Lightning’s Cedric Paquette ‘unable to practice'

TAMPA — Cedric Paquette did not participate in Friday’s practice, making him the first Lightning player who started training camp to miss a day.

Paquette practiced in the first three sessions, but was banged up during Wednesday’s mini-scrimmage. He left the ice after taking a cross-check to the lower back, but returned for his next shift and finished out the scrimmage.

That he finished out the session seemed to be a good indication for his status, but that Paquette couldn’t practice even after the team had a day off Thursday leans the other way. Coach Jon Cooper was unable to provide any information on his status or timeline.

Officially, the team listed Paquette as “unable to practice,” which is one of the two injury determinations the NHL has designated for this return to play period.

Like other teams, the Lightning are not particularly specific with their injury updates. But Cooper usually at least indicates if a player will be out long term or if he is expected back by a certain point (say, the start of the round robin).

Steven Stamkos’s leg injury was disclosed just before the NHL instituted this policy, which seems to be intended to avoid sharing positive coronavirus tests.