Welcome to the Training Camp Buzz. The 24 teams who will be competing for the Stanley Cup began training camp at their facilities Monday. 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:
Chicago Blackhawks
Andrew Shaw will not return this season for the Blackhawks.
The forward announced Monday he is recovering from previous concussions, including one sustained this season.
“We have come to the difficult decision that these extra five months until next season would be great for my health and recovery,” he said on Instagram. “I look forward to being back next season, better and stronger than ever!”
Shaw scored 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 26 games with the Blackhawks before the season was paused on March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus. He last played in Chicago’s 7-3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Nov. 30, and the Blackhawks ruled him out for the rest of the season Feb. 29. When he was with the Montreal Canadiens, he missed 14 games in 2016-17 and the final 12 games of 2017-18 with concussions.
Instagram from @shawz65: Go Blackhawks Go! Hey fans!
The Blackhawks will play the Edmonton Oilers, in Edmonton, in the Stanley Cup Qualifiers, which begin Aug. 1. — Tracey Myers
Montreal Canadiens
Shea Weber did not practice with the Canadiens but is expected to return Wednesday.
The defenseman, who practiced Monday, skated at the end of the session and remained on the ice to work with assistant coach Luke Richardson.
“That’s what I anticipate, that he’ll be there tomorrow,” Canadiens coach Claude Julien said. “He went on the ice there today for a few minutes. So he was just unavailable for practice today. I respect the speculations and all that stuff, there’s nothing we can do about it. We’ve got to respect the protocols and the rules that the NHL has put in place.”
Weber, who missed six games from Feb. 6-15 because of a lower-body injury sustained in a 5-4 shootout win against the New Jersey Devils on Feb. 4, had 36 points (15 goals, 21 assists) in 65 games this season.
Defensemen Brett Kulak and Xavier Ouellet did not practice for the second straight day, and defenseman Josh Brooks was on the ice after missing practice Monday.
The Canadiens will play the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Qualifiers. — Sean Farrell
Carolina Hurricanes
Sami Vatanen said he is healed and will be ready to play against the New York Rangers in the Qualifiers.
“I’m ready to go,” Vatanen said. “Health-wise, I feel 100 percent. I have no worries about that. Of course, it takes a little time to get to game speed, but we have a long time still until we start to play, so I will be ready.”
The defenseman, who was acquired by the New Jersey Devils on Feb. 24, did not play after sustaining a right leg injury blocking a shot against the Dallas Stars on Feb. 1.
Vatanen was expected to boost the power play in the absence of defenseman Dougie Hamilton, who fractured his left fibula against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Jan. 16. Hamilton is expected to be ready for the Qualifiers.
“Dougie’s back, and now we’ve got to find somewhere else to put [Vatanen],” coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “He’s a talented player. You’re talking power play. That’s what he does. He’s good at it, but there’s a learning curve, and we can’t wait five games to see if it will work with him.”
Vatanen scored 23 points (five goals, 18 assists) in 47 games this season, including 10 on the power play. — Kurt Dusterberg
Toronto Maple Leafs
Ilya Mikheyev, who hasn’t played an NHL game in more than six months, practiced in a top-six role on a line with John Tavares and Mitchell Marner on Tuesday.
Mikheyev, a rookie forward, scored 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) in 39 games before his right wrist was cut by a skate blade in a game against the New Jersey Devils on Dec. 27.
“He’s been eye-opening to watch, how quick and how much better he’s really gotten,” Marner said. “I was talking to (defenseman) Jake Muzzin a bit when they were both injured and he kept saying, ‘This Mikheyev is a monster and turning into an animal in the gym and on the ice.'”
Coach Sheldon Keefe said he was encouraged with Mikheyev during Phase 2 of the NHL Return to Play Plan, which allowed voluntary workouts in small groups. Mikheyev spent much of that time skating with Tavares and Marner.
Defenseman Timothy Liljegren was removed from the Maple Leafs roster and replaced by defenseman Mac Hollowell. Liljegren was ruled unfit to play on Monday.
The Maple Leafs will play the Columbus Blue Jackets, in Toronto, in the Qualifiers. — Mike Zeisberger
Philadelphia Flyers
Shayne Gostisbehere‘s status for the Stanley Cup Playoffs will be determined after training camp.
The defenseman had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee about seven weeks ago, following arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Jan. 14. He played two games following the surgery on his left knee.
“I’m happy to see him on the ice, very happy with what I’ve seen from him so far (during training camp),” coach Alain Vigneault said. “I’m happy that he was there from Day One. He’s trying to get back to where he was when he was playing on a regular basis and was playing well. Time will tell how he’s trying to progress.”
Gostisbehere had 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 42 games before the season was paused.
The Flyers’ first game of the playoffs is scheduled for Aug. 11, after they play in the three-game, round-robin against the Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning and Washington Capitals in the Qualifiers to determine the top four seeds in the Eastern Conference. — Adam Kimelman
Day 1 Buzz: Hamilton skates for Hurricanes
