stabilization surgery on June 3 with an expected recovery of five months, which would see him return in November. He played through the injury, which happened Jan. 22 against the Winnipeg Jets, last season, although he said he knew immediately he would eventually need surgery.
Grzelcyk said he wasn’t sure whether there was an updated timeline, but that he feels better than he expected, only having to wear his sling for two weeks. He had the same procedure done on his left shoulder about eight years ago.
“I think my range of motion has gotten a little bit better now,” he said. “I’ve obviously been working on it a lot. Just little things like sleeping and waking up in the morning. It’s not as stiff. It was a long few months to end the year last year. Just happy to feel a little bit more like myself. Still have a long way to go but the light’s at the end of the tunnel.”
Grzelcyk said he has been testing out different stick heights to see if that gets his shoulder in a better position. — Amalie Benjamin
Colorado Avalanche
Valery Nichushkin will miss the start of training camp with a foot injury but could return when the regular season starts Oct. 12, Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said.
“He is [one of the guys who isn’t ready to start camp]. He’s back skating and close,” Bednar said Thursday of the forward, who signed an eight-year contract with Colorado on July 11. “Hopefully we have him for the start of the regular season, but he won’t be in full participation. tomorrow morning.”
Nichushkin sustained the injury during the Stanley Cup Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning but did not miss a game. — Ryan Boulding
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