The Senators have sent Matthew Highmore back to the minors, suggesting that Ridly Greig may be ready to return from a high ankle sprain this week.
The Ottawa Senators may be another step closer to a full-strength, healthy roster.
On Sunday morning, the club sent forward Matthew Highmore back to Belleville. Highmore was a summertime free-agent signing and had one assist in six games with Ottawa this season.
While the NHL club didn't announce any corresponding roster moves, and it's possible Highmore is just a paper shuffle, the timing suggests that centre Ridly Greig may be ready to come off the long term injured reserve list. Greig was back at practice this week, wearing a regular contact jersey.
At the time of his high ankle sprain just over a month ago, Greig was leading all NHL rookies in scoring with 7 points in 9 games (Connor Bedard now leads with 19 points in 22 games).
Coming back from high ankle sprains can be tricky. It's one of those injuries that can falsely lead players into thinking they're ready to return when they aren't.
"Yeah, a lot of guys have had (high ankle sprains), especially my Dad (former NHL player Mark Greig)," Greig said after his first practice back this week. "He had one late in his career so I've talked to him quite a bit about it. But lots of guys around here know what it feels like. So, there's lots of knowledge on it.
"On the ice right now it's been feeling good. I honestly kinda feel it more off the ice than on the ice to be honest with you."
If Greig does return Tuesday night against the New York Rangers, it would mark the end of a speedy recovery. He was hurt on November 2nd against the LA Kings. And according to Dr. Google Search, most recovery times for high ankle sprains are "usually between six and eight weeks."
Naturally, it all depends on the severity – not all high ankle sprains are created equal. Drake Batherson missed two months with his, and says he could still feel it for about a year afterward. Mark Kastelic also suffered a high ankle sprain in the same game as Greig but his injury will need more rehab and recovery time.
Greig and Kastelic are the only two Sens regulars still on the sideline, both providing team cap relief on Long Term Injured Reserve. If Greig is ready to go, the Highmore demotion leaves just enough cap space for Greig's activation.
The Sens are off today, so we'll hear more at Monday's practice.