It’s been over a full month since the last time Nashville Predators defenceman P.K. Subban played a game.
Out with an upper-body injury since playing just a little over seven minutes of a Nov. 13 game against the San Jose Sharks, there’s been growing concern that the back injury he suffered through the 2016-17 season could be the culprit.
As Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos reported Saturday night during the Headlines segment of Hockey Night in Canada however, the extended time the Predators star has missed has just been a case of Nashville being extra cautious with him.
“There’s a lot of talk about his situation with his back pertaining to a herniated disc – something that he battled two years ago,” Kypreos said. “I can tell you that that’s not the case and that that’s healed up on its own – didn’t need surgery back then. Whatever’s bothering him it’s lingering enough to keep him out of the lineup.
“Many believe that if the playoffs were to have started by now he’d well be into playing again, but it’s a real conservative approach by Nashville to keep him out. They think a 50-plus [game] regular season could benefit him. Certainly, with a long playoff grind.”
Earlier in the week Predators GM David Poile went onto a local Nashville radio station and said he’s hoping to get Subban back onto the ice sometime next week.
In 18 games played this season, Subban has 10 assists and 12 points.
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