Chad LaRose signed a one-year deal with the Charlotte Checkers earlier in the summer in hopes to start a path back to the National Hockey League and the Carolina Hurricanes. A big part of that journey would be this years’ training camp.

According to Ron Francis, General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, Chad LaRose could miss the upcoming training camp if he is not feeling “100%” after suffering a leg injury.

#Canes likely to release training camp roster within the next day. Notes from Francis: — No PTOs — LaRose (leg) won’t attend if not 100% — Michael Smith (@MSmithCanes) September 16, 2014

Chad LaRose’s injury will only complicate his NHL comeback. After one year away from professional hockey, Chad LaRose will need to come in and prove that he is good enough to play in the NHL again. He had a chance to prove a lot to new head coach Bill Peters and his coaching staff in training camp, but he may not be able to do that now.

A veteran of 508 NHL games, Chad LaRose has experience that most players on the Carolina Hurricanes do not have. His last season in the NHL was the 2013 lockout-shortened season. He tallied just 4 points in 35 games and was a -8.

Whether Chad LaRose attends training camp or not, he does have a contract within the Carolina Hurricanes organization. His one-year AHL deal means he will suit up with the Charlotte Checkers this season.

If Chad LaRose performs well, the Carolina Hurricanes have the option to sign him to an NHL deal, but every other team in the NHL can too. Until that happens, assuming it does, Chad LaRose is strictly an AHL player. He is not signed by the Carolina Hurricanes.

Chad LaRose was not included on the team’s training camp roster that was released Tuesday night (September 16).