- Tim Sassone of the Dailly Herald: Patrick Kane will get into his first pre-season game tonight. He’ll be centering Marian Hossa and Andrew Brunette. Patrick Sharp skated on his own for the 3rd straight day yesterday. “He’s progressing well,” Joel Quenneville said. “We’re very happy with where he’s at. Each and every day he’s able to do a little bit more. We’re very encouraged.” The Blackhawks camp roster is now at 31.
- Debora Van Brenk of the Toronto Sun: London Police think they have a name of a person who they think may have tossed the banana at Wayne Simmonds last week. They haven’t arrested anyone, which was being reported by some. Police should release more details today. A banana was tossed towards the ice earlier in the game but it didn’t make it to the ice.
- Darren Dreger via twitter: Wayne Simmonds won’t be disciplined for his alleged homophobic slur towards Sean Avery as the NHL couldn’t substantiate what was said on the ice.
- Katie Carrera of the Washington Post: Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau is still tinkering with lines, especially when it comes to Brooks Laich, whether he’ll be on the wing or at center. “As it stands right now we’re still up in the air, whether would it be center or wing with him,” Boudreau said. “We just want to get him in a couple more games at both positions for him to feel comfortable at either one, to start taking more faceoffs in case it was center that he’s playing.”
- Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazette: Recently signed Chris Campoli found himself partnered with Josh Gorges. Hal Gill and P.K. Subban round out the other top 4 while Andrei Markov is out. Markov is still rehabbing and it’s unlikely he’ll be able to go for the opener.
- Gordon McIntyre of the Vancouver Province: Canucks defenseman Dan Hamhuis will get into his 1st game since Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final tonight. Canucks forward Manny Malhotra will get into the game as well, his first since his offseason eye procedure. Defenseman Aaron Rome will miss 4 to 6 weeks with a broken finger. Nolan Baumgartner will be out 4 weeks with a broken foot. Steve Pinizzotto is out indefinitely with a dislocated shoulder.
- Sam Carchidi via twitter: Carchidi thinks that salary cap constraints may hurt Sean Couturier’s chances of making the Flyers.
- George Richards of the Miami Herald: Panthers goalie Scott Clemmensen had a minor knee procedure and will miss at least the first couple game of the season. Jose Theodore is the teams starter, and they may keep Tyler Plante over Jacob Markstrom. They want Markstrom to get a lot of playing time in the NHL.
- John Down of the Calgary Herald: Steve Staios is on a tryout with the Islanders and hopes to get a contract. He’s 64 games shy of 1,000.