Pastrnak tested negative for COVID-19, but he is under quarantine after having contact with someone who tested positive, his agent told The Athletic's Fluto Shinzawa.
The two players were reportedly spotted working out at a local rink separate from the team earlier this week.
"If the league allows them to work out on their own, I'm OK with them trying to get their conditioning where it needs to be," Cassidy said, according to The Boston Globe's Matt Porter. "What are the parameters of it? Are they near people that are at risk? Are they social distancing? Are they doing it the right way?"
"If they're doing it the right way to prepare themselves, then I'm OK with it," he added, according to Porter. "If they're not, and they put themselves in harm's way, then obviously that's not a good thing."
The two were deemed "unfit to participate" for the second straight day after getting on the ice Wednesday. Pastrnak practiced with a small group, while Kase skated alone afterward.
Vegas Golden Knights head coach Pete DeBoer confirmed Wednesday that the team will name its first captain in franchise history ahead of the 2020-21 campaign.
The Golden Knights have rotated four alternate captains since the club's inception in 2017-18 and will have no shortage of options when deciding which player will be first to don the "C."
Here are five candidates who could be tabbed for the prestigious role.
Mark Stone
Ethan Miller / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Stone has arguably been the Golden Knights' most valuable player since they landed him at the 2018-19 trade deadline. The 28-year-old then cemented himself in the club's long-term plans when he inked an eight-year, $76-million deal shortly after his arrival.
As gifted as Stone is offensively, it's his elite play away from the puck that truly bolsters his candidacy for the captaincy. He led all Golden Knights forwards in blocked shots (51) this season and finished second league-wide with 78 takeaways. Vegas also owned a sizzling 61.47% share of expected goals for when Stone patrolled the ice at five-on-five.
Stone has experience wearing a letter, too. The Winnipeg native served as an alternate captain for the Ottawa Senators for two seasons and also donned the "A" for Team Canada at the 2019 world championships.
Max Pacioretty
Jeff Bottari / National Hockey League / Getty
Pacioretty is the only player on the Golden Knights' roster with experience wearing the "C" at the NHL level. The electric winger served as Montreal Canadiens captain for three seasons from 2015 to 2018 and was an alternate in Vegas during the 2018-19 campaign.
The 30-year-old is one of the more senior players on the team, as his 763 career games rank third behind fellow veterans Paul Stastny and Marc-Andre Fleury. However, Pacioretty hasn't shown any signs of slowing down. He hit the 30-goal plateau for the sixth time and was on pace for a career-best 76 points before the season was cut short in March.
Shea Theodore
Gregg Forwerck / National Hockey League / Getty
Theodore hasn't been part of the leadership group in Vegas, but it would be silly to exclude him from the discussion. The 24-year-old has quietly blossomed into one of the most steady two-way defensemen in the league and is a bright part of the club's future with his contract running through the 2024-25 campaign.
He's the backbone of the Golden Knights' blue line, leading the club in average ice time (22:14) while quarterbacking one of the league's better power plays. The 6-foot-2 rearguard potted a career-best 13 goals and 46 points this season and ranked third among all NHL defensemen with 55 takeaways.
Theodore has never worn a letter in the NHL but served as both captain and an alternate for the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds.
Jonathan Marchessault
Ethan Miller / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Marchessault is the franchise leader in both points (181) and assists (107), and he ranks second in goals with 74 over 225 contests. A spark plug both on and off the ice, the 29-year-old is beloved by teammates for his boundless energy and contagious positive attitude.
The undrafted winger was rewarded for his development as a player and leader with a six-year, $30-million deal prior to the 2018-19 campaign. Marchessault's body of work speaks for itself, and with the pesky forward in Vegas' plans for years to come, he can't be overlooked as a possible captain.
Reilly Smith
Andy Devlin / National Hockey League / Getty
One of the club's original leaders, Smith has served as an alternate captain since the Golden Knights' debut campaign. The skilled winger is one of the team's most reliable and clutch scorers. Smith netted 27 goals this season with 23 coming at even strength and a team-best six holding up as game-winners.
Like Stone, Smith is a terrific two-way winger who contributes in all situations. He averaged nearly two minutes of ice time on both the power play and penalty kill and isn't afraid to throw his weight around, evidenced by his 55 hits this season. Only Marchessault and William Karlsson have recorded more points for the franchise than Smith's 167.
The 2019-20 postseason will be unlike any other we've seen in the history of the NHL. Some of the 24 participating teams have already clinched playoff berths, while others will have to win a best-of-five series to earn a spot in the 16-team playoff.
