Versteeg encouraged by his progress
He's not ready to play yet, but Kris Versteeg rejoined the Blackhawks at practice Thursday.
It was his first skate with the team, in full gear, since fracturing a bone in his left hand blocking a shot on New Year's Day in the Winter Classic. Wearing a white "non-contact" jersey, Versteeg took part in most drills.
"It's slowly coming (along)," said Versteeg, who has 9 goals and 18 assists in 34 games. "There's still a little ways to go, and obviously the conditioning part is a whole other part in itself. Hopefully over the week, the hand feels a little more comfortable. It should, because it felt really good (during practice)."
Versteeg, who needed surgery to repair the fracture, made the trip to Winnipeg and St. Louis in order to keep skating with the team. It's possible he could return Monday against the Arizona Coyotes. Coach Joel Quenneville isn't hinting as to where he'll play Versteeg, who was left wing on the second line prior to his injury.
"I think wherever he plays, he's going to give that line some pace," Quenneville said. "Defensively his game's been better this year. We liked him just what he was doing, the way he was playing."
Erixon staying patient:
Defenseman Tim Erixon, 23, has played just six games and has no points since Dec. 14, when the Hawks traded forward prospect Jeremy Morin to get him from the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Instead, Quenneville has primarily used 24-year old David Rundblad and veteran Michal Rozsival.
"It's not what you want," Erixon said. "You want to be on the ice. You've just got to stay positive and work hard. I'm still a pretty young player. I know I what I need to improve on, and I'm working on it."
Slapshots:
Duncan Keith missed practice, but coach Joel Quenneville said it was just a rest day. ... Quenneville is stuck on 299 wins as coach of the Blackhawks. Once he reaches 300, he will become the third coach in NHL history to win at least 300 games with two different franchises. He won 307 with the Blues from 1996 to 2004.
… Daniel Carcillo will be a healthy scratch for a second straight game if the forward lines at practice are what Quenneville uses against the Jets. Carcillo was suspended for six games for a crosscheck to the left arm of Winnipeg forward Mathieu Perreault the last time the teams played.