Kane’s return a week away

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This article was published 28/10/2014 (3997 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Give or take a few days, it appears Jets left-winger Evander Kane is a week away from re-starting his NHL season.

Kane was injured on the team’s opening night on his second shift, and has been watching from the sidelines with a knee injury since.

Monday, he took another step towards resuming action, skating for a very brief time with his teammates at the end of practice at the MTS Iceplex.

When Kane does return, his place in the forward combinations, and what they’ll look like, is anyone’s guess.

Jets coach Paul Maurice wasn’t tipping his hand Monday.

“Anybody’s lineup could (use him),” Maurice said. “I mean, size, speed and a great shot. You can fit him in anywhere. I’m starting to like where we got to. Little’s line (with Andrew Ladd, Michael Frolik) was back to what we remember, and really effective (Sunday) and scored goals. That’s how we remembered it. I’ve liked (Mark) Scheifele and (Mathieu) Perreault and (Blake) Wheeler real good, our best line the other night.

“And then the three big fellas that played together (Adam Lowry, Dustin Byfuglien, Chris Thorburn) did a real good job in kind of setting a tone and having a different look. Evander could fit in any of those places, but I’m happy with the way the lines finished (Sunday).”

Speaking of happy, that was Kane on Monday, finally back with his teammates after three of four days skating on his own.

“I’ve been bugging the docs and the trainers to let me get back on the ice with the team,” he said. “It’s no fun skating on your own. It reminded me of the summer. It’s nice to be back on the ice with the guys, passing the puck and moving around.”

Kane took a question about Maurice wanting him with the team on the four-game road trip that starts tonight.

“I think he’s just going to let me have some fun in New York and go out for Halloween,” Kane joked.

The coach said he wants Kane around so he can be closely monitored and start to practice with the team, when he’s cleared to play.

“It’ll be non-contact and he’ll continue in that sweater (his no-hit sweater was baby blue on Monday) until we get clearance from the doctor who will be on the trip,” Maurice said. “Every day he does a little bit more and more on the ice… and if he continues we’ll push him a little harder.

“I don’t have an expectation for him to play this trip, but if he continues on the path he’s on now, it won’t be much longer after that.

“The one nice thing about Evander is that he’s in such incredible shape that when he gets cleared to go, he’s going to get his practice in and he’s going to go.”

Bogo, Enstrom take day off

Monday, left-winger Anthony Peluso and defenceman Toby Enstrom and Zach Bogosian were missing from practice.

Peluso is still feeling the effects of an upper-body injury and won’t likely play soon, while the two defencemen were just taking maintenance days and are expected in tonight against the Islanders.

Frolik puts finger on his so-so play

MAURICE revealed Sunday right-winger Michael Frolik has been playing with a significant injury, but was moved back to the line with Bryan Little and Andrew Ladd because he’s feeling better.

Frolik said Monday he dislocated his thumb in Game 1 of the season and though he didn’t miss any games, he played a few in a cast.

“First game in Phoenix, third shift, finger popped out and back,” Frolik said.

“That was really sore. I had to play with a cast and some shots, too, and the pain. The first few games were not fun. I was really in pain there and didn’t really battle hard.

“Especially that second game in San Jose, I was really thinking about (whether) they could use me there but we kind of decided with the coach I can still be good. I did a needle for the pain to freeze it and played with a cast.

“I know those games weren’t really my type of game. It’s really hard when you can’t use your whole body. But it’s getting better and hopefully it’ll be good.”

Said Maurice: “That’s a big chunk of the reason I moved him off (the line), but he’s a tough competitor and he was able to play and compete.”

 

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca