Eriksson 'Still A Ways Away,' But Hamilton, Soderberg Could Return Thursday
BOSTON (CBS) - The Boston Bruins could get two of their injured players back for Thursday night's game against the Nashville Predators in Dougie Hamilton and Carl Soderberg, but it's going to be awhile before we see forward Loui Eriksson in the lineup.
While the Eriksson has been skating with the team over the last week, Bruins head coach Claude Julien said that Eriksson is "still a ways away" from a return.
"Right now he's just skating," Julien told reporters after practice on Wednesday. "He's not supposed to do any contact, and we're just putting him in our practices so he can be around the players."
Eriksson, who skated in a green non-contact jersey on Wednesday, has missed 16 games this season due to a pair of concussions, and there is no timetable for his return.
But both Hamilton and Soderberg have been cleared by the team's medical staff, and could be back on the ice Thursday night when the Bruins host the Predators.
Julien said he is hopeful that he'll have Hamilton, who has been sidelined for the last 10 games with a lower-body injury, back to help an injury-depleted blue-line.
"I'm hoping if he's good tomorrow I'll get a chance to use him,"said Julien. "He's certainly a possibility for tomorrow."
It was believed that Soderberg missed the last two games with a concussion, but the center said that was not the case and he is ready to get back into game action. In 32 games this season, Soderberg has five goals and 14 assists.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Bruins assigned forward Nick Johnson back to Providence.
