Training Camp Buzz: Elias Lindholm, Marchand to each make preseason debut for Bruins

Welcome to the 2024-25 NHL training camp buzz. Training camp is underway and NHL.com has you covered with all the latest news.

Boston Bruins

Elias Lindholm and Brad Marchand will each make his preseason debut for the Boston Bruins against the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday.

Lindholm missed all but the first day of training camp with an undisclosed injury before returning in limited fashion Sunday. The forward signed a seven-year, $54.25 million contract with the Bruins on July 1.

Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said he did not plan to play Lindholm on Tuesday until the forward urged it himself. Lindholm practiced on a line with David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha, and completed reps with the first power-play unit.

"[Lindholm] came in and said he wanted to play," Montgomery said after the morning skate. "He felt great."

Marchand returns after recovering from separate procedures on his elbow, groin and abdomen during the offseason.

"I feel really good. Much better than I did a month ago," the 36-year-old forward said. "I'm really excited about getting back out there with the guys. It's been a hard road, and it's kind of mentally tough not being ready coming into camp, but really happy with the progression." -- Joe Pohoryles

Ottawa Senators

Josh Norris will make his preseason debut against the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre on Tuesday.

The 25-year-old forward missed 96 games over the past two seasons due to a recurring shoulder injury. Norris underwent the third shoulder operation of his career in March.

"I've put a lot of work in," Norris said following the morning skate. "Just patient with the process, knowing what I need to do to be ready to play and we're at that point now."

Norris had 30 points (16 goals, 14 assists) in 50 games last season.

"I'm trying to look past it," Norris said of his injury woes. "I'm healthy and I'm ready to play. I feel good. It's been a long road, so I'm ready to go now."

Norris centered a line with David Perron and Ridly Greig during practice Tuesday and took reps on the first power-play unit in his typical spot on the right half wall.

"He'll probably play anywhere between, my guess is, 17 and 21 minutes, something like that," coach Travis Green said of Norris. "We've been trying to run four lines through camp just to see what everyone has, but obviously, there are certain times in the game that some guys play more."

Defenseman Artem Zub will make his preseason debut after sustaining a lower-body injury earlier in training camp. Goalie Linus Ullmark will play his first full game of the preseason. -- Callum Fraser

Minnesota Wild

Matt Boldy joined the Wild for a morning skate Tuesday for the first time since sustaining a lower-body injury Sept 21.

The forward, who was previously listed as week to week following the injury, is day to day. He will not play in a preseason game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday, but will practice Wednesday and Thursday and could play when the Wild visit the Blackhawks for their final preseason game Friday.

"He's progressing really well," Minnesota coach John Hynes said. "It's still day to day right now with him, but we'll progress him each day and moving forward."

Defenseman Jake Middleton is day to day with a lower-body injury, but Hynes said it is "nothing serious." -- Jessi Pierce

Pittsburgh Penguins

Erik Karlsson could return from an upper-body injury before the Penguins open the regular season, coach Mike Sullivan said.

The 34-year-old defenseman skated on his own Tuesday after being kept off the ice the previous six days. Karlsson has been day to day since training camp opened Sept. 18.

"Had a really good day on the ice, so he's making progress there," Sullivan said.

Karlsson would likely need to join practice in a noncontact capacity and progress to taking full contact before playing a game. Pittsburgh has three preseason games in the next four days with one scheduled full practice (Wednesday) before Sunday.

But Sullivan said he is confident Karlsson could play in Pittsburgh's regular-season opener at home against the New York Rangers on Oct. 9.

"I think today was really encouraging, so I think that's a big step forward," Sullivan said. "I think the players of Erik's stature, in my experience, they don't tend to need as many repetitions to get up to speed. They also, if they're not quite as sharp and not at the very top of their game, they're still pretty good and they can help you win.

"From that standpoint, we'll get 'Karl' up to speed in due time when it's the appropriate time. We'll listen to our medical team with respect to that."

Goalie Alex Nedeljkovic, normally the backup to Tristan Jarry, is being evaluated for a lower-body injury sustained in the first period against the Detroit Red Wings on Monday.

Forward Blake Lizotte continues to be evaluated for an upper-body injury sustained Sunday in the Kraft Hockeyville 2024 game against the Ottawa Senators at Sudbury Community Arena in Sudbury, Ontario. -- Wes Crosby

New Jersey Devils

Brett Pesce will be unable to join the Devils in Prague to begin the NHL regular season.

The defenseman, who signed a six-year contract with New Jersey on July 1 after nine seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes, remains week to week as he continues to recover from surgery to repair a fractured fibula. He sustained the injury during the second period of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference First Round against the New York Islanders last season, a series won by the Hurricanes in five games.

"Pesce is not with us on the trip, but obviously he's progressing well to the point where he was able to get some skates in with us before we left," Devils coach Sheldon Keefe said Monday. "I believe the intent is, in staying back, will allow him time, with our limited practice time and just the numbers we have, he'd be able to get better reps and more reps practicing with the players that are still back in Jersey."

New Jersey faces the Buffalo Sabres on Friday (1 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN, MSGSN, MSG-B) and Saturday (10 a.m. ET; NHLN, SN, MSGSN, MSG-B) in the 2024 NHL Global Series Czechia presented by Fastenal.

"He's just going to continue to work and build himself up to be ready to go as soon as he feels comfortable and strong enough to do," Keefe said. "He's not at that point yet, but he's making progress." Pesce was three weeks post-surgery when he signed with the Devils. -- Mike G. Morreale

San Jose Sharks

Rookie forwards Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith were rivals at Boston University and Boston College, respectively last season. As teammates, they will play together for the first time in an NHL building on Tuesday against the Utah Hockey Club.

"It's going to be really cool," Smith, the No. 4 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft said. "I feel like I've been saying it a lot, but we're still in the preseason, but we are still playing [an] NHL game [for the] first time together, so it's going to be pretty cool."

Smith and Celebrini played against each other at TD Garden in Boston during the Beanpot Tournament last season. Smith led the NCAA with 71 points (25 goals, 46 assists) last season and Celebrini was third with 64 points (32 goals, 32 assists).

"[I'm] excited for tonight. I haven't played in a little bit more than a week, so I'm excited just to play again," Celebrini said. "It's going to be cool playing there with him." -- Max Miller