NHL camps: Joffrey Lupul unfit to attend Maple Leafs' training camp

​Joffrey Lupul has suffered another injury setback.

The veteran Maple Leafs winger, who missed the last 31 games of last season after undergoing surgery sports hernia surgery in February, remains sidelined on the eve of training camp.

"He got on the ice and he had the same discomfort," general manager Lou Lamoriello told reporters Thursday. "So we brought him back and he saw our doctors [last week]. When he went through the physical they both felt that he wouldn't be able to play.

"He's very disappointed. He worked very hard at it this summer ... He's going to continue to work at it, wants to play. We'll just have to wait and see."

Hockey is the only life I have known. This is an extremely emotional time for me.- Injured Maple Leafs forward Joffrey Lupul

Lupul, who is slated to make $5.25 US million this season, is on the team's injured reserve list.

"It is with deep regret that I will be unable to attend training camp and start the season with the Leafs due to injury," he said in a statement. "I pledge to work hard with a view to return to playing this season.

"Hockey is the only life I have known. This is an extremely emotional time for me. Accordingly, I will not be making any further comment at this time."​

Montreal Canadiens

The Canadiens opened their training camp on Thursday, but the buzz from the P.K. Subban — Shea Weber swap still hasn't simmered in La Belle Province. Considering the contingent of Montreal reporters that made the trip to Nashville for opening day, Canadiens fans aren't done with him just yet. 

"Welcome to Nashville," Subban told reporters with a grin. "I've been here for six or seven days, it feels like I've been here for six or seven years.... It's impossible to not feel comfortable in this city." 

After drawing a few laughs, Subban spoke about the off-season move. 

"Playing in Montreal for six years — being drafted in 2007 — [there were] a lot of great moments in that organization," he said. "The positive moments outweigh the negative ones. It was a positive experience for me playing in Montreal. It's time for me to turn the page. It's a new chapter."  

Ottawa Senators

Unlike Phil Kessel, Senators forward Bobby Ryan managed to fly under the radar with his light-hearted jab at USA Hockey.

To a large scrum or reporters, Ryan responded by saying he hadn't received a single negative comment from any American players.

"I answered a question that we thought was funny," Ryan told reporters. "If you can't take a joke, I'm sorry."

Ryan, along with Kessel, was another prominent name left off the USA roster at the World Cup of Hockey. 

Edmonton Oilers

Taylor Hall hasn't quite gotten over the Oilers' big off-season move that sent him to New Jersey.

On Thursday, the 2010 first-overall pick told media in New Jersey that he still holds a grudge against the Oilers' organization after being dealt to the Devils on June 29.

"I did not step over the line," Hall told The Record. "Just the way everything went down, I still hold a bit of resentment towards [the Oilers].

The 24-year-old registered 65 points last year in Edmonton and is looking to make an impact on a Devils squad, which has not made the playoffs in four straight seasons. 

Vancouver Canucks

General manager Jim Benning knows what's being said about his team.

Coming off a season where the club finished an abysmal 28th in the NHL's overall standings with just 75 points — the franchise's lowest total since 1999 — expectations might be even lower this year.

"I realize we have a lot to prove to ourselves, to each other and to our fans," said Benning.

Head coach Willie Desjardins feels the same way. 

"I feel our group's ready to challenge." 

Vancouver, which made the playoffs under Desjardins in 2014-15, was just 31-38-13 last season and would probably need at least a 15-point improvement in the Western Conference standings for that to happen.

"It was a tough year last year for lots of guys that are really determined," said the coach. "That's a realistic expectation, that we're going to fight for a playoff spot."

Colorado Avalanche 

The shock and surprise of Patrick Roy's departure is wearing off.

Now it's time to get back to business for the Colorado Avalanche, who open training camp Friday under first-time NHL coach Jared Bednar after Roy's stunning decision to walk away last month.

"I didn't see it coming at all," 39-year-old forward Jarome Iginla said. "But at the same time if that was the way he felt, you just move forward. As players, we're excited now to get the season going and learn some new things and get at it."

Calgary Flames

A busy but productive off-season for Flames general manager Brad Treliving has made for a mostly sunny outlook in Calgary.

New head coach Glen Gulutzan, the free agent signing of veteran leader Troy Brouwer, and a complete overhaul of the Flames' league-worst goaltending are just some of the changes.

The positivity in the air after a 20-point regression a year ago was evident Thursday as training camp opened up with fitness testing.

"Anytime you have a year like we did, it doesn't fall on one guy, or one player, or one coach, it falls on all of us. Change is going to be made and there were changes made," said captain Mark Giordano. "But we're really excited. Not only the new guys coming in, but the guys that were here last year, we want a fresh start."

The one dark cloud looming overhead is the contract status of restricted free agent Johnny Gaudreau, who just finished starring for Team North America at the World Cup of Hockey. Without a deal, he will not be participating in camp.

"No update," said Treliving, repeating the same response he's been giving all summer. "We'll continue to bang away at it. You hope for the best. We hope it's going to get done and going to get done soon. Time will tell."

In his second season, Gaudreau tied for seventh in league scoring with 78 points (30 goals, 48 assists). He was one of two high-profile free agents Treliving had to sign this summer. In August, No. 1 centre Sean Monahan agreed to a seven-year, $44.6 million US deal.