NHL Preseason Buzz: Tkachuk doubtful for Senators opener

Welcome to the NHL preseason! The 2018-19 regular season opens Wednesday.
This is a busy time, with rookies looking to make a name for themselves and veterans trying to lock down roster spots. Each day we will have all the updates of note right here.
Here is the preseason news for Tuesday:

Tkachuk likely to miss Senators opener

Brady Tkachuk is doubtful to make his NHL debut when the Ottawa Senators open their season against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday (7:30 p.m. ET; TSN5, RDS, WGN, NHL.TV) because of a minor undisclosed injury.
"It's nothing serious," Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said Tuesday. "It's a nagging little injury, and … we want to be cautious with it.
"We're going to see what tomorrow brings, if he goes on the ice, but right now we'll say he's doubtful, or 50-50 for Thursday, and we're hopeful he'll be on the trip and play his first game at that point in time."
Dorion said the 19-year-old forward, the No. 4 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, was eager to play his first NHL game Thursday.
"I think the kid's more disappointed than anyone else, but at the same time we have to do what's right here," Dorion said. "Sometimes if you just try to push through an injury it can get worse, but what we're going to do is … be smart here and make sure when he is ready to play he's at 100 percent and maybe not at 85."

Kempny to miss start of season for Capitals

Michal Kempny will miss at least the first two regular-season games for the Washington Capitals, including the opener against the Boston Bruins at Capital One Arena on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, TVAS), after being placed on injured reserve Tuesday with an upper-body injury. The defenseman was injured on a hit by St. Louis Blues defenseman Robert Bortuzzo on Sept. 25 and has not skated since.
Forward Travis Boyd will begin the season on long-term injured reserve with a lower-body injury he sustained blocking a shot in the game against St. Louis. He must sit out at least 10 games.
The Capitals are also preparing to open the season without forward Tom Wilson, who has an in-person hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety in New York on Wednesday. Wilson is facing discipline for an illegal check to the head of St. Louis forward Oskar Sundqvist on Sunday.
General manager Brian MacLellan said Wilson's possible suspension was one reason Washington claimed forward Dmitrij Jaskin off waivers from St. Louis on Tuesday. The 25-year-old had 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in 76 games last season.
To make room for Jaskin, the Capitals assigned defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler to Hershey of the American Hockey League. -- Tom Gulitti

Ladd placed on IR by Islanders

Andrew Ladd was placed on injured reserve by the New York Islanders retroactive to Sept. 16.
The left wing, who has been dealing with an undisclosed injury during training camp, has been skating and could return to practice Wednesday, Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello said.
"We'll know more about how he feels first thing in the morning," Lamoriello said, "but odds are he'll be practicing with the team."
Ladd, who had 29 points (12 goals, 17 assists) in 73 games last season, could be activated in time for New York's season opener at the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; FS-CR, MSG+, NHL.TV).
The Islanders also sent defenseman Devon Toews and center Jan Kovar to Bridgeport of the AHL.

Crawford practices again, could return to Blackhawks on Oct. 18

Corey Crawford practiced with the Chicago Blackhawks for the second straight day, and coach Joel Quenneville said he hopes the goaltender can return Oct. 18 against the Arizona Coyotes.
"We're optimistically looking at the calendar, looking at dates," Quenneville said Tuesday. "There's a window of four days off after that Saturday game [against the St. Louis Blues on Oct. 13]. If all goes well, that could be a perfect scenario. But you never know if there's a bump or two in the road. But after this weekend together, we'll see how he handles that and we'll get a better idea on picking a date."
Crawford, who is dealing with remaining symptoms from a concussion sustained last season, will travel with the Blackhawks for their season opener against the Ottawa Senators on Thursday (7:30 p.m. ET; TSN5, RDS, WGN, NHL.TV). He'll also go to St. Louis, where the Blackhawks play the Blues on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; FS-MW, NBCSCH, NHL.TV). But Crawford is going solely to practice with the team.
Quenneville said it's "not likely" that Crawford returns prior to Oct. 18.
Crawford (16-9-2, 2.27 goals-against average, .929 save percentage) missed the final 47 games last season.
Cam Ward will start against Ottawa. Ward was 23-14-4 with a 2.73 GAA and .906 save percentage last season with the Carolina Hurricanes.
Defenseman Brent Seabrook did not practice Tuesday because of flu-like symptoms. -- Tracey Myers

De la Rose won't travel with Canadiens to Toronto

Jacob de la Rose will not play in the Montreal Canadiens season opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET; SN, RDS, NHL.TV) because of a cardiac episode.
The 23-year-old forward was not cleared to travel by Canadiens doctors and will remain in Montreal for further evaluation.
"I think the doctors are very cautious," coach Claude Julien said Tuesday, "although they don't seem to think it's really alarming. But we have to be cautious. And when guys go through that, you have to stay home. And we are bringing everybody else, including all the injured players, and Jacob is the only one that has to stay home because of doctors' orders."
De la Rose had 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in 55 games with Montreal last season. He has 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists) in 119 NHL games, all with the Canadiens.

