Capitals' Green not skating due to upper-body injury, expected to be ready for season opener

Washington Capitals defenseman Mike Green will not play in Wednesday's preseason game against the Buffalo Sabres, and was once again unable to participate in practice due to an upper-body injury.

Adam Vignan of NHL.com reports Green is expected to be ready for the season opener against the Montreal Canadiens on Oct. 9.

Green is coming off a down season in which he recorded only 38 points in 70 games, exactly half his career high set in 2009-10. He's entering the final year of his contract with the team and the 2014-15 season will go a long way in determining his future in Washington, or elsewhere in the NHL.