Max Domi made an early exit from his Montreal Canadiens preseason debut.

The forward was given a two-minute minor for roughing and a match penalty after punching Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad less than a minute into the third period of Wednesday's preseason tilt.

The infraction will be looked at by the NHL's Department of Player Safety, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun. As for Ekblad, he did not return to the game, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels.

Domi was acquired from the Arizona Coyotes this offseason in a trade that sent forward Alex Galchenyuk to the desert.

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The NHL isn't worried that any behind-the-scenes business factored into Henrik Zetterberg ending his playing career and landing on the Detroit Red Wings' long-term injured reserve for the remaining three seasons of his contract.

The club announced Sept. 14 that the 37-year-old's days on the ice were finished due to his back condition. Zetterberg signed a 12-year, $73-million contract in 2009, which carries a cap hit of just over $6 million until 2021. However, Zetterberg's salary declines to $3.35 million for the 2018-19 season, and then falls to $1 million in real dollars for the final two seasons of his pact.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the league investigated the contract when it was initially signed.

"We wanted to understand the motivations, what was discussed, everything about that," Daly told Craig Custance of The Athletic. "We were ultimately very satisfied that there was no precooked deal that after 'Year X' he was going to leave, go into retirement, and the club is going to benefit because of that."

Zetterberg hadn't missed a game in three consecutive seasons, but Daly is also convinced of the severity of the player's back problems. However, he acknowledged the league will likely investigate to make sure the medical issue is legitimate.

"We don't question it by any means," Daly said. "We know he's been suffering and it's been a significant issue for a number of years going back to the Olympics. He couldn't even participate in the Olympics. You know it had to be a serious injury. I have no doubt to the bona fides of the situation. But will we (investigate) to make sure we check the boxes? Probably."

Prior to puck drop last season, the league handled a similar scenario with Marian Hossa, whom the Chicago Blackhawks placed on LTIR due to a skin condition with four years remaining on his contract. After an investigation, the transaction was ultimately approved.

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The NHL isn't worried that any behind-the-scenes business factored into Henrik Zetterberg ending his playing career and landing on the Detroit Red Wings' long-term injured reserve for the remaining three seasons of his contract.

The club announced Sept. 14 that the 37-year-old's days on the ice were finished due to his back condition. Zetterberg signed a 12-year, $73-million contract in 2009, which carries a cap hit of just over $6 million until 2021. However, Zetterberg's salary declines to $3.35 million for the 2018-19 season, and then falls to $1 million in real dollars for the final two seasons of his pact.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the league investigated the contract when it was initially signed.

"We wanted to understand the motivations, what was discussed, everything about that," Daly told Craig Custance of The Athletic. "We were ultimately very satisfied that there was no precooked deal that after 'Year X' he was going to leave, go into retirement, and the club is going to benefit because of that."

Zetterberg hadn't missed a game in three consecutive seasons, but Daly is also convinced of the severity of the player's back problems. However, he acknowledged the league will likely investigate to make sure the medical issue is legitimate.

"We don't question it by any means," Daly said. "We know he's been suffering and it's been a significant issue for a number of years going back to the Olympics. He couldn't even participate in the Olympics. You know it had to be a serious injury. I have no doubt to the bona fides of the situation. But will we (investigate) to make sure we check the boxes? Probably."

Prior to puck drop last season, the league handled a similar scenario with Marian Hossa, whom the Chicago Blackhawks placed on LTIR due to a skin condition with four years remaining on his contract. After an investigation, the transaction was ultimately approved.

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Restricted free-agent forward Sam Reinhart has signed a two-year extension with the Buffalo Sabres, the club announced Wednesday.

The deal is reportedly worth $3.65 million per season, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

Reinhart appeared in all 82 games for the Sabres last season, notching career highs with 25 goals and 50 points.

With Reinhart's contract done, just four RFAs remain: Anaheim's Nick Ritchie, New Jersey's Miles Wood, Toronto's William Nylander, and Vegas' Shea Theodore.

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The Dallas Stars have agreed to terms on a three-year, entry-level contract with forward Ty Dellandrea, the team announced Wednesday.

The Stars selected Dellandrea with the 13th overall pick in last year's draft.

Dellandrea has spent the past two seasons with the OHL's Flint Firebirds. He finished second in team scoring last year with 59 points in 67 games.

The 18-year-old appeared in his first NHL preseason game Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues, registering one shot in just under 10 minutes of playing time.

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The Ottawa Senators' front office could use a lesson or two in interviewing.

Just over a week after team owner Eugene Melnyk gave an awkward interview with defenseman Mark Borowiecki, Senators general manager Pierre Dorion spoke to Sportsnet's Dave Amber and Elliotte Friedman during the first intermission of the preseason contest between the Senators and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Things appeared to be going well until Amber asked Dorion what he's optimistic about this season, causing the general manager to pause before answering.

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John Tavares will take the ice for his first preseason game as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators, and he expects to have a bit of a pit in his stomach ahead of game time.

"Any time I play, there are always jitters. That's a feeling you have as a hockey player from the time you're a kid until now," Tavares said, according to TSN's Kristen Shilton. "The first game of the year is always that same kind of butterfly excitement and getting ready to be in that mindset again, that mentality you get into. When you haven't played in a while, it's very fresh."

Tavares is expected to slot alongside Mitch Marner and Zach Hyman on Tuesday night in what may be a preview of what's to come when the regular season kicks off.

The centerman is excited to be playing games with a more competitive edge after taking part in team scrimmages recently.

"It's nice to get back into that competitiveness and a lot of those little things that you need to get prepared," he said. "No matter what, when you play you want to win. So no matter when it is you go out there, play hard and carry over a lot of things you're working on and preaching to keep building ourselves up to the regular season."

Tavares will dress in his first regular-season game with the Maple Leafs when they open the season on Oct. 3 against the Montreal Canadiens.

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