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Tuch sidelined for Golden Knights opener

Alex Tuch has been ruled out for the Vegas Golden Knights season opener against the Philadelphia Flyers at T-Mobile Arena on Thursday (10 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN, SN360, SN1, TVAS, NBCSP, NHL.TV) with an undisclosed injury.
The forward, who is day to day and was placed on injured reserve Tuesday, left a 5-2 preseason win against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday with 12:30 remaining in the second period.
"I'd like to have Tuch in my lineup," coach Gerard Gallant said. "He's not there, so we'll put somebody else in."
Golden Knights center Cody Eakin (lower body) is not expected to play in the opener either.
Tuch and forward Erik Haula have been competing for the third spot on the second line with Max Pacioretty and Paul Stastny. Haula skated on that line at practice Tuesday.
Tuch had 37 points (15 goals, 22 assists) last season, his first in the NHL, and 10 points (six goals, four assists) in 20 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Gallant said he does not expect to make a roster move in Tuch's absence. -- Danny Webster

Canucks to go with four alternate captains

The Vancouver Canucks' leadership ground will consist of four alternate captains this season: defensemen Alexander Edler and Chris Tanev, and centers Bo Horvat and Brandon Sutter.
"Our team culture will be built from leadership by committee," coach Travis Green said. "It will be a big part of our process and our identity each and every game."
Center Henrik Sedin was Vancouver's previous captain from 2010-11 until the end of last season, when he and his twin brother, forward Daniel Sedin, each retired.
The Canucks play their season opener against the Calgary Flames at Rogers Arena on Wednesday (10 p.m. ET; SN, NHL.TV).

Kase sidelined by concussion for Ducks

Ondrej Kase will not play in the Anaheim Ducks season opener against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center on Wednesday (10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN) because of a concussion. There is no timetable for his return.
The forward, injured in a 3-0 preseason win at the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, had 38 points (20 goals, 18 assists) in 66 games for Anaheim last season, his second in the NHL.

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Brown, Brodzinski to open season on IR for Kings

Forwards Dustin Brown and Jonny Brodzinski will begin the season on injured reserve and will not play in the Los Angeles Kings season opener against the San Jose Sharks at Staples Center on Friday (10:30 p.m. ET; FS-W, NBCSA, NHL.TV).
Brown is out indefinitely after breaking his finger in a 3-0 preseason loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday. He had 61 points (28 goals, 33 assists) in 81 games last season, his 14th in the NHL, all with the Kings.
Brodzinski, also out indefinitely, injured his shoulder when he was hit by Vancouver Canucks defenseman Michael Del Zotto in a 4-3 shootout loss Sept. 20. Brodzinski had six points (four goals, two assists) in 35 games with the Kings last season, his second in the NHL.

Nichushkin day to day for Stars

Valeri Nichushkin could miss the Dallas Stars season opener against the Arizona Coyotes at American Airlines Center on Thursday (8:30 p.m. ET; FS-SW, FS-A, NHL.TV) with a lower-body injury.
The forward, who is day to day, signed a two-year contract with the Stars on July 1 after two seasons with CSKA Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League. Prior to that, Nichushkin had 64 points (23 goals, 41 assists) in 166 NHL games over three seasons with Dallas.

Flyers claim Pickard off waivers

Calvin Pickard was claimed off waivers by the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday.
The goaltender played in one game with the Toronto Maple Leafs last season, a 4-3 overtime loss at the Colorado Avalanche on Dec. 29. He was 21-9-2 with a 2.31 goals-against average and .918 save percentage in 33 games with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League.
A second-round pick of the Colorado Avalanche (No. 49) in the 2010 NHL Draft, Pickard is 28-44-7 with a 2.78 GAA and .913 save percentage in 87 NHL games in four seasons with the Avalanche and Maple Leafs.
Philadelphia opens its season against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on Thursday (10 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN360, TVAS, NBCSP, NHL.TV).

Jaskin claimed by Capitals

Dmitrij Jaskin was claimed off waivers by the Washington Capitals on Tuesday.
The forward had 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in 76 games with the St. Louis Blues last season. A second-round pick (No. 41) by the Blues in the 2011 NHL Draft, Jaskin has 61 points (25 goals, 36 assists) in 266 NHL games, all with St. Louis.
The Capitals open defense of their Stanley Cup championship when they begin the regular season against the Boston Bruins at Capital One Arena on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, TVAS).

Elie headed to Sabres

Remi Elie was claimed off waivers by the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday.
The forward had 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in 72 games with the Dallas Stars last season. Elie, a second-round pick (No. 40) by the Stars in the 2013 NHL Draft, has 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists) in 90 NHL games, all with Dallas.
The Sabres play their season opener against the Boston Bruins at KeyBank Center on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; MSG-B, NESN, NHL.TV).

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Fabbri, Gunnarsson not on opening night roster for Blues

Forward Robby Fabbri and defenseman Carl Gunnarsson are not expected to be in the lineup, and defenseman Joel Edmundson is questionable for the St. Louis Blues in their season opener against the Winnipeg Jets at Enterprise Center on Thursday (8 p.m. ET; FS-MW, TSN3, NHL.TV).
Fabbri (groin strain) and Gunnarsson (knee, hip) were not on the 23-man NHL roster released by the Blues on Tuesday. Goalie Luke Opilka (hip) and forwards Nikita Soshnikov (concussion) and Erik Foley (concussion) also were not on the roster.
Fabbri, who has not played in a regular-season game since Feb. 4, 2017, injured his groin in a 5-1 preseason win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sept. 23; he was coming off two ACL tears to his left knee before a sore back and sore hip flexor sidelined him during training camp. Gunnarsson has been practicing regularly but has not been cleared for contact after offseason surgeries on his left ACL and right hip.
Edmundson sustained a groin injury Friday in a 3-1 preseason win against the Dallas Stars.
Defenseman Jakub Jerabek, acquired in a trade from the Edmonton Oilers on Monday for a conditional sixth-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, will not be part of the NHL roster until he receives his work visa. -- Louie Korac