MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- The St. Louis Blues hit the ice for the opening of training camp ahead of the 2023-24 season relatively healthy.

The only exception is defenseman Torey Krug, who has a right foot injury stemming from an on-ice incident while training.

But there's good news.

Krug took shots against goalies prior to the first training camp group taking the ice, a good sign that the veteran defenseman won't miss too much time. The Blues initially announced Sept. 13 that Krug would be reevaluated Oct. 1, and Armstrong said Thursday the 32-year-old is expected to play in the preseason and hopefully be ready to go for the Oct. 12 season opener against the Dallas Stars.

"My understanding is he's doing very well," general manager Doug Armstrong said of Krug. "Yes, I think he'll get some exhibition games in. I'm not a doctor, but I'm hoping that he gets back (for the regular season opener). It was on-ice stuff."

* Healthy crew -- Armstrong said Hunter Skinner got "banged up a little bit" at the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase in St. Paul, Minn. last week but the defenseman was able to take part in the opening of camp.

"But other than that, everyone's ready to go," Armstrong said.

Prospects Anton Malmstrom (shoulders) and Joshua Jacobs (knee) are each out long-term.

Armstrong said Malmstrom could be available as early as January after having surgery on each shoulder but that Jacobs is likely out for the season.

* Kapanen update -- Among those on the ice was forward Kasperi Kapanen, who made headlines Sept. 7 in his native Finland being suspected of aggravated drunk driving.

"We talked to him, we've been in touch with the league," Armstrong said of Kapanen. "Everything is moving forward, everything is behind us as far as what we're going to do. He understands he made a mistake. I stand by the statement that he made and we made and we move forward.

Finnish publication Yle reported that Kapanen would face the inquiry in February but Armstrong believes the 27-year-old won't have to be there physically.

"I've been told he does not," Armstrong said. "I don't want to be held accountable to the Finnish judicial system, but I've been told now that he does not."

* Featured groups for Day 1 -- Among the featured lines and defensive pairings the first day of camp, the Blues split up into three groups.

Group A:

Saad-Schenn-Kapanen

Toropchenko-Sundqvist-Neighbours

Washkurak-Abramov-Gaudette

Dickinson

Scandella-Rosen

Gaudet-Kessel

Mayich-Biakabutuka

Hofer

Ellis

Group B:

Bolduc-Hayes-Blais

Vrana-Dean-Ritchie

Ratcliffe-Heim-W. Bitten

Hoelscher

Perunovich-Faulk

Loof-Welinski

Burns-Kalynuk

Skinner

Subban

Cranley

Group C:

Buchnevich-Thomas-Kyrou

MacEachern-Alexandrov-Walker

McGing-Peca-Laferriere

S. Bitten-Callin

Leddy-Parayko

Tucker-Bortuzzo

Osmanski-Buchinger

Binnington

Zherenko

* Friday camp update -- Friday's schedule includes Group B (NHL Rink) and Group C (USA Rink) skating simultaneously at 9:30 a.m. before they scrimmage against each other at 10:50 a.m. on the NHL Rink. Group A will hold a practice at 11:35 a.m. on the USA Rink, and all sessions are free and open to the public.

The Blues will open the preseason Saturday in split squad action against the Arizona Coyotes at 2 p.m. at Enterprise Center and at 7 p.m. at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kan.