NHL Buzz: Couturier to have MRI on shoulder after Flyers win

Welcome to the NHL Buzz! With the 2020-21 season underway, NHL.com has you covered with all the latest news.

Philadelphia Flyers

Sean Couturier will have an MRI on his shoulder Saturday.
The Flyers center was injured early in the first period of a 5-2 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Philadelphia on Friday. He left the game after playing 45 seconds.
"I'll know more in the next couple of days," Flyers coach Alain Vigneault said. "That's all I have as far as an update for you right now."
Couturier won the Selke Trophy voted as the best defensive forward in the NHL last season, when he scored 59 points (22 goals, 37 assists) and was plus-21 in 69 games.
The Flyers, who outscored the Penguins 11-5 in two wins to open the season, next play Monday when they host the Buffalo Sabres.
Winnipeg Jets
The Jets canceled their practice scheduled for Saturday.
They said the decision was made "out of an abundance of caution due to potential exposure of COVID-19" and information about their schedule Sunday would come at a later time.
The Jets are scheduled to play the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena on Monday (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, SNO, TSN3, NHL.TV). They opened their season with a 4-3 win in overtime against the Calgary Flames on Thursday.

Edmonton Oilers

Mike Smith was placed on long-term injured reserve Friday.
The Oilers did not disclose the goalie's injury.
Smith was expected to start against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday but was scratched for an undisclosed reason. Mikko Koskinen played instead, making 38 saves in a 5-2 win, and was backed up by Stuart Skinner, who was called up from the taxi squad.
After placing Smith on injured reserve, Edmonton recalled Olivier Rodrigue to the taxi squad. He was playing in Austria and will have to complete quarantine before joining the Oilers.
Smith was 19-12-6 with a 2.95 goals-against average and .911 save percentage last season, his first with the Oilers. The 38-year-old signed a one-year contract Oct. 10 and backed up Koskinen in a season-opening 5-3 loss to Vancouver on Wednesday.

Detroit Red Wings

Bobby Ryan is expected to make his Detroit Red Wings debut against the Carolina Hurricanes at Little Caesars Arena on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; FS-D+, FS-CR, NHL.TV).
The forward, who agreed to a one-year contract Oct. 9, did not play in a season-opening 3-0 loss to the Hurricanes at home Thursday because of an undisclosed injury sustained during training camp.
Coach Jeff Blashill said the Red Wings likely would spot Ryan in at 5-on-5 so he can get his legs under him. They hope he can help most on the power play. Detroit went 0-for-2 in the opener.
"I'm just happy to be back in whatever role that they give me," said Ryan, who is entering his 14th NHL season "After missing the most important week of training camp, I'll play wherever. It doesn't bother me." -- Nicholas J. Cotsonika

Florida Panthers

Aleksander Barkov said he is aware of a report that teams have contacted the Panthers about his availability but said general manager Bill Zito assured him he will not be traded.
"I haven't had any talks with anyone about that and Bill talked to me right away and said it's not true," the center said Friday. "It's all good and I'm concentrating on the start of the season. My biggest goal is to win here, and I'm trying to do everything I can to help this team to win. I don't know where those rumors came from but it's OK. It's business. It's probably a good thing that someone talks about you a little bit."
Barkov, the Panthers captain, has two seasons remaining on a six-year contract he signed with Florida on Jan. 26, 2016. He scored 62 points (20 goals, 42 assists) in 66 games last season and has scored 407 points (155 goals, 252 assists) in 479 games with the Panthers.
"[The TSN report] is surprising to us, too, because I talked to Bill and nothing's been mentioned and that's where that's at," coach Joel Quenneville said. "Barkov, in his situation, has had a tremendous training camp. I thought last year he had ordinary season, coming off great year. He's looking like he'll start the year on a great note, a positive note." -- Tracey Myers

Anaheim Ducks

Ben Hutton
signed a one-year contract with the Ducks on Friday. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The 27-year-old defenseman scored 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) in 65 games with the Los Angeles Kings last season.
The Ducks play the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday (10 p.m. ET; ATTSN-RM, PRIME, FS-SD, NHL.TV).
Selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the fifth round (No. 147) of the 2012 NHL Draft, Hutton has scored 86 points (15 goals, 71 assists) in 341 NHL games with the Canucks and Kings.