最新杏吧原创

Blues defenseman Philip Broberg has resumed skating and is ahead of schedule in his return from a lower-body injury suffered on Nov. 2 against the Maple Leafs, coach Drew Bannister said after practice on Wednesday. Broberg is about 2陆 weeks into a projected four- to six-week timetable announced by the Blues at the time of the injury.

鈥淏roby鈥檚 been really good,鈥� Bannister said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 been on the ice. He鈥檚 had a couple skates on his own. I don鈥檛 think there鈥檚 any timetable right now, but he is probably ahead of where we thought he would be.鈥�

If Broberg comes back four weeks after the injury, that could mean he would be available for a western Canadian road trip that includes a stop in Edmonton, where Broberg used to play before signing an offer sheet over the summer to play for the Blues.

Broberg was injured against Toronto when Mitch Marner fell on his right knee during a collision along the boards in the corner. Broberg needed help getting off the ice and was seen around Enterprise Center in the days after that on crutches. After Tuesday鈥檚 game vs. Minnesota, Broberg was no longer using crutches.

So far, Broberg has missed eight games, and the Blues have gone 2-5-1. 最新杏吧原创 has used multiple players in Broberg鈥檚 spot on the second pair with Justin Faulk, including Pierre-Olivier Joseph, Scott Perunovich and, briefly, Corey Schueneman. Faulk, meanwhile, does not have a point since Broberg exited the lineup and was a minus-3 during Tuesday鈥檚 loss against the Wild.

The Blues just got forward Robert Thomas back from a fractured ankle on Tuesday, his first game since Oct. 22. Initially given a six-week timeline until he was reevaluated, Thomas was back in the lineup just four weeks later after missing 12 games.

Joseph practiced with the Blues on Wednesday morning, skating with Schueneman on the third pairing. Joseph has missed the past three games with a lower-body injury suffered Thursday in Buffalo but also was on the ice for 最新杏吧原创鈥� morning skate on Tuesday.

鈥淚 think he鈥檚 getting pretty close,鈥� Bannister said of Joseph. 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 say that he鈥檚 going to play (Thursday vs. San Jose), but I think he鈥檚 pretty close.鈥�

Leddy has not skated with the team in more than three weeks due to a lower-body injury and has not played since the home opener on Oct. 15. He鈥檚 missed the past 16 games, and the 17th figures to be when the Blues play the Sharks on Thursday night.

Initially labeled as day-to-day, Leddy has been skating on his own, Bannister said. Is surgery an option at this point?

鈥淭hat鈥檚 something I couldn鈥檛 answer for you,鈥� Bannister said. 鈥淚鈥檇 be lying to you if I told you one way or the other. He鈥檚 been skating. I think it鈥檚 more of him getting on the ice and getting his confidence up and his strength up right now.鈥�

Both captain Brayden Schenn and Faulk missed practice on Wednesday morning as they took 鈥渕aintenance days,鈥� Bannister said. Asked if they would play against San Jose, Bannister said, 鈥淚 hope so. It鈥檚 a maintenance day, I would imagine they鈥檒l be ready for (Thursday).鈥�

Without Schenn available, Oskar Sundqvist filled in on a line between Brandon Saad and Jake Neighbours during practice.

Limited ice time

Forward Dylan Holloway played just 9:23 of ice time vs. Minnesota, his lowest usage of the season, not including his abbreviated game vs. Tampa Bay when he was stretchered off the ice after getting hit in the neck by a puck.

Linemates Zack Bolduc (8:30) and Alexandre Texier (9:18) played even less than Holloway.

鈥淗olly hasn鈥檛 played a lot of center, and I think he鈥檚 trying to find his stride there,鈥� Bannister said. 鈥淐ommunication goes a long ways when you have three players that haven鈥檛 played a lot together and you have one player that hasn鈥檛 played that position a lot at this area. I think he鈥檚 got an opportunity to really take that job and run.鈥�

On Wednesday, Holloway was centering Bolduc and Mathieu Joseph at practice. Texier skated as an extra forward.