NEWARK, N.J. – While the Flyers continued their season-long road trip here in the Swampland, a very important part of the team was back at home and put on a pair of skates for the first time in three weeks.
Scott Hartnell was cleared by doctors to resume skating, and he did this morning for the first time.
Hartnell fractured his foot on Jan. 22 against the New Jersey Devils. He was hit in the same spot – twice – by two different slapshots – one by Devils defenseman Marek Zidlicky and later by his own teammate Kimmo Timonen.
Hartnell underwent surgery and originally was given a 4-8 week timetable for recovery.
That was modified to 4-6 weeks after the surgery and he appears on target for such a return.
No one has a set date in mind, but the March 2 game at the Wells Fargo Center against Ottawa would be a day over five weeks from the time of the injury and would be a good tune-up game for Hartnell with games the following week in succession against the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh and Boston.
That’s the way to look at the impending returns of Scott Hartnell and Andrej Meszaros to the Flyers lineup.
General Manager Paul Holmgren announced that Hartnell was cleared to begin practicing with the team (which likely won’t happen, because of the compact schedule, until a morning skate Saturday – although it’s possible an optional skate could happen Friday) and could have a return to game action in a week-to-10 days.
That means Hartnell could return as soon as next Wednesday against Washington or by March 2 against Ottawa, which was the original target date for his return.
As for Meszaros, Holmgren added that he has continued to improve and that his return could be coming soon as well.
Meszaros will visit a doctor tomorrow and the Flyers will give an update afterward.
Last edited by MiamiScreamingEagles: 02-20-2013 at 05:37 PM.
In other news – which is positive news for the Flyers - it looks like Scott Hartnell’s return may have been bumped up a few days.
According to General Manager Paul Holmgren Hartnell’s fractured left foot is improving even faster and had his timetable for a return trimmed from 7-to-10 days down to 5-7.
That means he could be back in the lineup as soon as Monday against Toronto.
As for Andrej Meszaros, he saw the doctor this afternoon and was cleared to take part in limited practice with the team but he is still a week-to-10 days away from returning to the lineup from his sprained left shoulder.
It could be retroactive to his last appointment. Hartnell said earlier his foot was better but not 100%. Monday is entirely optimistic. These situations are fluid.
And the "fluid" nature is emphazied. Hartnell playing today:
ROSTER NEWS: #Flyers forward Scott Hartnell WILL be in today's line-up vs. Winnipeg.
Quote:
HARTNELL IN
Flyers head coach Peter Laviolette announced that Scott Hartnell is IN today's line-up when the Flyers take on the Winnipeg Jets at 1 p.m.
This will be Hartnell's first game since suffering a broken left foot at New Jersey on Jan. 22 causing him to miss the last 16 games and a total of 30 days.
Lol, I noticed late last night before going to bed that Hartnell didn't have IR beside his name anymore. I figured it was maybe a mistake. Wow, didn't expect him to be back so soon. I hope they're not rushing him.
^ From what has been said, he participated in the Phantoms' morning skate yesterday and felt comfortable after going through the drills. Laviolette said a few minutes ago that Hartnell's minutes will be monitored.
