SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Kraken welcomed leading scorer Jared McCann back to practice on Saturday, but coach Dave Hakstol doesn’t expect the forward to be available for Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinal series against Dallas on Sunday.
McCann has been out since getting hurt early in Game 4 of Seattle’s opening-round series against Colorado on a hit from Cale Makar that drew a one-game suspension. McCann’s injury has not been disclosed, with Hakstol only saying that he’s working through his “injury protocol.”
Hakstol said McCann skated a couple of times while the team was in Dallas for the first two games against the Stars. But Saturday’s optional skate with McCann in a red no-contact jersey was his first stint back with his teammates.
“We’ll just keep progressing. I don’t really have an update other than the fact that he’s on the ice and he’s able to be out there with the optional skate today, which is a really good step for him,” Hakstol said. “We’ll just continue progressing. Nothing imminent in terms of return.”
McCann led Seattle with a career-high 40 goals and 70 points during the regular season. He was held without a goal and had just one point during the series against Colorado before getting injured in the first period of Game 4 against the Avs when he was hit by Makar after the puck had gone out of play.
“He’s going to jump back in at a very high level. So first things first, we’re going to make sure his health is where it needs to be and then he’s got to be ready to get into the lineup,” Hakstol said. “Like I said, it’s a step by step process.”
Tye Kartye was called up from Coachella Valley of the AHL to take McCann’s spot and has scored twice in his five games playing on a line with Jordan Eberle and Matty Beniers. ___
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Tim Booth, The Associated Press