Training camps opened with the injury board already crowded across the NHL, putting several established names in doubt for the first week of the regular season. Mathew Barzal, Max Domi, Cale Makar, Kaiden Guhle, Yanni Gourde, Artem Zub, Warren Foegele and Jason Zucker are among the players whose clubs are managing uncertain timelines.
Eastern Conference camp notes
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The New York Islanders will begin camp without Barzal, who aggravated an earlier injury and is expected to stay off the ice for roughly two weeks because of inflammation. General manager Mathieu Darche said the timeline could move slightly in either direction and did not guarantee the center would be available when New York visits the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sept. 30. The club is taking a cautious approach with its leading scorer from last season, when Barzal posted 19 goals and 53 assists in 81 games. He has finished first or tied for first in Islanders scoring in seven of his nine NHL seasons.
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Toronto forward Max Domi failed his physical and has no defined return date after offseason surgery for an injury that bothered him last year. Domi recorded 12 goals and 24 assists in 80 games. General manager John Chayka said Domi would address the specifics of his condition himself soon.
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The Maple Leafs did receive a blue-line boost: Chris Tanev has been cleared following core-muscle surgery. Chayka praised the defenseman’s recovery and conditioning work, calling him an important piece of the club. Tanev last played Dec. 28 and had two assists in 11 games last season.
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Carolina defenseman Alexander Nikishin was absent from the Hurricanes’ first on-ice practice because he remains unsigned as a restricted free agent. The 24-year-old put up 11 goals and 22 assists in 81 regular-season games, averaging 18:11 per night. His 33 points ranked third among Carolina defensemen and second among NHL rookie defensemen. Nikishin added an assist in 17 playoff contests as the Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup.
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Montreal expects Guhle to miss four to five weeks after minor adductor surgery in the offseason. The Canadiens defenseman had two goals and nine assists in 39 regular-season games while averaging 19:28 of ice time, then supplied eight assists during 19 playoff games. Coach Martin St. Louis said camp evaluations will determine how Montreal fills the opening, while noting the organization has depth candidates pushing for jobs.
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Tampa Bay will be without Gourde until at least December as he recovers from hip surgery. The forward finished last season with nine goals and 19 assists in 82 games, adding one assist in seven postseason games. Dominic James also is expected to miss the opening weeks after breaking his hand while training in the offseason. James had seven goals and eight assists in 43 regular-season appearances and produced two goals and an assist in seven playoff games.
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Ottawa opened camp without Zub and Foegele, both of whom are recovering from injuries and could miss the beginning of the schedule. Coach Travis Green said each player is skating and could rejoin the group within one to two weeks. Foegele collected six goals and two assists in 21 games after arriving from the Los Angeles Kings in a March 5 trade. Zub supplied five goals and 25 assists across 81 games, averaging 20:48 on the Senators blue line.
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Buffalo expects Zucker to miss at least the start of the season because of a sports hernia. General manager Jarmo Kekalainen said the winger is close and could lose only a couple of regular-season weeks. Zucker scored 24 times and added 21 assists in 62 games last season.
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Sabres defenseman Louis Crevier is further along after shoulder surgery. Crevier, acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks in June, still needs final clearance from his surgeon, but Buffalo believes he has a chance to dress for its Oct. 1 opener against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Western Conference watch
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Colorado is easing Makar into camp as the star defenseman works through a lower-body issue. Coach Jared Bednar said Makar has skated but has followed a lighter program than most teammates and is unlikely to be ready for the first day of full camp work. Bednar does not view the situation as a major concern and expects Makar to reach full participation later in camp.
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Makar is coming off a 20-goal, 79-point season in 75 games, with an average ice time of 24:51, and was a Norris Trophy finalist. He also missed two playoff games last spring with an upper-body injury. His new eight-year, $163.2 million contract begins next season.
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Dallas will have Tyler Seguin in camp as a full participant, but the Stars are still waiting to see when the 34-year-old can return to game action. Seguin underwent ACL surgery in December after being injured against the New York Rangers on Dec. 2. His recovery had been projected at nine months, and he said last week that his availability for Dallas’ Oct. 2 opener against the St. Louis Blues remained uncertain.
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Stars general manager Jim Nill said Seguin has been cleared for contact, making the next phase of camp especially important. The club will monitor how he responds once practices become more physical. Seguin had seven goals and 10 assists in 27 games before the injury last season.
Opening-night pressure points
- Islanders at Maple Leafs, Sept. 30: Barzal’s status remains unsettled; Domi is out indefinitely, while Tanev is cleared.
- Sabres vs. Blue Jackets, Oct. 1: Crevier could be available, but Zucker is likely to miss the start.
- Stars vs. Blues, Oct. 2: Seguin’s contact work in camp will determine whether he can be ready.
