12:23 PM ET Associated Press CHICAGO — Chicago’s Connor Murphy will miss the start of the season with a back injury and fellow Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook is out with an abdominal injury. Henrik Zetterberg’s 15-year NHL career, all with Detroit, is coming to an end because of a back injury, according to general manager

Sep 14, 2018 Associated Press DETROIT — Henrik Zetterberg knew something wasn’t right with his back last January when he stopped practicing. Despite the aches and pains, he did not miss a game all season for the Detroit Red Wings. When Zetterberg laced up his skates for the final game of the regular season, he

2:52 PM ET The Ottawa Senators went into full rebuilding mode on Thursday, trading star defenseman Erik Karlsson to the San Jose Sharks. The Senators received center Chris Tierney and defenseman Dylan DeMelo, prospects Josh Norris and Rudolfs Balcers, a conditional 2019 second-round draft pick and a conditional 2020 first-round pick for their captain. If

6:14 PM ET Associated Press TORONTO — The Toronto Maple Leafs will be allowed to show up for work a little scruffier this season. General manager Kyle Dubas said Thursday that he’s relaxing predecessor Lou Lamoriello’s rule banning beards and moustaches. “I want the players to be at their best, whatever their individual best may

3:25 AM ET Associated Press BEIJING — Wayne Gretzky says the NHL should again allow its players to compete in the Winter Olympics because sending the world’s top hockey players is “always much better for everyone.” Speaking to The Associated Press, the National Hockey League’s all-time leading scorer says he hopes the league and players

8:09 PM ET Associated Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Nashville Predators forward Austin Watson has been suspended without pay for the entire preseason and first 27 games of the regular season for domestic abuse. Commissioner Gary Bettman handed down the suspension Wednesday after an investigation and a hearing with Watson last week. Watson pleaded no contest

7:46 PM ET Associated Press The NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes will start training camp a day early in anticipation of Hurricane Florence. General manager Don Waddell says the NHL is allowing the team to hold its first practice Thursday. The Hurricanes were scheduled to begin camp Friday while taking the added step of closing practice to

9:54 AM ET ESPN News Services The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed coach John Tortorella to a two-year contract extension, the team announced Wednesday. Tortorella has taken the Blue Jackets to the playoffs each of the past two seasons and was named Coach of the Year in 2016-17. He is 129-87-23 for Columbus since taking

9:03 PM ET Associated Press BOSTON — Half the Bruins are heading to China to start camp, half are staying home. That’s not ideal in the NHL, where a bad start could ruin the season. Boston coach Bruce Cassidy said he hopes his team can make the most of the trip on and off the

6:12 PM ET Associated Press BUFFALO, N.Y. — NHL commissioner Gary Bettman downplayed the significance of entering mediation with former players in a bid to settle a concussion lawsuit, saying Tuesday the league is simply following a judge’s order. “The judge asked us to go into mediation and so we’re complying with the judge’s request,”