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Rich Chere of NJ.com on Patrik Elias: The 39-year-old Devils winger is dealing with a right knee issue. He will be kept off the ice for observations. His timeline to return is unclear. From GM Ray Shero:
“Patrik has been having an issue with his right knee over the last week…We both feel that is it best to monitor this. He will continue to work off ice with our training staff and skate on his own prior to joining the team for formal, on-ice workouts.”
- From DJ Brooks of Bullet News Niagara on Ho-Sang: After arriving late for the first day of training camp, Isles prospect Josh Ho-Sang was immediately returned to the Niagara IceDogs of the OHL. IceDogs GM Marty Williamson said:
“Garth Snow and Eric Cairns both gave me a call and let me know he slept in this morning and was being sent home…The bottom line is he didn’t show up on time and Josh has a track record. He has to be accountable for those kind of things. Everything else was exemplary. He did everything else well. He made a mistake and he has put himself in a position where he can’t make mistakes.”
- From Red Wings Head Coach Jeff Blashill on Darren Helm: After a scary collision, Darren Helm is undergoing concussion protocol and undrafted camp invitee Jerome Verrier has suffered a broken leg.**update from Anser Khan: Helm out 2-4 weeks with grade 1 shoulder separation. Concussion protocol on-going.
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From Arpon Basu of NHL.com on Lars Eller: The Canadiens have assembled a new-look line for training camp, with Alex Galchenyuk at centre, Alex Semin at right wing, and former third line centre Lars Eller at left wing. Basu notes that Eller has been reluctant to move to the wing in the past but sounded open to the idea on Friday:
“I’m excited to play with two very, very skilled players…I think we can form a really dangerous line. I think we’re going to have a lot of fun playing together.”
As per Basu, Eller is under the impression that this line should remain as assembled throughout camp and into the new season.
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From Larry Brooks at NYPost.com: Brooks notes that former Islanders draft pick Kirill Kabanov will be in camp for the New York Rangers. The 23-year-old has played in Sweden during the past two seasons.
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Michael Russo on Niklas Backstrom’s return: A quick note from the Minnesota Wild training camp – goaltender Niklas Backstrom is back on the ice after undergoing offseason elbow surgery. He’ll compete with Darcy Kuemper for the backup job behind starter Devan Dubnyk.
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On Red Wings training camp from Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press: Captain Henrik Zetterberg is excited for the new-look training camp under new head coach Jeff Blashill. After 10 years with Mike Babcock behind the Red Wings bench, Zetterberg has called the new training camp procedures “refreshing.” He said:
“It is refreshing…Meetings, drills, everything is different. It’s good for us veteran guys who have been here for 10 years, and kind of the last four, five years, you knew everything that was going on. Now you’ve actually got to think out there, and it is nice to reset the brain.”