D. Sedin, Toews close to return
Two of the league’s pressing concussion issues could be resolved in the first round of the NHL playoffs.
Vancouver Canucks winger Daniel Sedin practiced Monday and appears on track to play against the Los Angeles Kings.
“I talked with him. I think he feels pretty good out there,” teammate Ryan Kesler said in a conference call. “Hopefully we see him in the first round.”
Sedin was elbowed in the head by Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith on March 21 and missed the final nine games.
Meanwhile, Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews said he would decide Thursday morning if he would play in Game 1 at the Phoenix Coyotes. Toews, who last played Feb. 19, said Friday that he was having symptoms when exerting himself, though he downplayed that Monday. “I wouldn’t call them symptoms anymore,” he told the team’s website. “I think I’ll just work on conditioning and make sure I’m good to go and that I don’t get tired in a game.” Other injuries:
-Washington Capitals goalie Michal Neuvirth (lower body) will practice briefly today, but Braden Holtby is the expected Game 1 starter.
-Detroit Red Wings forward Darren Helm (knee) is expected to return in Game 2.
“I think we need a player like Darren Helm with his speed up front to play against a very good Nashville team,” Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom said.
Top prospect: Russian Nail Yakupov, who plays for Sarnia in the Ontario Hockey League, was the top-ranked North American in the Central Scouting Bureau’s final ranking for June’s draft in Pittsburgh.
“Stars sell,” former NHL general manager Craig Button said. “And this guy is a star. He’s electrifying.”
Swede Filip Forsberg, no relation to Peter, is the top European player. Alex Galchenyuk, a Russian American, is ranked fourth among North Americans, and defenseman Jacob Trouba, who is from the U.S. National Team Development Program, is ranked ninth.
A draft lottery will be held today (8 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network) to determine which team will pick first. The Columbus Blue Jackets, who had the league’s worst record, have a 48.8% chance of hanging on to the No. 1 pick.