Training Camp Buzz: Miller out for Canucks season opener

Welcome to the 2020-21 NHL training camp buzz. Training camp is underway for all 31 teams and NHL.com has you covered with all the latest news.

Vancouver Canucks

J.T. Miller won't play in the season opener Wednesday at the Edmonton Oilers.
General manager Jim Benning told Sportsnet 650 that Miller, who led Vancouver with 72 points (27 goals, 45 assists) in 69 games last season, defenseman Jordie Benn and forward Jayce Hawryluk aren't with the Canucks in Edmonton.
"All I can say right now is those players aren't available to us," Benning said. "We are following safety protocols, and we'll have more information to share tomorrow. That's where I am going to leave it for now."
Jake Virtanen skated in Miller's place at left wing with center Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser on the top line in practice, and 20-year-old rookie Nils Hoglander, who will start the season on the second line, took Miller's spot on the top power-play unit.
The Canucks cancelled practice Sunday "out of an abundance of caution due to potential exposure of COVID-19" but returned Monday, when coach Travis Green said the cancellation was caused by a false positive test. Miller practiced Monday but wasn't on the ice Tuesday. Benn didn't practice Monday or Tuesday. Hawryluk hasn't practiced since leaving a scrimmage Saturday after an awkward fall. -- Kevin Woodley

Boston Bruins

Brad Marchand is expected to play in the season opener against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday even though he missed the past two days of practice.
"He'll be back on the ice tomorrow," Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said. "Just a couple days of him going through some soreness associated with his offseason and we're obviously being cautious … We set a goal for him to be there opening night. We still expect that to happen, but we have to react with how he's feeling."
The forward had surgery for a sports hernia Sept. 14, and the expected recovery was four months. Marchand said Jan. 4 that he expected to play on opening night, but he left practice early Sunday before missing practice on Monday and Tuesday.
Although Marchand did not practice, forward David Pastrnak, who had a right hip arthroscopy and labral repair Sept. 16, was on the ice for the first time during training camp, skating in a no-contact jersey. Pastrnak will not play in the opener; his surgery had an approximate recovery time of five months.
After playing in New Jersey on Thursday and Saturday, the Bruins play at the New York Islanders on Monday before returning home. During that time, Pastrnak will not be able to participate in "battle situations," Sweeney said, but the plan is to have him "fully integrate into practice upon our return." --Amalie Benjamin

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New Jersey Devils

Nico Hischier
will not play in the season opener against the Bruins on Thursday.
The center is week to week after sustaining a foot injury during an on-ice session in Switzerland in December. He has not practiced with the Devils but has been participating in off-ice workouts.
"It's safe to say he's out for the season opener," coach Lindy Ruff said. "[Hischier] is progressing. I actually talked to him on the way over to this interview, and he's doing well, but he's not there yet. He hasn't even skated yet. So not to tip my hand or anything, but he's not close for opening night."
General manager Tom Fitzgerald said Sunday that Hischier is working out off the ice and that his walking boot was removed.
Hischier, the No. 1 pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, scored 36 points (14 goals, 22 assists) in 58 games last season and played in his first NHL All-Star Game. -- Mike G. Morreale

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Philadelphia Flyers

Shayne Gostisbehere is unfit to play and will not be in the lineup for the season opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday.
The defenseman's availability for Philadelphia's game against Pittsburgh on Friday is unknown.
Gostisbehere missed his third straight practice session after sitting out practice Saturday and an intrasquad scrimmage Sunday. The Flyers were off Monday.
Gostisbehere, who is on the season-opening roster, said earlier in training camp that he felt as good as he has in years after having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Jan. 14 and on his right knee in late May.
"I went through a tough time with injuries and really couldn't be the player I wanted to be," Gostisbehere said Jan. 5. "I just told [coach Alain Vigneault] I'm healthy, I feel really good right now. I think this is the first time in a couple years that I feel really good. I think it was a good talk and it's a clean slate going into the season." -- Adam Kimelman

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Chicago Blackhawks

Carl Soderberg
is in Chicago but will not join the Blackhawks for their season opener against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday.
"He'd just be wrapping up quarantine," general manager Stan Bowman said of the forward, who signed a one-year contract Dec. 28. "So we'll let him settle in here, serve his seven-day quarantine, and he'll be ready to join the team when we come back from Florida."
The Blackhawks begin the season with a four-game road trip, including two games against the Lightning followed by two against the Florida Panthers.
Chicago is hopeful that defenseman Brent Seabrook can begin skating soon. He did not play during the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs and was deemed unfit to play during training camp.
"Once he's on the ice we'll see how that feels," Bowman said. "He's a couple of weeks behind in game shape and conditioning, so it'll take time for him to ramp it up. First step is to get him skating." -- Tracey Myers