McCann back on ice, but not ready to return yet for Kraken
Seattle welcomed top scorer Jared McCann back to practice on Saturday, but coach Dave Hakstol doesn’t expect him to be available for Game 3 against Dallas.
SEATTLE — SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Kraken welcomed top-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 semifinals series against Dallas on Sunday.
McCann has been out since injuring himself early in Game 4 of Seattle’s opening round series against Colorado in a Cale Makar hit that resulted in a one-game suspension. McCann’s injury was not disclosed, with Hakstol only saying he was working through his “injury log”.
Hakstol said McCann skated a few 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 non-contact jersey was his first stint with his teammates.
“We’ll just keep going. I don’t really have an update other than the fact that he’s on the ice and can be out there today with the optional skate, which is a really good move for him,” Hakstol said. “We’ll just keep going. In terms of return, nothing is imminent.”
McCann led Seattle with a career-high 40 goals and 70 regular-season points. He was kept without a goal and had just one point during the series against Colorado before injuring himself in the first period of Game 4 against the Avs when he was hit by Makar after the puck went out of play.
“He will come back at a very high level. First thing we’re going to do is make sure his health is where it needs to be and then he needs to be ready to come into the lineup,” Hakstol said. “Like I said, it’s a step-by-step process.”
Tye Kartye was called up by Coachella Valley from the AHL to take McCann’s place and has scored two goals in his five games while playing on the same line with Jordan Eberle and Matty Beniers.
