Training Camp Buzz: Podkolzin sent to AHL by Canucks

Welcome to the 2023-24 NHL training camp buzz. Training camp is underway for all 32 teams and NHL.com has you covered with all the latest news.

Vancouver Canucks

Vasily Podkolzin was sent down to Abbotsford of the American Hockey League on Sunday.

Although the Canucks sent down 21 players, Podkolzin stood out because of his draft pedigree (No. 10 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft), 118 games of NHL experience, and the fact that he opened training camp with a chance to play in the top-six forward group. 

However, after finishing without a point and a minus-2 rating in two preseason games, the 22-year-old will start in the AHL instead.

"He's such a great kid and he works so hard, but there's just some things there in his game where there's time and space and doesn't move his feet or doesn't see the play,” coach Rick Tocchet said. “He checks all the boxes of hard work, but now it's grasping the NHL, the reads and the hockey IQ, things I think are very important in his development.”

Podkolzin had 26 points (14 goals, 12 assists) in 79 games as a rookie with Vancouver in 2021-22 but only had seven points (four goals, three assists) in 39 games last season. He also had 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) in 28 AHL games from late November to early February before sustaining a wrist injury March 25 while back up with the Canucks.

“Playing him 10-12 minutes is not really beneficial, and we have guys who are further ahead of him when it comes to the hockey IQ,” Tocchet said.

Forward Ilya Mikheyev practiced Sunday in a non-contact jersey as he continues to recover from ACL surgery he had in late January.

Tocchet said he won’t play in the final two preseason games and doctors “don’t want to commit to opening night” on Oct. 11 against the Edmonton Oilers.

"He's more allowed in contact right now, so we're just getting a little bit of that right now,” Tocchet said. “He was doing the one-on-ones and stuff, defending, which was really good to see.” -- Kevin Woodley

Toronto Maple Leafs

Conor Timmins is out indefinitely after sustaining a lower-body injury when he took a hit late in the third period of a 2-1 win against the Montreal Canadiens on Friday.

"He's going to miss some time," coach Sheldon Keefe said. "He will get an MRI today and that will determine the extent of it but he's going to be out for a bit."

The defenseman was +2 in 23:59 and had one shot on goal in the game. He leads the NHL preseason with six points (two goals, four assists) in three games.

"Not just the camp he's had but he's worked incredibly hard," Keefe said. "Not just in training camp and the off-season but even last season coming in with us, he's put in a lot of work and dealt with a lot of injuries along the way so he is used to bouncing back from these things. I think the foundation he has with the work he’s put in will hopefully allow him to have a quicker recovery and quicker adjustment to get back up to game speed but for sure, a guy like him who has worked so hard and is competing for a spot to have a setback is tough news for him and for us." -- Dave McCarthy

Pittsburgh Penguins

Jake Guentzel travelled with the Penguins to Halifax, Nova Scotia, after practicing on Friday for the first time since having right ankle surgery on Aug. 4.

The forward wore a white no-contact jersey, leaving before contact drills. Guentzel will go to Halifax for a practice on Sunday before Pittsburgh plays a preseason game there against the Ottawa Senators on Monday.

"He's progressing. We're real encouraged with how far he's come," Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. "I thought he looked really good. We'll see where he goes."

Guentzel is expected to miss about five games to start the regular season, Sullivan said when training camp opened Sept. 21. That would put him in line for a potential debut against the Dallas Stars at PPG Paints Arena on Oct. 24.

Before practice, Guentzel skated with a secondary group including defenseman Owen Pickering, who has yet to join camp with an undisclosed injury.

Guentzel, first-line left wing with center Sidney Crosby when healthy, led Pittsburgh with 36 goals in 78 games last season.

"He's been skating for a bit. Sounds like things are going well," Crosby said. "Anytime you see a guy join the group, usually that's a good sign. Happy to see him back out there with us."

The Penguins also placed defenseman Ty Smith on waivers Thursday, ending his chance of making the opening night roster.

The defenseman is expected to be assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League if unclaimed.

"We can only take so many guys to Halifax. So these are all very difficult decisions," Sullivan said. "Ty's a good defenseman, he's a solid defenseman and we think very highly of him. I just think these are difficult decisions we're trying to make. -- Wes Crosby