Theo Fleury isn’t in Vancouver.
Barring a stunning surprise, he won’t be in Calgary either.
After that, however, the “When and where will Theo return?” game can crank up to full tilt.
Blackhawks coach Brian Sutter talked Tuesday about the different stages his winger is going through since he was suspended Oct. 8 for violating the NHL’s substance abuse aftercare program.
The stages ranged from learning life skills to eventually being able to attend games, then mingling with teammates after games, to practicing and then returning to the lineup.
Fleury was at the last two home games and once his doctors give the go-ahead, he may skip the practices and jump right back into the lineup.
“To me, there is no better therapy for him or the team than for him to be around the team,” Sutter said. “The players are excited about seeing him around. It’s important for a team, it’s important for an individual. When you’re by yourself, it’s hard.”
Fleury has been skating under the supervision of Hawks strength and conditioning coach Phil Walker. Sutter said he hasn’t been informed of the progressions in Fleury’s rehabilitation until the night before and likely won’t hear that Fleury is ready to join the team until the day before he does.
“He’s been ready to get back with the guys for a month,” Sutter said. “In a lot of ways this is good for him. All the things that Theo has taken for granted over the years, he can’t take for granted anymore.”
Blossoming
It seems hard to believe Steve Poapst can go from sitting in the press box for six straight games to becoming perhaps the Hawks’ top defenseman.
Where has Poapst been his whole career? Was he overlooked by scouts that didn’t see a big body, ability to rush the puck up the ice or a cannon shot from the point? Or is the 33-year-old Poapst just a late bloomer?
“There are reasons a player doesn’t play until he’s 30,” Sutter said. “He got an opportunity at the end of the year last year. If he had played that way at the beginning of the year, he wouldn’t have sat out as much as he did.”
On second thought
While talking about Poapst, Sutter said that if anyone ever sees the stay-at-home defenseman leading rushes on 2-on-1s, then he has lost his focus.
The Hawks’ lone goal Tuesday in Edmonton came from Sergei Berezin on a 2-on-1. On the opposite side and credited with an assist–Poapst.
Kings of the road
The Los Angeles Kings don’t want to hear any talk about long road trips. The Kings will finish an eight-game, 17-day trip Thursday in St. Louis.
The Kings hit the road Nov. 5 in San Jose, then went to Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton and Minnesota before ending in St. Louis.
So far the Kings are 2-3-1-1 through the first seven games.
Scratched
Center Igor Korolev was scratched Wednesday after injuring his groin during Tuesday’s loss to the Oilers.
The injury shuffled the Hawks’ lines. Kyle Calder was with Alex Zhamnov and Steve Sullivan; Eric Daze skated with Steve Thomas and Tyler Arnason; Mark Bell centered the fourth line with Ryan VandenBussche and Nathan Dempsey.
Added muscle
Ryan VandenBussche was in the lineup for the first time since Nov. 7 against Atlanta, a span of five games. With seven power plays between the two teams in the first period, VandenBussche didn’t see much action–playing just one shift for 15 seconds in the period. He made the most of it, though, drawing a Vancouver penalty.
Tough return
Jason Strudwick made his first appearance in Vancouver since signing with the Blackhawks over the summer. Strudwick played the last four seasons with the Canucks.
Wednesday, Strudwick’s elbowing penalty on Trevor Letowski led to a Markus Nasland power-play goal in the second period.
