A new season is upon us.
NHL teams are returning to training camps this week and to keep you up to date on all the latest chatter, we’ll be updating this live blog over the next few days.
What will happen next with the Buffalo Sabres and Jack Eichel? Will any of the four remaining RFAs remain unsigned going into the new season? How will the investigation into Evander Kane conclude, and how will the Sharks come together after some suggestion of locker room discontent?
Stay up to date with the latest in the early days of training camp.
Senators have "full confidence" Brady Tkachuk will sign
Future captain? Maybe. But Brady Tkachuk isn't at the start of training camp for the Ottawa Senators as he remains in a contract stalemate.
"I've been through a lot of these negotiations," Gm Pierre Dorion said. "They're moving forward. We've discussed every day. We know Brady will be signed. I don't think it's for us to talk more than what we're saying right now."
Added head coach D.J. Smith: "I have full confidence that Brady's going to be here at some point."
Brady's brother Matthew set off a five-alarm fire when he suggested last week that contract negotiations between Brady and the Sens weren't going all that well.
"He might be pulling a classic Tkachuk right now," Matthew told the 31 Thoughts Podcast. Dad held out, Matthew held out, and Brady looks like he's on his way right now...I'm hoping it gets better soon, but I guess it can only get better by the sounds of it."
Matthew also pointed out that Brady loves it in Ottawa, though, and in 32 Thoughts Elliotte Friedman reported the two sides had talked out long-term contract ideas, but that a short-term deal might be what gets this done. Stay tuned.
It's worth mentioning that when both Keith and Matthew Tkachuk missed the start of camp due to contract negotiations, neither of them missed the start of the regular season. So Sens fans can take some solace in that perhaps. But what if Tkachuk's negotiations do run into the start of the season? How will they replace him?
"Nick Paul can play anywhere from first line left wing, to fourth line left wing, to fourth line right wing, to first line centre so Nick is the easy guy to put there because it's not going to affect his game," Smith said. "Wherever I put Nick it's never going to affect him, he can always go back to left wing wherever he's playing."
But make no mistake, it would be a huge loss if Tkachuk isn't there at the start of the regular season. So contract watch continues.
Brad Treliving still seeking ways to upgrade the Flames roster, not naming captain yet
Maybe we set our expectations too high. Armchair GMs got excited about all the trade possibilities with the team, but in the end they added depth pieces to the forward units, didn't outright replace Mark Giordano, and return with the same core.
"We have made some changes," Treliving said. "I think what was talked a lot about was core changes. It's easy to come out and say we're going to do this or we're going to do that, but ultimately the changes we made were changes that were there for us to make."
Treliving noted that while training camp is here, his job isn't done.
"That doesn't stop us from seeing if there's ways to make the team better."
With the departure of Giordano, the Flames no longer have a captain. Matthew Tkachuk was at one point seen as a possible successor to Giordano, but he's coming off a down season (as are most Flames players) and will be an RFA next summer. Could he still be a candidate for the 'C' if he hasn't committed to the team long term yet?
Treliving said he's talked to head coach Darryl Sutter about this process and that they won't rush to a decision.
"There won't be announcements today or tomorrow," Treliving said. "We're going to let this thing play out. It's a really big decision. I don't think you name a captain to check a box. Darryl and I have talked a lot about it. That'll have to play out over camp and we'll see what happens over the coming days."
TReliving told me last week the decision on the next captain will play itself out through camp and that they didn’t necessarily need to name a captain right away just to check a box. He and Sutter have discussed it.
— Eric Francis (@EricFrancis) September 22, 2021
Canucks GM on Pettersson, Hughes negotiations: "I don't think we're far apart"
Kirill Kaprizov, Robert Thomas and Rasmus Dahlin were three RFAs who all managed to get their new contracts signed just before the opening of training camp. That leaves Ottawa's Brady Tkachuk and Vancouver's Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes as the last remaining unsigned RFAs of note.
In 32 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman reported that there appeared to be a stalemate in Vancouver's talks with Pettersson and Hughes. Friedman reported that both players may be looking at bridge contracts, though everything had been discussed.
GM Jim Benning addressed those negotiations on Wednesday.
"I'm disappointed they're not here for the start of training camp, but I'm going to continue to talk to CAA and Pat Brisson to try and get something done soon here."
While it's not great news for Canucks fans, who hope to put last season behind them and push forward with an exciting young team, Benning did give some reason for optimism.
"I don't think we're that far apart, but these are complex and unique deals," Benning said. "These are two good, young players and important parts of our group."
Green noted that the absence of those two doesn't materially change training camp, but that since both of them are still young and developing, and given all the change the roster has gone through in the off-season, it'd be better if they were with the rest of the guys getting ready.
"We have a lot of new bodies on our team," Green said. "They're two big pieces to our team so I think it's important they're here."
Benning also confirmed that by the start of the regular season the Canucks will be 100 per cent vaccinated, whether it's players, coaches or front office staff. As to reports that Travis Hamonic wasn't with the team due to non-injury reason, Benning simply stated "he'll be here."
Benning added that Justin Bailey tested positive as he tried to cross the border and so has to remain in Buffalo for 10 days. And Brandon Sutter, brought back on a cheaper one-year deal, might not be ready for the start of camp, but that he had not tested positive for COVID.
