NHL Buzz: Laine could play for Blue Jackets on Friday

Welcome to the NHL Buzz. The 2022-23 regular season is underway, and NHL.com has you covered with all the latest news.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Patrik Laine could return from injury Friday when the Blue Jackets play at the Winnipeg Jets (8 p.m. ET; TSN3, BSOH, ESPN+, SN NOW).
The forward injured his ankle Nov. 12 against the New York Islanders and has missed the past seven games.
"He got in a good practice. He's feeling better," Columbus coach Brad Larsen said Wednesday. "We've got another good practice for tomorrow and then we'll make that decision on him in Winnipeg."
Laine said he was not targeting the return to Winnipeg, where he played from the 2016-17 season until being traded to the Blue Jackets on Jan. 23, 2021.
"It doesn't matter if we're going to Buffalo, I'd still want to play," he said. "It doesn't matter where it is, who we're playing against, I still want to play."
Laine, who also missed six games from Oct. 14-23 with an elbow injury, has four points (two goals, two assists) in eight games.
"I had a really good summer and camp and preseason," he said. "Then I was out a couple or three weeks early in the season, so it's definitely frustrating."-- Craig Merz

Minnesota Wild

Jonas Brodin is not expected to play for the Wild against the Edmonton Oilers at Xcel Energy Center on Thursday (8 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, SN1, SNO) because of a lower-body injury.
The defenseman had an assist and three blocked shots in 17:57 of ice time in a 4-3 win against the Arizona Coyotes on Sunday.
"This happened in the game," Wild coach Dean Evason said. "When he woke up, he was in pain, obviously, and had it looked at."
Evason said the Wild don't currently have a time frame for Brodin's return.
Brodin leads Minnesota in average ice time (20:00) and has four assists in 19 games this season.-- Nicholas J. Cotsonika

New Jersey Devils

John Marino is day to day for the Devils with an upper-body injury.
The defenseman did not practice Wednesday after having one shot on goal and three blocked shots in 21:29 during a 5-3 win at the New York Rangers on Monday.
"We'll see how he's doing tomorrow," Devils coach Lindy Ruff said. "He's got an upper-body issue so we'll see how that feels tomorrow."
Marino leads the Devils in ice time per game (21:47) and is tied for second with Ryan Graves among New Jersey defensemen with eight points (two goals, six assists). Among all Devils skaters, he ranks tied for sixth in hits (25) and is third blocked shots (29) in 23 games this season.
Kevin Bahl replaced Marino during practice Wednesday and was paired with Graves. Bahl has no points, three hits, six blocked shots and three shots on goal averaging 10:27 in ice time in three games for the Devils this season.
New Jersey (19-4-0) hosts the Nashville Predators on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; MSGSN, BSSO, ESPN+, SN NOW).-- Mike G. Morreale

St. Louis Blues

Robert Thomas is hopeful to return for the Blues against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday (8 p.m. ET; BSMW, BSSO, ESPN+, SN NOW).
The forward missed a 4-1 loss against the Dallas Stars on Monday with a lower-body injury; he was injured with 11 minutes remaining in the third period of a 5-4 overtime win against the Florida Panthers on Saturday and missed the final 5:11 and overtime.
Thomas skated in an optional practice Tuesday and took part in a full skate Wednesday.
"It went really well," Thomas said. "I felt pretty good out there so hoping to be back tomorrow. "It wasn't too promising right away, but the last couple days felt a lot better. I think I got pretty lucky and very fortunate for that."
Thomas, who leads the Blues in assists (15) and points (19), was injured when he went into the offensive zone corner boards trying to make a quick cut and toe-picked on the ice. He took a face-off later but the left the ice.
"It was kind of a weird play," Thomas said. "Tried to cut it really quickly and sometimes you just catch an edge and go into the boards."
Thomas centered a line with Pavel Buchnevich at left wing and Vladimir Tarasenko at right wing.
"He got through practice, he looked good out there," St. Louis coach Craig Berube said of Thomas. "I didn't see him really have any issues, which is good." -- Lou Korac

Vegas Golden Knights

Alex Pietrangelo will not play for the Golden Knights against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; ATTSN-PT, ATTSN-RM, ESPN+, SN NOW).
The defenseman did not play in a 3-2 shootout win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday because of personal reasons but could return at the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.
Pietrangelo leads the Golden Knights in time on ice per game (23:39) and assists (18) and is second in points (21) behind Jack Eichel (26).