All signs point to Seattle Kraken winger André Burakovsky making his long-awaited return tonight against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Friday morning, Burakovsky took the ice as a full participant in an optional morning skate ahead of his team’s final game of the calendar year, making that the third-straight on-ice session he’s participated in since first appearing at morning skate on Wednesday. While updates on his status have been few and far between, Burakovsky hardly looked hindered by the upper-body injury that has kept him sidelined since Dec 7, missing nine games in that span.
At the time of injury, Burakovsky was not given a set timeline for return, simply labeled “week-to-week,” sustaining another injury unrelated to the lower-body one he had just recovered from. Should he return tonight he’ll have been out approximately three weeks. The winger was placed on IR on Dec 8.
Head coach Dave Hakstol was prompted this morning about both Burakovsky’s and fellow injured teammate Jaden Schwartz’s status given their participation in morning skate.
Hakstol explicitly called Schwartz “unavailable” for tonight, having skated in a red no-contact jersey Thursday, while Burakovsky was simply assessed as “closer” to return. Further evidence for his return was found at the sight of Devin Shore skating with the scratches at the conclusion of media availability– Shore was joined by Jaycob Megna, Ryker Evans, and Schwartz. Thursday at practice, Burakovsky took line rushes on the fourth line alongside Tye Kartye and Kailer Yamamoto, with Shore scratched. It looks like these lines will hold up.
Per the NHL media site, Burakovsky has also been removed from IR, clearing him to play. At worst, he’s a game-time decision, and at best, he’s unofficially in. Don’t be surprised to see Burakovsky rejoin the Kraken tonight for his eighth game of the season.
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