Laich skates with team in Toronto
(Photo by Brendan Sheridan)
Brooks Laich skated with the rest of the Capitals today in Toronto for the first time this season since training camp in early January.
Laich has been sidelined with a groin injury he sustained while playing for the Kloten Flyers in the Swiss League during the NHL work stoppage. (What is it with this team and groin injuries?) He is listed as a non-roster player, but the team can activate him whenever he's ready to play, which might not be any time soon.
"We've got to be careful about it; we can't set him back," Adam Oates told reporters this morning in Toronto.
During his skate this morning, Laich took it easy for the most part, as he's not able to make full starts and stops. He told reporters that he would be able to start taking contact from his teammates in practice in the next few weeks, which is a good sign that he's getting closer to being ready to play.
He told reporters that surgery is not an option, either meaning he definitely won't need it or is considering it as a last resort if things don't go well during the next few weeks, though it doesn't look likely that he will, considering he is testing himself more and looks ready to get back on the roster.
"I wake up feeling better every day," Laich said. "The more I can get on the ice with the guys, the quicker it'll be. As far as a timeline I can't really tell you. I don't have an exact date. But getting closer and closer every day."
Hopefully that time is sooner rather than later, but we're glad he's taking the time to heal up properly. Returning to action before he's completely recovered could aggravate the injury and make it worse over time. The Caps need him to be 100-percent when he's ready to play again.
Laich will not play tonight against the Maple Leafs.
