Overview
- On Day 1, Thursday, Manny Malhotra ran vocal, directive sessions that established his coaching style and used two announced practice groups as early evaluation tools.
- The team published two group lineups that staff and observers used to mock possible lines and defensive pairs, while Malhotra stressed those groupings are only a starting point.
- Goaltending remains unsettled as Thatcher Demko did limited individual work rather than full practices and Nikita Tolopilo pressed as a candidate for a backup NHL role.
- Six young players — Victor Mancini, Kirill Kudryavtsev, Aatu Räty, Braeden Cootes, Adam Novotný and Nikita Tolopilo — emerged as primary camp watch items for roster and depth decisions.
- Akil Thomas stayed on the periphery while rehabbing an injury, coaches joined players for bag skates, and roster choices will quickly be shaped by waiver rules and the impending preseason schedule.