Smyth update

To follow up, here’s what Terry Murray said today when asked if there was a timetable for Ryan Smyth’s return…

MURRAY: “There isn’t, not a specific time. The first time we were told, after the injury, was four weeks. Then I expanded that, to four to six weeks. Maybe the trip up to Canada in the next week. We’ll see how that works out. He’s itchy. He’s on the ice every day in practice. He’s involved. He’s starting to push and shove on guys and he’s one of those players that you have to be very careful with, that he doesn’t get too involved and have a setback. He has to be cleared by the doctor. It’s not going to be a decision of his, or mine, or even the training staff. The doctor has to be the person to say, `Everything is good to go.”’

I asked Murray about, once Smyth is cleared by the doctor, how many days of practice it would take to get Smyth game-ready. Murray’s response was, “If he was cleared today, I would play him tonight.” Smyth told me yesterday that he’s seeing the doctor again on Saturday, so based on a lot of circumstantial evidence — including Smyth’s increasing involvement in practice — I’d say the time is getting close for Smyth. Monday’s game at Vancouver would be exactly four weeks since the injury.