With only a short runway between the qualifying round and the traditional playoffs, each club's decision regarding which goalie it starts will be a crucial one. There is little room for error - teams often only go as far as their goaltenders can take them.
Let's take a look at five of the biggest goalie dilemmas clubs are facing ahead of this year's playoffs.
Robin Lehner vs. Marc-Andre Fleury
Ethan Miller / Getty Images Sport / Getty
It wasn't exactly clear what the Vegas Golden Knights' intentions were when they acquired Lehner from the Chicago Blackhawks at the trade deadline. Though he only appeared in three games with his new club before the league halted the season, he impressed by going 3-0-0 with a 1.67 goals-against average and .940 save percentage.
Lehner's skills are undeniable, but the Golden Knights already have a three-time Stanley Cup champion at their disposal. Perhaps Vegas brought in Lehner to take some pressure off the 35-year-old Fleury, who played in 49 games this season. Perhaps it was an insurance move in case Fleury burned out. But while the veteran's play this season wasn't spectacular, he certainly has the playoff experience teams yearn for.
The Golden Knights' choice in net remains increasingly unclear. Now that Fleury has had months to rest, the physical toll of the regular season lingers no more. Fortunately, Vegas has also already clinched a playoff spot and will be participating in a round-robin tournament with the rest of the Western Conference's top four squads. The round robin is important for seeding purposes, but it also gives the Golden Knights a chance to start both goalies with little risk before making the final decision for the round of 16.
Prediction: Fleury gets the start in Game 1 of the playoffs
Elvis Merzlikins vs. Joonas Korpisalo
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
The Columbus Blue Jackets will need to heavily depend on their goalie if they want a chance at beating the high-octane Toronto Maple Leafs in the qualifying round. While Korpisalo has played four more seasons than the rookie Merzlikins, neither goalie has seen any postseason action.
Merzlikins dropped the first eight contests he appeared in this season, but he rebounded after taking over midseason for an injured Korpisalo. The 26-year-old even recorded an eight-game win streak at one point, which included five shutouts. Overall, Merzlikins produced a solid 13-9-8 record with a .923 save percentage and 2.35 goals-against average in 33 games.
Korpisalo began this season as the team's starter. Without his injury, Merzlikins wouldn't have had the chance to prove himself after a disastrous start to the campaign.
The Blue Jackets handed each goalie two-year extensions during the hiatus, though Merzlikins will receive $8 million while Korpisalo will earn $5.6 million. If the difference in value is any indication of how the team views the tandem, then Merzlikins should get the green light to man the crease.
Prediction: Merzlikins gets the nod in the qualifying round
Matt Murray vs. Tristan Jarry
Steve Babineau / National Hockey League / Getty
Jarry heavily outplayed Murray this season, earning an All-Star Game selection and finishing the campaign with a 20-12-1 record alongside a .921 save percentage and 2.43 goals-against average.
Murray couldn't string together quality starts. He finished 20-11-5, but his peripheral stats - which included a .899 save percentage and 2.87 goals-against average - weren't great.
However, Murray has vastly more playoff experience than Jarry despite only being a year older. Jarry has never started a postseason game, while Murray has appeared in 48 playoff contests and helped guide the Penguins to back-to-back Stanley Cup titles. Murray didn't start in Game 1 of the playoffs either year, though, so perhaps Pittsburgh will turn to him if Jarry struggles.
Prediction: Jarry gets the start in the qualifying round
Igor Shesterkin vs. Henrik Lundqvist
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
Shesterkin is clearly the New York Rangers' goalie of the future. He's extremely talented, and he lived up to the hype after making his NHL debut midseason, going 10-2-0 with a .932 save percentage and 2.52 goals-against average. But can Shesterkin - who's played in just 12 regular-season contests - be trusted as the starting goalie in a five-game series?
Lundqvist is 38 years old and nearing the end of his career. While his play has started to decline, he's still shown that he's a capable goaltender. With months off to rest, can he channel his old self for what might be a final playoff run with the Rangers?
One of the main things working in Lundqvist's favor is his record versus the Rangers' qualifying-round opponent, the Carolina Hurricanes. Lundqvist went 3-0-0 against Carolina this season with a 2.33 goals-against average and .947 save percentage. He's also played in 128 playoff games, steering the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Final twice and the Stanley Cup Final once.
But despite Lundqvist's Hall of Fame-worthy career, all good things must come to an end. Shesterkin's clearly New York's best goaltender at the moment and he should start out of the gate despite his lack of experience.
