Anaheim Ducks forward Ondrej Kase will be sidelined indefinitely with a concussion, reports Mike Coppinger of the Los Angeles Times.

Kase suffered the injury in Saturday's preseason tilt against the Los Angeles Kings.

The injury is the latest blow to a Ducks squad that's already lost veteran winger Corey Perry for five months due to a knee injury. Also, center Ryan Kesler's return remains unclear as he's still rehabbing from hip surgery.

In 66 appearances with the Ducks last season, Kase notched 20 goals and 18 assists. His 20-goal output finished second to only Rickard Rakell for the team lead.

Kase is under contract for the next three seasons at a $2.6-million cap hit.

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Sam Gagner will be playing closer to home.

The veteran forward and Ontario native, who cleared waivers Tuesday after being released by the Vancouver Canucks, has been loaned to the AHL's Toronto Marlies, the team announced Tuesday.

The Canucks' alternative was to assign Gagner to their minor-league affiliate in Utica, N.Y.

However, while Gagner will suit up for the Toronto Maple Leafs' farm club, he remains property of the Canucks and can't be recalled by the Maple Leafs, unless they were to acquire his rights.

The 29-year-old is under contract for the next two seasons at a $3.15-million cap hit.

While it's a rare occurrence, it's not the only such arrangement in the NHL. Matt Moulson, who's under contract with the Buffalo Sabres, spent last season with the AHL's Ontario Reign, the Los Angeles Kings' minor-league affiliate. Moulson has again been loaned to Ontario for 2018-19.

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For the first time since 1974, the Vancouver Canucks will begin the season without a captain.

In place of the retired Henrik Sedin, who captained the Canucks since 2010, the team has named a four-player leadership group of Bo Horvat, Brandon Sutter, Chris Tanev, and Alex Edler.

"Our team culture will be built from leadership by committee," Canucks head coach Travis Green said in a statement. "It will be a big part of our process and our identity each and every game."

Of the four, Edler is the longest-serving Canuck, having been with the franchise since 2006.

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The Edmonton Oilers have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with Alex Chiasson, the team announced Tuesday.

The veteran forward had been attending Edmonton's training camp on a professional tryout offer. He appeared in four preseason contests, picking up two points.

Chiasson joins the Oilers after spending 2017-18 with the Washington Capitals. He notched 18 points in 61 games last season, then added two more points in the playoffs en route to the Stanley Cup.

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The NHL is one step closer to a 32nd franchise as commissioner Gary Bettman announced that the executive committee voted unanimously to recommend Seattle for an expansion team, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.

A formal vote will take place at December's Board of Governors meeting.

Related: Who, what, where, when, how: Answering NHL-to-Seattle FAQs

The Seattle ownership group is led by Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer and Texas billionaire David Bonderman. Former Arizona Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett, who is serving as an advisor, is the group's lone hockey-related hire.

The group is aiming to join the NHL for the 2020-21 season, playing out of the KeyArena, where an extensive renovation has been planned.

The NHL has expanded by three teams since 2000, adding the Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild, and Vegas Golden Knights.

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Detroit Red Wings defenseman Mike Green won't be suiting up in October.

The veteran blue-liner has been sidelined with a virus that kept him out of the lineup for the entire preseason. While the initial diagnosis was that Green could miss the start of the season, Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill said that Green will be out for at least a month, according to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press

It's been a troubling last few months for Green on the injury front. After missing the final nine games of 2017-18 due to a neck injury, he underwent cervical spine surgery at the end of the season.

Green has spent the past three seasons with the Red Wings. He inked a two-year, $10.75-million extension with Detroit this summer.

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Divisions:
Pacific | Central
Atlantic | Metropolitan

There were only a few big-name signings from Metro Division teams this offseason, but clubs and players still made franchise-altering decisions.

Here's how each Metropolitan squad fared this offseason:

Some contract figures are reported. Most players on two-way deals have been omitted. Total contract value does not include bonuses.

Carolina Hurricanes

Key arrivals

Key departures

Rookies who could crack the lineup

Re-signed

It was a busy offseason in Raleigh to say the least. Hamilton and de Haan were added to one of the league's best blue lines. Losing Skinner's scoring punch up front will hurt, but he's on the last year of his contract and was unlikely to re-sign.

Overall, the Hurricanes are headed in the right direction, but their failure to appropriately address goaltending and center woes will likely keep them out of the playoffs again.

Grade: B

Columbus Blue Jackets

Key arrivals

Key departures

Rookies who could crack the lineup

Re-signed

The Blue Jackets didn't address the two big elephants in the room: Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky, who are both unrestricted free agents after this season. Bobrovsky and the club are far apart in negotiations, and Panarin has halted extension talks until next offseason. The Jackets can't afford to lose their two most valuable players for nothing.

Unless general manager Jarmo Kekalainen has some tricks up his sleeve, failing to sign or trade at least one of those players this offseason is a colossal misstep, especially since the Blue Jackets aren't realistic Stanley Cup contenders in 2018-19.

On the bright side, signing Riley Nash was a very savvy move.

