Blackhawks Taylor Hall Back on Ice Wednesday; Rookie Alex Vlasic in Concussion Protocol

Hall, the former Hart Trophy winner, Connor Bedard's linemate, is progressing with shoulder injury. Impressive rookie D-Man Alex Vlasic moving through concussion protocol after taking hit in Vegas.

Forward Taylor Hall was back on the ice, skating by himself, before the Blackhawks practice on Wednesday in Chicago. He could be close to coming back from a shoulder injury.

The 3-6-0 Blackhawks, with just 19 goals, could use the boost.

The 31-year-old Hall, acquired to support rookie Connor Bedard, was placed on injured reserve retroactive to Oct. 21, before a home game with Boston on Oct. 24. Coach Luke Richardson said on Wednesday the left winger is making progress, and hinted his return might not be far off.

The Blackhawks don't play again until Saturday, when they host Florida. Chicago meets high-flying Jack Hughes and the New Jersey Devils on Sunday at the United Center in a rare set of home games on back-to-back nights.

The Blackhawks will have an off-ice gym day on Thursday before a traditional practice on Friday. Hall may skate alone again, or participate in the gym sessions, then possibly join teammates on the ice Friday.

"I think he said he's feeling much better," Richardson said. "That's really encouraging. He's pushing to come back. We don't want him playing hurt, but we want guys showing thy can push though some stuff that's not detrimental." See video below:

Hall, the 2017-18 Hart Trophy winner, was first injured when he was slammed by Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo early in the second period of the Blackhawks second game of the season, at Boston on Oct. 11. 

Hall sat out Chicago's next contest, at Montréal three nights later, but returned for games at Toronto and Colorado as the Blackhawks closed out their season-opening five game trip

Hall skated in the Blackhawks' 5-3 loss in their home opener to Vegas on Oct. 21 and set up Bedard's first goal at the United Center just 90 seconds in. But he aggravated the injury in 12:39 of ice time. 

Hall was acquired along with fellow veteran winger Nick Foligno from Boston on June 26, two days before Chicago drafted Bedard first overall.

"He's huge piece," Foligno said. "He's a guy who can really drive our offense. We're a team that needs goals, right?"

Defenseman Alex Vlasic, the second-most impressive Blackhawks rookie so far this season behind Bedard, was placed in concussion protocol on Sunday and sent back to Chicago.

"He's taking his stages through the concussion protocol," Richardson said. "I don't think he's quite at the stage where where he goes to the neuro-psych people to get tested yet, but I think he's getting close. So I think there was some good signs that he's had light activity and responded really well."

The 6-foot-6 Vlasic has been solid, both with defensive coverage and managing the puck. Through eight games, the native of suburban Wilmette, Illinois has a team-leading plus-4 rating and three assists through eight games. He's averaged 18:04 of ice time.

Vlasic was injured on a high, hard and nasty — but technically clean — shoulder-to-shoulder hit from the Golden Knights forward Brett Howden in the second period of Chicago's 4-3 OT win on Friday. See link: https://x.com/lettucepiece20/status/1718045007540625627?s=20