Prediction: Shesterkin gets the nod in the qualifying round
Braden Holtby vs. Ilya Samsonov
Scott Taetsch / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Holtby is coming off the worst statistical season of his career, as he posted career lows with a .897 save percentage and 3.11 goals-against average in 48 appearances. However, it is possible the 30-year-old was just fatigued. Over the last three seasons - including the playoffs - Holtby has appeared in 191 games.
Samsonov is clearly the Washington Capitals' goalie of the future, but he is still just 23 years old and has minimal NHL experience. He played extremely well in his debut season, putting together a 16-6-2 record, but Washington seemed reluctant to put him in the driver's seat.
Holtby is an impending free agent, so this is a good chance for him to prove that he still has gas in the tank. Like the Golden Knights, the Capitals are fortunate enough to find themselves in the round-robin tournament, which means both goalies will almost certainly play. Who will start in the round of 16 may depend on those results.
Holtby - who helped the Capitals win the Stanley Cup just two years ago - definitely has the experience edge over Samsonov and should start to begin the playoffs. But perhaps this postseason will mark the changing of the guard in Washington and usher in a new era with Samsonov leading the way.
The 2019-20 postseason will be unlike any other we've seen in the history of the NHL. Some of the 24 participating teams have already clinched playoff berths, while others will have to win a best-of-five series to earn a spot in the 16-team playoff.
With only a short runway between the qualifying round and the traditional playoffs, each club's decision regarding which goalie it starts will be a crucial one. There is little room for error - teams often only go as far as their goaltenders can take them.
Let's take a look at five of the biggest goalie dilemmas clubs are facing ahead of this year's playoffs.
Robin Lehner vs. Marc-Andre Fleury
Ethan Miller / Getty Images Sport / Getty
It wasn't exactly clear what the Vegas Golden Knights' intentions were when they acquired Lehner from the Chicago Blackhawks at the trade deadline. Though he only appeared in three games with his new club before the league halted the season, he impressed by going 3-0-0 with a 1.67 goals-against average and .940 save percentage.
Lehner's skills are undeniable, but the Golden Knights already have a three-time Stanley Cup champion at their disposal. Perhaps Vegas brought in Lehner to take some pressure off the 35-year-old Fleury, who played in 49 games this season. Perhaps it was an insurance move in case Fleury burned out. But while the veteran's play this season wasn't spectacular, he certainly has the playoff experience teams yearn for.
The Golden Knights' choice in net remains increasingly unclear. Now that Fleury has had months to rest, the physical toll of the regular season lingers no more. Fortunately, Vegas has also already clinched a playoff spot and will be participating in a round-robin tournament with the rest of the Western Conference's top four squads. The round robin is important for seeding purposes, but it also gives the Golden Knights a chance to start both goalies with little risk before making the final decision for the round of 16.
Prediction: Fleury gets the start in Game 1 of the playoffs
Elvis Merzlikins vs. Joonas Korpisalo
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
The Columbus Blue Jackets will need to heavily depend on their goalie if they want a chance at beating the high-octane Toronto Maple Leafs in the qualifying round. While Korpisalo has played four more seasons than the rookie Merzlikins, neither goalie has seen any postseason action.
Merzlikins dropped the first eight contests he appeared in this season, but he rebounded after taking over midseason for an injured Korpisalo. The 26-year-old even recorded an eight-game win streak at one point, which included five shutouts. Overall, Merzlikins produced a solid 13-9-8 record with a .923 save percentage and 2.35 goals-against average in 33 games.
Korpisalo began this season as the team's starter. Without his injury, Merzlikins wouldn't have had the chance to prove himself after a disastrous start to the campaign.
The Blue Jackets handed each goalie two-year extensions during the hiatus, though Merzlikins will receive $8 million while Korpisalo will earn $5.6 million. If the difference in value is any indication of how the team views the tandem, then Merzlikins should get the green light to man the crease.
Prediction: Merzlikins gets the nod in the qualifying round
Matt Murray vs. Tristan Jarry
Steve Babineau / National Hockey League / Getty
Jarry heavily outplayed Murray this season, earning an All-Star Game selection and finishing the campaign with a 20-12-1 record alongside a .921 save percentage and 2.43 goals-against average.
Murray couldn't string together quality starts. He finished 20-11-5, but his peripheral stats - which included a .899 save percentage and 2.87 goals-against average - weren't great.
