Injured defensemen Jaroslav Spacek and Boris Mironov were back practicing with the Blackhawks on Tuesday and both hope to resume playing next week.
“I hope Sunday against Toronto,” said Spacek, who has missed 16 games since cracking a bone in his left shoulder Jan. 14. “I didn’t practice for five weeks so I’d like to have a couple of practices with the team before I play.
“We’ll definitely make a decision Friday or Saturday.”
Mironov resumed skating three days after having surgery Jan. 26 to repair damaged ligaments in his left wrist. But the recovery process precluded practice and he has missed 13 games.
“The wrist still hurts a little bit,” Mironov said. “When I shot the puck I felt pretty good. Let’s see how I feel. I see the doctor [Wednesday] and we’ll see what he says. He will make the decision.
“I hope I can play next week. Maybe Sunday, but probably not.”
Hawks captain Tony Amonte said it will be “huge” to get Spacek and Mironov back.
“They’re great puck-handlers and they have the ability to beat the first guy on the forecheck with their skating and stickhandling and then move the puck up,” he said.
Allison update: Defenseman Jamie Allison remains sidelined with a torn ligament in his left knee. He isn’t expected to resume practicing until early in March.
Change of heart: At the Oct. 29 game-day skate in Minnesota, Eric Daze said he wanted to be traded.
After Tuesday’s practice, Daze said he wants to stay in Chicago.
“I’ve pretty much forgotten about it,” Daze said when asked if he wanted to be part of the package if Hawks General Manager Mike Smith does any dealing before the March 13 deadline.
“I’m happy now and I’m playing a lot. Mike Smith has a plan for this team. He’s not going to make a trade unless it fits his plan.
“Every player here could be traded, it’s just a matter of getting the player he wants.”
Smith repeatedly has said his long-range blueprint calls for the Hawks to add scoring power on left wing and more size.
With that in mind, a trade involving Daze would seem to be counter-productive. The 6-foot-6-inch, 234-pound left wing is the biggest player on the team and third in goal scoring with 21.
After being relegated to the fourth line and being a healthy scratch in two games early this season, he is now skating on the first line, working on the power play and killing penalties.
Daze has seven game-winning goals, tops on the team, and his plus/minus rating of plus-9 is the second best among the forwards. Only Michael Nylander has a better rating, plus-14.
