Training Camp Tracker: Wednesday, Jan. 16

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The NHL is back open for business.

Training camps opened up on Sunday, and that also meant that GMs were again free to do what they do, which is sign and trade players. Training camps won't last long, so the player movement should happen faster than normal. Keep up with Wednesdays's tidbits here.


4:09 p.m.
	The Anaheim Ducks have two very exciting prospects in Emerson Etem -- a high-flying forward who happens to hail from Southern California -- and John Gibson, the goaltender who backstopped the U.S. to a gold medal at the World Juniors just weeks ago. But they'll have to wait longer to see them as they were each sent back to their respective teams (Etem to the AHL, Gibson to the OHL).
3:45 p.m.
	NHL training camp is done for Capitals prospect Tom Wilson, their top draft pick in last summer's draft. They assigned him to his junior team, the Plymouth Whalers on Wednesday after getting a few days to see what he can do. The big-bodied forward will certainly be heard from again.
2:08 p.m.
	The Oilers already have a line settled with their top young stars in Jordan Eberle-Ryan Nugent-Hopkins-Taylor Hall, so that means Nail Yakupov is going to have to find another spot to squeeze in. Right now it looks like it could be with Ales Hemsky and Sam Gagner.
2:05 p.m.
	The Panthers are going through training camp without one defenseman already in Erik Gudbranson, who is expected to miss the first few games of the season due to an offseason injury. But they're also sans Dmitry Kulikov, who is an RFA still playing in the KHL. It doesn't look like he'll be coming back to the Panthers any time soon as the sides remain far apart on a deal.
2:00 p.m.
	The New Jersey Devils lost not only one of the top players in Zach Parise last summer, but also their captain. That means it's time for a new C and Rick Chere says the expectation is that it will go to veteran defenseman Bryce Salvador.
12:52 p.m.
	Just three days after acquiring him in a trade from the Carolina Hurricanes, the Flyers have waived Brian Boucher in an effort to send him to AHL Adirondack. Joining him on the waiver wire is veteran defenseman Andreas Lilja.
12:47 p.m.
	The Blackhawks are going to be without defenseman Steve Montador when the season gets under way. According to Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune, Montador isn't close to being ready to play as he continues to deal with concussion-related symptoms.
11:30 a.m.
	Detroit was hopeful that Darren Helm would be back for this season after his ugly injury that ended his playoff push last year. He's over the laceration on his arm but now a back issue is going to keep him out to start the season. Joining him on the injured list is free-agent addition Mikael Samuelsson, who pulled a groin muscle.
11:17 a.m.
	The Jets look like they are going to give forward Jason Jaffray some more time with the big club this season. He played 13 games with the Jets last year and now they have signed him to an NHL deal.
10:15 a.m.
	Veteran defenseman Sean O'Donnell, who was with the Chicago Blackhawks last season, is calling it a career at age 41. He played for eight teams throughout his NHL career and last season he had 0 goals, 7 assists in 51 games, but scoring was never his forte.
9:44 a.m.
	Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Gardiner continues to work through his concussion-like symptoms in Toronto. He took a big hit while playing for the AHL Toronto Marlies and has yet to be cleared to practice but is skating. On Wednesday, he took a solo skate again before the team's practice.
9:28 a.m.
	Capitals all-around forward Brooks Laich doesn't look like he'll be ready when the season starts this weekend. He has been taking solo skates before practice. The rest of the Caps have some pretty big skates to fill as Laich does it all for Washington.
9:15 a.m.
	The expectation from most people last summer, when the Blue Jackets acquired Sergei Bobrovsky, was that he would be their starting goaltender. But things aren't so clear cut. Steve Mason continues to fight for the job, leading coach Todd Richards to declare there is "not much separation" between the two.
9:09 a.m.
	There isn't a ton of time in camps this year for young players to make an impression, but that doesn't mean there isn't time for them to do as much. Austin Watson has impressed Predators coach Barry Trotz and might have earned himself some time with the big club this season.
9:01 a.m.
	The Flyers could open up the regular season with Luke Schenn on their top defensive pairing alongside veteran Kimmo Timonen. The Flyers acquired Schenn at the NHL Draft from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for forward James van Riemsdyk.
8:51 a.m.
	The Calgary Flames are experimenting with Alex Tanguay at center. "Trying to get used to a new pace, trying to get used to a new position, I don’t think I looked too good out there — I was a little bit out of place,” said Tanguay, via the Calgary Herald. “I feel fine physically, but I feel that I’m still taking too much time thinking about where I need to be. But I’m looking forward to the next few days of practice and hopefully I can improve.