Tyler Seguin could return for Stars’ final preseason game as several stars monitored for injuries

With training camps and preseason games underway, teams are testing their lineups while some players recover from injuries or take short breaks. The latest updates show movement across several teams and decisions that will influence the rosters for the final games before the start of the regular season.

As reported by the NHL, Tyler Seguin could debut in the Dallas Stars’ final preseason game against the Minnesota Wild on Friday. The forward has not played since December 2, when he suffered an injury to the ligaments of his right knee (ACL) and underwent surgery on December 16; the typical recovery timeframe is about nine months. Coach Glen Gulutzan assessed that Seguin looks ready to be available for that game, and the team hopes to close out the preseason before the start of the official season. Also, Matt Duchene and Colin Blackwell are training with the team and are expected to be available, as Duchene is taking maintenance days as a preventive measure, while Blackwell is recovering from a lower-body injury.

At the Washington Capitals, Alex Ovechkin left practice after about 15 minutes due to a lower-body concern and is listed as day-to-day. Coach Spencer Carbery called the situation a precautionary measure and stressed that the team will not rush him to play if he is not fully ready. The Capitals still have two preseason games before the start of the season and are carefully managing player workloads.

The Colorado Avalanche are expected to have Cale Makar available against the Winnipeg Jets on Friday, after the defenseman fully participated in practice following a lower-body concern that kept him out of the start of camp. Makar continued preparations after a difficult summer with two health issues and reached his best levels according to his own assessments. At the Los Angeles Kings, Corey Perry will miss a few days for personal reasons, while Mats Zuccarello continues training with a non-contact jersey after the shoulder injury. At the New York Islanders, Semyon Varlamov returned to NHL appearances for the first time since November 29, 2024, replacing Ilya Sorokin and stopping all 10 shots he faced.

The situation with players and team rosters continues to change as the start of the season approaches, and workload management will be decisive for their participation; according to the NHL, further updates will determine whether these players will be on the ice for the first games of the season.