Coyotes return home even more injured than before
Just when it seemed like the Coyotes were on the verge of getting healthier, the team limps back to Arizona sporting even more injuries than before.
The Coyotes were missing nine regulars for their road finale against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday. Those players were goaltenders Antti Raanta (knee), Darcy Kuemper (upper body), defensemen Jason Demers (knee), Jakob Chychrun (lower body) and Kevin Connauton (lower body), and forwards Nick Schmaltz (knee), Christian Dvorak (torn pectoral), Michael Grabner (eye) and Brad Richardson (hand).
Since the Coyotes took off for their three-game road trip on Feb. 1, the newest additions to that list are Chychrun, Kuemper and Connauton. Defenseman Alex Goligoski almost made it a full 10 after a rough hit on Monday in Dallas, but a source said Goligoski cleared concussion protocol in time to play on Wednesday in Nashville.
The severity of the latest round of injuries is not fully known, but it does not bode well for a club desperately trying to hang around in contention for a Western Conference playoff spot.
The Coyotes, who earned just one of a possible six points on the road trip, had recalled goaltender Adin Hill and defenseman Dakota Mermis from the club’s AHL affiliate in Tucson ahead of Wednesday’s game but sent both back down on Thursday, indicating that Kuemper as well as Connauton and/or Chychrun may not be severely hurt.
Chychrun’s status warrants some added focus due to his already-storied history with knee injuries. A source said Chychrun has been dealing with soreness in his most-recently repaired knee, although such pain is not terribly uncommon.
In some lighter news, Dvorak has begun skating with the team and could be nearing a return sometime soon. However, without a training camp or any regular-season action to this point, it will take some time for Dvorak to round into playing shape.
The next-closest players to return appear to be Grabner and Richardson, although there is no timetable on either. The Coyotes are still waiting for Grabner’s vision to fully clear, and Richardson is still waiting for the fracture
THURSDAY’S GAME
Blue Jackets at Coyotes
7 p.m. Gila River Arena. FSAZ/KTAR-FM (92.3).
The Arizona Coyotes (2325-5) return home to host the Columbus Blue Jackets (29-20-3) on Thursday at Gila River Arena. … Thursday will mark the Coyotes’ first game played at home since Jan. 18 vs. Pittsburgh, a span of 20 days. … The Blue Jackets have lost five of their last six games but won their last contest, 6-3, against the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday. … This is the second and final meeting between the teams this season; the Coyotes claimed a 4-1 victory on Oct. 23 in Columbus… The Blue Jackets are led in offensive production by forwards Artemi Panarin with 60 points (20 goals, 40 assists) and Cam Atkinson with 52 points (29 goals, 23 assists).
in his hand to complete its healing.