Carolina Hurricanes
Jaccob Slavin (soreness) wore a full-contact jersey Thursday, exactly one week after the Hurricanes defenseman practiced for the first time at training camp. Prior to that, Slavin had been skating on his own but was held out of practice for precautionary reasons. Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said Tuesday he expects Slavin to be available for the season opener on Oct. 9 against the New Jersey Devils. “I think so,” Brind’Amour told the Hurricanes website. “He looks good. He just had a little something that we definitely want to make sure is behind us.” … Jesperi Kotkaniemi was not on the ice Thursday; the forward left a 6-5 preseason loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sept. 26 with 4:24 remaining in the third period after taking a stick to the face from Lightning forward Zemgus Girgensons, who was assessed a double minor for high-sticking. “[He] will be good to go within a day or two, it sounds like,” Brind’Amour said.
Ottawa Senators
Drake Batherson skated Thursday for the first time since the forward sustained an upper-body injury during the opening week of training camp. Batherson played all 82 games for the Senators last season and had 68 points (26 goals, 42 assists). … Coach Travis Green said he is hoping forward Lars Eller (abdominal hernia) and defenseman Nick Jensen (hip surgery) can make their preseason debuts Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens.
Nashville Predators
Tyson Jost was on the ice with the Predators on Thursday, one day after being claimed off waivers from the Hurricanes. The 27-year-old forward had nine points (four goals, five assists) in 39 games for Carolina last season and nine points (four goals, five assists) in 14 games with Chicago of the American Hockey League. A first-round pick (No. 10) by the Colorado Avalanche at the 2016 NHL Draft, Jost has 149 (61 goals, 88 assists) in 495 regular-season games with the Avalanche, Minnesota Wild, Sabres and Hurricanes, and 10 points (six goals, four assists) in 46 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Goalie Pheonix Copley was claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday. The 33-year-old played one game for the Kings last season and 42 games with Ontario of the American Hockey League. He is 44-16-8 in 77 regular-season games (69 starts) for the St. Louis Blues, Washington Capitals and Kings.