"(Sutter) has been dealing with some fatigue," Benning said. "He's been doing some tests so we're not really sure what that is yet, so he might not be available to start camp."
Duncan Keith will join Oilers next week after deciding to get vaccinated
On Wednesday, Oilers GM Ken Holland confirmed that Duncan Keith is in quarantine and unable to join the team's training camp until next Friday, when he will be considered fully vaccinated.
Holland said the 38-year-old took time to weigh the pros and cons of getting the shot.
"To get vaccinated has been a personal decision," Holland said. "It's been an easy decision for some and a difficult decision for some. It was a difficult decision for Duncan.
"I think if you look in July I heard talk there was 80-90 NHL players not vaccinated in the summer. I believe that's true. We had a BOG meeting yesterday and Bill Daly said it was going to be single digit players that will be unvaccinated as we head to the season. So basically Duncan would be in that 80-90 players and eventually made the decision to get vaccinated. He's now in quarantine. He'll be here next Friday.
"I spent a lot of time with him last week. I know he talked to lots of people and made the decision to get vaccinated."
However, Holland noted that the Oilers still won't be a fully vaccinated team at camp.
"As we speak today when the season starts I would anticipate we'll have one player that's unvaccinated. I've talked to him a few times. Not sure where he's at."
New NHL protocols for this season allow a team to suspend a player without pay if they are unable to participate in team events. This could include if a player can't travel or must quarantine due to local regulations over vaccination status.
By Holland’s estimate, the unvaccinated player would miss 30 games this season due to time spent in quarantine. https://t.co/qAsju8x3vg
— Mark Spector (@SportsnetSpec) September 22, 2021
Bednar: Newhook will be given opportunity to be top-six. "It's up to him" if he takes advantage or not
— Adrian Dater (@adater) September 22, 2021
Jared Bednar: team will be 100 percent vaccinated in "near future"
— Adrian Dater (@adater) September 22, 2021
Tout lui va bien.
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) September 22, 2021
Nick's a natural.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/RZI3W56Ygz
For unvaccinated players who cannot be with team due to travel/quarantine rules or COVID infections, they are not paid. For cap purposes, this is similar to players suspended without pay, where the team does not incur a cap hit while the player is suspended without pay
— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) September 22, 2021
.@BURNZIE88 WENT BALD. 😱
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) September 22, 2021
📸: @SanJoseSharks pic.twitter.com/P98H7XavaM
Did the same ghost spook Kappy??? pic.twitter.com/zvNtXSqeMJ
— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) September 22, 2021
Brief update on Quinton Byfield, as training camp activities begin ramping up...
— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) September 22, 2021
Hearing it is more illness related, not injury.
He's still being evaluated, so we'll see if he's available to skate with the Kings tomorrow morning.
We just heard from Rangers coach Gerard Gallant to open training camp. A couple highlights:
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) September 22, 2021
Gallant said if he were a betting man he'd bet on the NYR having a captain for the season opener.
Watch for Alexis Lafreniere to get a look at RW in training camp to get more ice time.
How it started vs. how it’s going
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) September 22, 2021
Media Day 2021 looks a bit different than last season 😅 pic.twitter.com/0tazhDJfv9
Clarification: Start training camp.
— Mark Spector (@SportsnetSpec) September 22, 2021
"I’ll give the person the appropriate time, and I’ll see where I’m at in a week, 10 days from now. We’ll see.” — Holland. https://t.co/COTrpPLbeW
For #NHLJets fans looking to watch training camp. A limited number of you will be allowed in the building. Must show proof of vaccination and wear a mask.
— Murat Ates (@WPGMurat) September 22, 2021
Capacity will be v. limited (roughly 250 total.) Security will indicate safe viewing areas.
BellMTS IcePlex, daily at 10AM.
Messin around on media day 📱🎥📸 pic.twitter.com/xP6F6ESrLK
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) September 22, 2021
Kaprizov says "no chance" he would have returned to the KHL
The only leverage Kirill Kaprizov had in his contract negotiations with the Minnesota Wild was that he sign in the KHL. After all, he spent five years there after the Wild drafted him.
Kaprizov wasn't eligible for arbitration or an offer sheet so that was his only threat. When asked about the reality of it today, the reigning rookie of the year played it down, saying there was "no chance" he would have chosen that route.
Kaprizov signed a five-year extension with a $9 million AAV to rejoin the Wild this week.
Kaprizov on whether he ever planned to play in the KHL: “no chance.”
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) September 22, 2021
Guerin joked, “you shouldn’t answer that. You’re going to blow it for the next contract negotiation.”
Merzlikins says he asked his wife Aleksandra her opinion about Columbus when deciding to sign with #CBJ. She told him she loved Columbus. To him, that made it an easy decision.
— Mark Scheig (@markscheig) September 22, 2021
#mnwild GM Bill Guerin said Kirill Kaprizov was “very involved” in the negotiation for his new five-year, $45 million contract. “Getting this deal done with Kirill was big for our team,” Guerin said. pic.twitter.com/9hpND96S1N
— Sarah McLellan (@sarah__mclellan) September 22, 2021
"This year, there's a little more of a relaxed feel knowing there's some sense of normalcy for us."
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) September 22, 2021
Hear from @PKSubban1 on media day. pic.twitter.com/E1idTcZOmO
COMMENTS
When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.