Grade: D+

New Jersey Devils

Key arrivals

Key departures

Rookies who could crack the lineup

Re-signed

The Devils' quiet offseason made it easy to forget they exist. They didn't add anyone who will be a lineup regular.

Instead, they'll rely on internal depth to replace veterans who departed. GM Ray Shero is likely saving his cap space for next summer, but that could result in the Devils falling short of returning to the playoffs this season.

Grade: C-

New York Islanders

Key arrivals

Key departures

Rookies who could crack the lineup

N/A

Re-signed

It was a dark offseason for the Islanders. They lost Tavares, their franchise player, and signed a bunch of misfit veterans up front in an attempt to replace him. The Isles may have been better off turning the page with a youth movement, allowing Josh Ho-Sang, Kieffer Bellows, and Michael Dal Colle to make the team.

The team's biggest offseason acquisitions came in the front office (Lou Lamoriello) and behind the bench (Barry Trotz). But that won't be enough to heal the wounds from Tavares leaving.

Grade: D

New York Rangers

Key arrivals

Key departures

Rookies who could crack the lineup

Re-signed

The Rangers didn't do much to improve, which is fine because the club is clearly rebuilding. They also didn't really have much of a choice with just a little over $1 million in cap space.

For the first time in a while, the Rangers won't head into the season expecting to make the playoffs, but their youth movement is starting.

Grade: C-

Philadelphia Flyers

Key arrivals

Key departures

Rookies who could crack the lineup

Re-signed

The Flyers made one huge splash this offseason, bringing back a familiar face in James van Riemsdyk. He'll immediately help the team's offense - specifically in front of the net on the power play - but his long-term deal might not age well because of his one-dimensional skill set and lack of foot speed.

Philly's offense might be one of the league's best, but - stop us if you've heard this before - shaky goaltending could prohibit a deep playoff run.

Grade: B-

Pittsburgh Penguins

Key arrivals

Key departures

Rookies who could crack the lineup

N/A

Re-signed

Pittsburgh's biggest move of the offseason was handing out an egregious five-year contract to 31-year-old Jack Johnson, who's coming off arguably the worst season of his career.

However, the Pens managed to keep most of the core contributors to their 2016 and 2017 championship-winning teams, giving them another shot at competing for a title.

Grade: C

Washington Capitals

Key arrivals

N/A

Key departures

Rookies who could crack the lineup

Re-signed

Against all odds, Caps GM Brian MacLellan brought back nearly his team's entire 2018 Stanley Cup champion roster, minus fourth-line center Jay Beagle. It took some shrewd maneuvering, dumping Brooks Orpik's $5.5-million cap hit into Colorado's lap and dangling backup goalie Philipp Grubauer as the incentive. The Avs then bought out Orpik, who returned to the Capitals on a contract worth $4.5 million less.

Carlson's massive extension deservedly drew headlines. But retaining Kempny, his defense partner, on a reasonable contract flew under the radar.

Many balked at Wilson's big extension, but if he can become a consistent 20-goal scorer while remaining an imposing physical presence, his deal will turn out just fine.

Grade: A-

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The Chicago Blackhawks could have Corey Crawford back in net before the end of the month.

Head coach Joel Quenneville said the Blackhawks are "optimistically" targeting Oct. 18 against the Arizona Coyotes as a possible return date for the club's star netminder, according to The Athletic's Mark Lazerus. If this comes to fruition, Crawford would only miss the first five games of the season.

Crawford was limited to just 28 games last year due to a concussion. In the small sample size, though, he played some of the best hockey of his life, sporting a .929 save percentage, a 2.27 goals-against average, and two shutouts.

Quenneville added that Crawford looked "extremely good" and "sharp in all areas" during Tuesday's practice.

Anton Forsberg and offseason acquisition Cam Ward are expected to share the crease until Crawford returns.

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Ottawa Senators fans may have to wait longer than expected to get their first look at Brady Tkachuk in meaningful action.

The No. 4 overall pick in the 2018 draft is doubtful to play in the team's season opener on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks, general manager Pierre Dorion told TSN 1200 on Tuesday.

"We're hopeful he'll be able to rejoin the team (soon)," Dorion said, according to the Ottawa Citizen's Bruce Garrioch. "It's nothing serious, it's a nagging little injury and we want to be cautious."

Meanwhile, veteran forward Marian Gaborik will begin the season on injured reserve. The oft-injured sniper underwent back surgery in April, but was originally expected to only miss eight weeks. On Sept. 12, Dorion said there's no guarantee he would play this season.

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The Edmonton Oilers have signed defenseman Jason Garrison to a one-year, one-way, $650,000 contract, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.

The veteran rearguard earned a spot on Edmonton's blue line after signing a professional tryout with the club back on Aug. 28.

The 33-year-old suited up in just eight games for the Vegas Golden Knights last season, spending most of his 2017-18 campaign in the AHL, where he tallied eight goals and 20 assists in 58 games.

Garrison has logged 538 games in the NHL, highlighted by a 16-goal season in 2011-12 with the Florida Panthers.

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