Training Camp Buzz: Price, Edmundson won't start season with Canadiens

Welcome to the 2021-22 NHL training camp buzz. With training camps open for all 32 teams, NHL.com has you covered with all the latest news.

Montreal Canadiens

Carey Price and Joel Edmundson will not be ready for the season opener at the Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct. 13
Coach Dominique Ducharme said Price has to recover from the illness that has kept him off the ice the past few days before he resumes training. The 34-year-old goalie had been working out individually to return from knee surgery. He is not expected to practice with Montreal before the start of the season.
"He's not doing well right now, so he's going to take care of that," Ducharme said Wednesday. "Then we'll handle the rest after."
Ducharme said Edmundson (undisclosed) had more tests because the defenseman was not progressing in therapy and is expected to be out 2-3 weeks, which means Kaiden Guhle could break camp with the Canadiens. The 19-year-old defenseman prospect was expected to start the season with Prince Albert of the Western Hockey League.
"He's with us and we want him to gain some experience," Ducharme said. "But is that a possibility? It is, but the long-term plan is still to return him."
Forward Cedric Paquette (lower body) has resumed skating and could be ready to start the season. -- Sean Farrell

New York Islanders

Semyon Varlamov remains questionable for the season opener at the Carolina Hurricanes on Oct. 14.
The goalie has not practiced with the Islanders during training camp because of soreness, according to coach Barry Trotz. Varlamov is not expected to play in their final two preseason games at the New Jersey Devils on Thursday and against the New York Rangers in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on Saturday.
"We're probably really looking at the Carolina game right now," Trotz said. "We're working that way. He's just getting back on the ice. We're going to take our time, as we said."
Trotz said Ilya Sorokin will be the No. 1 goalie while Varlamov is out, with
Cory Schneider
the backup. Schneider made 24 saves in a 3-0 preseason win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday.
"First priority is the No. 1 goalie, so whatever he needs he's going to get until 'Varly' is back in the fold," Trotz said. "Our priority will be Sorokin all the way." -- Adam Kimelman

Edmonton Oilers

Kailer Yamamoto will not play against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday.
The forward took a hit to the head during his last shift in a 4-3 win against the Calgary Flames on Monday. He had a headache after the game and did not skate Wednesday.
"I talked to him yesterday," Edmonton coach Dave Tippett said. "He wasn't feeling quite right, so they shut him down for a couple of days. As of right now, it's not more than a couple of days, but we'll see how he is in the next couple of days."
The Oilers begin their season against the Canucks in Edmonton on Oct. 13. -- Jon Lane

Boston Bruins

Charlie Coyle had a goal and an assist in his first preseason game, a 4-3 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals at TD Garden in Boston on Wednesday.
The center, who had offseason surgery on his left knee, started training camp in a non-contact jersey and progressed to full practices Sept. 27. The game Wednesday was his first since Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Second Round against the New York Islanders on June 9.
"It's still a work in progress," Coyle said after the game. "I've been trying to do everything I can to have the strength, have the power in my stride with the limited time I've had. There's definitely a ways to go. … I'm just going to keep working at it."
Coyle played on the second line between Taylor Hall and Craig Smith. It's a role David Krejci had played prior to Krejci opting to play at home in the Czech Republic this season.
"You just want to make sure you're doing the right things," Coyle said. "I thought we had some decent plays and definitely some stuff to build on. It's a start, but we definitely have a ways to go in that. I think that's a good thing." -- Amalie Benjamin

Washington Capitals

Ilya Samsonov is confident he'll be ready for the regular-season opener against the New York Rangers on Oct. 13 after participating in the morning skate Wednesday before the preseason game at the Boston Bruins, a 4-3 overtime win.
The goalie was off the ice for three days with a lower-body injury sustained during a 3-1 preseason loss at the Philadelphia Flyers on Oct. 2.
"We have time before season," Samsonov said. "We have really important game with the Rangers. Everybody knows it."
Samsonov said he was pain free after he "felt pain a little bit" in the second period against the Flyers. Although Samsonov was able to finish the game, the Capitals took a cautious approach. Samsonov did not travel to Boston for the game, but coach Peter Laviolette said it's possible he'll play the preseason finale against Philadelphia on Friday.
"If there's anything at all wrong, then he won't play Friday," Laviolette said. "I certainly would like him to play Friday, but we'll see how it goes."
Laviolette said he also hopes defenseman Martin Fehervary (upper body) can play Friday. Fehervary didn't skate Wednesday after blocking a shot off his hand in the second period of the Capitals' preseason game at the New Jersey Devils on Monday. --Tom Gulitti

New Jersey Devils

Jack Hughes was a full participant at practice Wednesday. The center is day to day with an undisclosed injury and skated on his own Tuesday.
Though Hughes didn't play in a 6-2 loss at the New York Rangers on Wednesday, coach Lindy Ruff said he's possible for the preseason finale at home against the New York Islanders on Thursday.
"There is potential," Ruff told the Devils website. "We'll see how he feels. And balance if we want to risk it for one game."
Hughes was injured during the second period of a 2-1 overtime win against the Islanders in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on Oct. 2 when he was cross-checked by New York forward Ross Johnston. He played one more shift before going to the locker room and not returning.

Colorado Avalanche

Pavel Francouz left a 7-4 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday with 10:11 remaining in the second period because of a lower-body injury.
The goalie was playing his second preseason game after ending the 2019-20 season on injured reserve with hip and knee injuries sustained during the Stanley Cup Playoffs and missing all last season. Francouz had offseason surgery and is the projected backup to Darcy Kuemper.
"I don't know the severity of it," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. "I can tell you it's lower body, nothing related to the hip surgeries he had. He'll get evaluated again [Wednesday] and then they'll look at it. It usually takes a day or two to figure it out."
Jonas Johansson made 13 saves in relief.

Florida Panthers

Noel Acciari left in the third period of a 3-2 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday with an apparent upper-body injury the forward sustained during a multiplayer scrum.
"It didn't seem good," coach Joel Quenneville told the Panthers website. "We're going to say right now that he's probably out a little bit."
Florida begins the regular season at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 14.

Chicago Blackhawks

Wyatt Kalynuk is expected to be out 2-4 weeks with a sprained right ankle.
"That's kind of what the trainers had said, could be a possibility," Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton said. "So it's unfortunate for him, but it's rare the player who doesn't go through something like that at some point. Just have to get through it, and hopefully it'll make him stronger."
The 24-year-old was expected to start the season as one of the Blackhawks' top six defensemen after he scored nine points (four goals, five assists) in 21 games last season.
Chicago opens the regular season at the Colorado Avalanche on Oct. 13. -- Tracey Myers