Mike Fisher could return to the lineup in the next two weeks

David Poile made an appearance on 102.5 The Game this afternoon, and had a ton of injury updates, most notably that Mike Fisher could be returning to the lineup soon.

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-partner=”tweetdeck”><p><a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Preds?src=hash”>#Preds</a> GM David Poile is hopeful Mike Fisher (Achilles) can return in the next 2 weeks.</p>— 102.5 The Game (@1025TheGame) <a href=”https://twitter.com/1025TheGame/status/531934327148675074″>November 10, 2014</a></blockquote>

Fisher has missed the entire season so far, thanks to a ruptured Achilles tendon he suffered in the offseason. In July, the timetable was about 4-6 months, so if he plays in November he’ll be right on the earlier projected return date. That’s a lot sooner that most of us were expecting. Where he slots in will be anyone’s guess right now. Third line would be a good guess for now, but he’s more than capable of centering the second line.

Poile also gave an update on Colin Wilson, who didn’t skate a shift in the third period on Saturday night’s game against the Blues.

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-partner=”tweetdeck”><p>Poile <a href=”https://twitter.com/1025TheGame”>@1025TheGame</a>: <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Preds?src=hash”>#Preds</a> FWD Colin Wilson has a lower body injury and will not play tomorrow. "hopefully day-to-day". Bouque will go in.</p>— Willy Daunic (@WillyD1025) <a href=”https://twitter.com/WillyD1025/status/531936467430674432″>November 10, 2014</a></blockquote>

That stinks, especially because Wilson is playing the best hockey of his career right now. Day-to-day is a lot better than anything longer term though, so hopefully Willy is back before we know it.

Finally, the last of the injured trifecta was Viktor Stalberg, and hoo boy.

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-partner=”tweetdeck”><p><a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Preds?src=hash”>#Preds</a> GM David Poile said he met with Viktor Stalberg today and said it looks like he will be out 4-6 weeks after the knee-to-knee hit.</p>— Darren McFarland (@dmac_1025) <a href=”https://twitter.com/dmac_1025/status/531936173594120192″>November 10, 2014</a></blockquote>

Stalberg was injured on Friday night during the last game of his two-week conditioning stint. Brennan Evans of the Grand Rapids Griffins hit Stalberg knee-on-knee, and both the hit and the injury didn’t look good. Instead of returning to Nashville to suit back up for the Preds, the Swedish winger came home back for evaluation and will miss significant time. His absence will elevate the team’s roster jam for the time being, but you never want to see that problem addressed at the expense of a player’s health. Here’s to a speedy recovery.

So the Preds lost one player for significant time, one for probably not-so-significant time, and have another with a return on the horizon. What a weekend.

Talking Points