Golden Knights start camp with captain, but others missing

Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon had a lengthy list of players missing from training camp when he spoke Thursday at City National Arena during the team’s first practice day.

One key player was skating, however.

Captain Mark Stone practiced with his teammates in a red no-contact jersey. The 30-year-old is recovering from May surgery to fix a back injury that caused him to miss 45 games last season.

Stone said he feels “night and day” different painwise, but doesn’t know if he will appear in any of the Knights’ seven preseason games. Coach Bruce Cassidy said the plan is for Stone to play at some point.

“I’ve missed preseason before,” Stone said. “It’s not the greatest thing in the world. You always feel a little step behind.”

Stone’s presence was notable because the Knights had numerous absences.

Defenseman Nic Hague wasn’t at camp because he does not have a contract with the team. McCrimmon said talks are “a work in progress” and re-signing the restricted free agent remains a priority.

Hague, 23, was a 2017 second-round pick. He has 42 points in 142 games in the past three seasons with the Knights.

“Nic’s a real good young player and a player that we think is going to do really good things in our organization as he continues to develop,” McCrimmon said.

Prospects Brendan Brisson and Peter DiLiberatore joined Stone in wearing no-contact jerseys, and the Knights were also without several injured players.

McCrimmon said Brisson, the Knights’ 2020 first-round pick, could be cleared for contact by Friday. DiLiberatore will not play in the preseason and is not expected to be available for the start of the Silver Knights’ season after undergoing offseason surgery.

McCrimmon said goaltender Laurent Brossoit, forwards Spencer Foo and Jakub Demek and defenseman Daniil Miromanov will not participate in camp. Brossoit (hip), Demek (undisclosed) and Miromanov (undisclosed) are coming off offseason surgeries, and Foo sustained a lower-body injury this summer.

Brossoit made 21 starts for the Knights last season, and Miromanov appeared in 11 games. Demek was a 2021 fourth-round pick, and Foo was a depth signing in the offseason.

Another absence was center Nolan Patrick, whom McCrimmon said will not play this season. Patrick, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 draft, missed the Knights’ final 15 games last season and was considered out indefinitely heading into the summer. The 24-year-old has dealt with a long list of injuries in his career, including a migraine disorder/concussion that caused him to miss the 2019-20 season.

“This is all about just real life for now and getting Nolan healthy day to day,” McCrimmon said.

First lines

The Knights had new forward lines for the first day of camp.

Stone and center Chandler Stephenson were joined by left wing Jonathan Marchessault, while Jack Eichel centered Reilly Smith and offseason signing Phil Kessel.

Center William Karlsson played with left wing Brett Howden and right wing Michael Amadio, and center Nicolas Roy was between left wing William Carrier and right wing Keegan Kolesar.

The combinations could work as a season-opening group, but Cassidy said there could be changes.

“What you see now may or may not be what you see (later),” Cassidy said. “Guys are going to move around. I just think that’s inevitable.”

D-zone work

Much of Thursday was spent teaching Cassidy’s preferred defensive-zone coverages and breakout strategy.

The Knights are switching to a zone scheme in which players defend areas of the ice rather than sticking to specific players.

“It seems like more working smart than tiring yourself out chasing around and handing off and all that,” Stephenson said.

Cassidy plans to spend the first three days of camp working on offensive-, defensive- and neutral-zone systems before Sunday’s preseason opener. He is changing how the Knights defend, but keeping some of their previous offensive philosophies.

Contact Ben Gotz at bgotz@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BenSGotz on Twitter.