NHL training camps are nearing their conclusion, which means decision time is coming for all 24 clubs. Youngsters still have a few days yet to fight for a hub city roster spot, while management continues to deal with the ongoing rotating rosters of those fit and unfit to play.
We’ve gathered news, notes and updates from around the league as players hit the ice again on Wednesday.
Pastrnak might not rejoin team until Toronto
The Boston Bruins‘ summer camp has felt like one big waiting game to see when David Pastrnak will be cleared to join (and then rejoin) the club.
Both Pastrnak and fellow Czech forward Ondrej Kase made their Phase 3 debuts in Boston one week ago, but haven’t participated since as they fulfill additional quarantine requirements.
Bruins president Cam Neely was asked about the players’ status during a media availability Wednesday morning, and said it could be likely they don’t practice with the team again until they all land in Toronto.
“When we had the day that camp was starting and we knew that some players were going to have to quarantine when they got here, you’d kind of hoped they would have gotten here a little earlier. But we really didn’t have any say in that. That was really left up to the players,” Neely told reporters, when asked about Pastrnak and Kase’s timelines of arrivals upon news of the restart. “Obviously with what has played out and transpired, you would have hoped that some different decisions were made. But in the long run, I don’t know if it’s going to affect us once we get into Toronto. I think we’ll be fine.”
Crosby skates again after brief absence
…aaaand, exhale.
The Pittsburgh Penguins announced Wednesday morning that Sidney Crosby skated prior to practice after missing three days. The captain left Pittsburgh’s scrimmage on Saturday and wasn’t present for any practice sessions through the weekend or early this week.
Sidney Crosby is back on the ice.
We repeat, Sidney Crosby is back on the ice.
The Penguins' captain skated before practice today at training camp.
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) July 22, 2020
While this is obviously a great sign for Pittsburgh’s post-season hopes, he’s not totally in the clear just yet. No. 87 didn’t join the team for any group drills following his solo skate.
More good news in Pittsburgh
Forward Patric Hornqvist and defenceman Juuso Riikola both joined the club at training club after being held out for precautionary reasons:
Good things are happening https://t.co/9lU1QCJJAW pic.twitter.com/4LeZXrNfuB
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) July 22, 2020
Romanov’s long journey leads him to Toronto Montreal
Yesterday, the Canadiens announced that newly signed Montreal Canadiens defenceman Alexander Romanov was en route to Toronto from Russia, bypassing Montreal to get a head-start on his mandatory quarantine to make him able to join the team in the bubble sooner.
As Sportsnet’s Eric Engels tweeted Wednesday, the NHL actually ruled against that, which means Romanov will need to fulfill his quarantine requirements in Montreal, after all.
Romanov was joined by New York Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin on that flight from Russia to North America, and it’s presumed that the netminder is quarantining in New York.
Canadiens’ blue line just got deeper
The Canadiens welcomed Max Domi to the ice earlier this week after the forward took some extra time to make a decision about his return-to-play status. (As a Type 1 diabetic, Domi is considered high risk, so worked with the team and medical professionals to determine whether he’d play.)
On Wednesday, the Canadiens brought back two more players as defencemen Brett Kulak and Xavier Ouellet hit the ice at camp. It’s the first time both players have participated in Phase 3. The duo skated prior to practice, with Ouellet then joining the main practice.
More updates from the NHL’s “secure zones” in Toronto and Edmonton
Broberg’s bubble-bound
Swedish defenceman Philip Broberg turned an opportunity to gain NHL training camp experience in July into a possible roster spot in August. General manager Ken Holland said Broberg will be part of the Oilers’ group when they enter the Edmonton “bubble” ahead of their play-in battle against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Sportsnet’s Mark Spector wrote about Broberg’s impressive showing at camp earlier this week:
Johnsson and Liljegren resume skating
Two new(ish) faces at Leafs camp on Wednesday: defenceman Timothy Liljegren and forward Andreas Johnsson.
Liljegren was with the team to start training camp, but hasn’t skated until now as he’s been listed as “unfit to play.” He was replaced on the Leafs’ roster by Mac Hollowell last week.
Johnsson, meanwhile, continues to rehabilitate his knee follow surgery in February.
Both players skated separate from the main group practice.
More from Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston on Johnsson here.
And another intriguing note from Leafs camp, as they near a final roster:
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