Eager close to returning; Toews progressing slowly

Ben Eager, who has missed the last 11 games with a concussion, moved a step closer to returning to the lineup Friday when he skated for the first time since his injury.

The news wasn't as encouraging for captain Jonathan Toews, who sat for the fourth straight game Friday because of his concussion.

However, with five off days before the Hawks play again in Phoenix on Thursday, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville is hopeful the time off will help Toews possibly return next week.

Toews will make the two-game road trip to Phoenix and Colorado, part of the reason being it's the Hawks' first trip in which the players can bring their dads.

"This week's been a week where we've been waiting and progress hasn't been exactly where we wanted it," Quenneville said. "Every day there's been some progress, but at the same time we'll just wait and see. We've got the weekend here and a couple days next week and hopefully we can get him back on the ice and get him back out there."

Eager's return would give the Hawks a much-needed lift from a physical aspect and help the struggling fourth line.

Quenneville dressed defenseman Jordan Hendry as a fourth-line winger Friday against Montreal for the second straight game. The Hawks then lost winger Andrew Ladd 3:48 into the first period when he was ejected for elbowing Matt D'Aostini.

Eager hasn't played since Oct. 3 against Florida in Finland.

"He's doing much better," Quenneville said. "It was good to see him out on the ice. He skated well, so that was encouraging."

Red Wings woes: Not too many Hawks fans have sympathy for the 4-4-3 Red Wings, who lost another key player to injury in winger Valtteri Filppula.

Filppula suffered a broken right wrist against Edmonton on Thursday and will miss 6-8 weeks. Earlier, Johan Franzen tore the ACL in his knee in a game against the Hawks and will be out indefinitely.

Detroit is also suffering in goal with Chris Osgood (.882 save percentage) and Jimmy Howard (.879). Howard was awful in Thursday's 6-5 loss at Edmonton and there is talk again of the Wings trying to deal for either Toronto's Vesa Toskala or Anaheim's J-S Gigure.