However, Murray has vastly more playoff experience than Jarry despite only being a year older. Jarry has never started a postseason game, while Murray has appeared in 48 playoff contests and helped guide the Penguins to back-to-back Stanley Cup titles. Murray didn't start in Game 1 of the playoffs either year, though, so perhaps Pittsburgh will turn to him if Jarry struggles.
Prediction: Jarry gets the start in the qualifying round
Igor Shesterkin vs. Henrik Lundqvist
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
Shesterkin is clearly the New York Rangers' goalie of the future. He's extremely talented, and he lived up to the hype after making his NHL debut midseason, going 10-2-0 with a .932 save percentage and 2.52 goals-against average. But can Shesterkin - who's played in just 12 regular-season contests - be trusted as the starting goalie in a five-game series?
Lundqvist is 38 years old and nearing the end of his career. While his play has started to decline, he's still shown that he's a capable goaltender. With months off to rest, can he channel his old self for what might be a final playoff run with the Rangers?
One of the main things working in Lundqvist's favor is his record versus the Rangers' qualifying-round opponent, the Carolina Hurricanes. Lundqvist went 3-0-0 against Carolina this season with a 2.33 goals-against average and .947 save percentage. He's also played in 128 playoff games, steering the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Final twice and the Stanley Cup Final once.
But despite Lundqvist's Hall of Fame-worthy career, all good things must come to an end. Shesterkin's clearly New York's best goaltender at the moment and he should start out of the gate despite his lack of experience.
Prediction: Shesterkin gets the nod in the qualifying round
Braden Holtby vs. Ilya Samsonov
Scott Taetsch / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Holtby is coming off the worst statistical season of his career, as he posted career lows with a .897 save percentage and 3.11 goals-against average in 48 appearances. However, it is possible the 30-year-old was just fatigued. Over the last three seasons - including the playoffs - Holtby has appeared in 191 games.
Samsonov is clearly the Washington Capitals' goalie of the future, but he is still just 23 years old and has minimal NHL experience. He played extremely well in his debut season, putting together a 16-6-2 record, but Washington seemed reluctant to put him in the driver's seat.
Holtby is an impending free agent, so this is a good chance for him to prove that he still has gas in the tank. Like the Golden Knights, the Capitals are fortunate enough to find themselves in the round-robin tournament, which means both goalies will almost certainly play. Who will start in the round of 16 may depend on those results.
Holtby - who helped the Capitals win the Stanley Cup just two years ago - definitely has the experience edge over Samsonov and should start to begin the playoffs. But perhaps this postseason will mark the changing of the guard in Washington and usher in a new era with Samsonov leading the way.
The Edmonton Oilers entertainment group released a statement Thursday addressing flooding inside Rogers Place caused by a local storm but do not believe it will hinder plans to host the NHL's return in August.
"A significant storm came through earlier this evening. As a result, Rogers Place has suffered some water damage to the terminus of Ford Hall, along with some smaller leaks in other parts of the building," the statement said.
"We are assessing the damage and at this time are confident that it will not hamper our planning and preparation and we will be ready to host the return of NHL hockey as a hub city. We will share more information as it becomes available."
— same ol 🅽🅳, 90% more Dan (@theDanalytic) July 16, 2020
Training camps opened on Monday and teams are slated to arrive in their respective hub cities July 26 before the qualifying round begins Aug. 1.
Edmonton was selected to host the 12 Western Conference clubs for the league's resumption. The Oilers and Calgary Flames are slated to play an exhibition game at Rogers Place on July 28.
Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving came to the defense of his star winger Thursday and squashed rumors suggesting Johnny Gaudreau had been separated from the main group at training camp for disciplinary reasons.
"The groupings that we have on the ice have no conditioning issues or are not done for disciplinary issues. ... I want to dispel that notion," Treliving said, according to Postmedia's Wes Gilbertson.
Gaudreau has skated in a smaller group of nine players since the start of training camp Monday. Flames head coach Geoff Ward said the split was due to "circumstances that became apparent last week," according to Gilbertson.
The Flames GM praised the level of Gaudreau's game after speculation that the 26-year-old entered camp with poor conditioning.
"Johnny Gaudreau has never looked better," he said, per TSN's Jermain Franklin. "To focus on one guy is completely unfair. ... I can't speak high enough to the work level that Johnny has put in."
The 5-foot-9 forward's production sharply declined this season. Gaudreau played at a 21-goal and 67-point pace over 82 games after notching a career-best 36 goals and 99 points in 2018-19.
Calgary is slated to meet the Winnipeg Jets in a best-of-five play-in series beginning Aug. 1.
