Laine back on skates for first time since suffering concussion

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This article was published 18/01/2017 (3160 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The health of Winnipeg Jets rookie phenom Patrik Laine took a turn for the better Wednesday morning.

The 18-year-old Finnish right-winger, sidelined since Jan. 7 after sustaining a concussion on a ferocious mid-ice hit from Buffalo Sabres defenceman Jake McCabe, skated under the supervision of Jets fitness director Craig Slaunwhite.

“He gets through to the point we’re comfortable, gets back on the ice,” Jets head coach Paul Maurice reported prior to Wednesday night’s game against the visiting Arizona Coyotes.

“So all the things that have gone on, light bike rides he got through and was fine. So, this is the next phase. It’s back on the ice and we’ll see how he feels tomorrow to decide whether he’s going on or not. We’re just augmenting it a little bit every day.”

Laine’s 21 goals and 37 points are second among NHL rookies in both categories.

Maurice said there cannot be a timetable for Laine’s return.

“Not even right until the very end,” he said. “Because the last thing will be full-contact practice and… we’ve had players in the past just blow through the first part and get to that and hold there for a long time. Or, if you present any symptoms, you’re back to square one.”

Patrick still No. 1

Nolan Patrick went more than three months between games, but the Brandon Wheat Kings captain was able to maintain his No. 1-overall ranking among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s mid-season rankings for the 2017 NHL Draft released Wednesday.

The 18-year-old centre returned from injury to play in back-to-back games last weekend in Brandon. Patrick had two goals and two assists in his first game, an 8-5 win Friday over the Kootenay Ice, before going pointless in a 4-0 victory over the Ice Saturday.

Three other Manitobans were also rated as potential first-round picks by central scouting: centre Cody Glass (Portland Winterhawks) of Winnipeg was rewarded for his stellar first half with an eighth-overall ranking, while right-winger Stelio Mattheos (Wheat Kings) of Winnipeg and right-winger Nick Henry (Regina Pats) of Portage la Prairie were ranked Nos. 23 and 25, respectively.

Other Manitobans ranked include: centre Morgan Geekie (Tri-City Americans) of Strathclair is No. 50, defenceman Josh Brook (Moose Jaw Warriors) of Roblin is No. 75, left-winger Ty Lewis (Wheat Kings) is No. 105, right-winger Brett Davis (Ice) is No. 142 and centre Colt Conrad (Western Michigan University) of St. Alphonse is No. 174.

Are Doan’s days numbered?

Shane Doan is 40 and he’s spent his entire 21-year NHL career with the franchise that drafted him in 1995.

With the Coyotes effectively out of contention for a post-season berth, the veteran right-winger says he might waive his no-movement clause to accept a trade to a contending club before the Feb. 28 deadline.

“Yeah, I think if the situation was perfect then you would, but it would have to be perfect,” Doan, who signed a one-year deal with the Coyotes last summer, said.

“I’m very aware of the opportunity to play my whole career for one organization. It’s extremely rare and I don’t want to turn my nose up at that at all.”

It could also be Doan’s final season — he’s hinted at retirement in the past.

“It’s really on a year-to-year basis,” Doan said. “I thought I was done last year. I’m kinda the same way (this year). I go year to year.”

While Doan has lived with trade speculation before, it’s new territory for teammate Michael Stone.

The 26-year-old defenceman, a Winnipeg product, signed a one-year contract worth US$4 million in the off-season and is poised to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of 2016-17.

“I’ve never really been through anything like this before,” Stone, who needed surgery to repair MCL and ACL damage in a knee following the 2015-16 season, said. “So, it’s different. It’s the part of the business side I’ve never been part of.”

Stone, a fifth-year NHLer who has six assists in 31 games this season, would be a good addition to a contending team.

“It’s a possibility,” he said.

“I try not to think about it too much and it is the reality… I’ve always loved it in Phoenix. Right from Day 1, it was like my hometown team. It was cool. I love all the guys, I love the staff. It’s not much to complain about when you’re living in the desert.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @sawa14