ARLINGTON, VA — Sonny Milano could soon make his return to play after missing more than two months with an upper-body injury. Head coach Spencer Carbery offered a promising update after the team’s practice, suggesting that Milano may be back in the lineup when the team faces the Montreal Canadiens this weekend.
“(He’s) definitely a possibility for Saturday,” Carbery said. “We’ll see how the next two days of practice go, but he’s trending in the right direction.”
Milano has not played since December 10 against the Chicago Blackhawks. After playing 10:15 in that game, he practiced with the team the following day before being placed on injured reserve on December 14.
When Milano returned to practice on December 23, Carbery indicated he could play soon after the NHL’s holiday break.
“If everything goes as planned and he continues to improve, I think whether or not it’s in that group of games there right after the break, soon after I would say,” he said.
Instead, Milano would miss 27 total games as his recovery stretched into February. He remained in a no-contact jersey for more than six weeks before ditching it earlier this month.
That extended absence kept Milano out of the lineup for his own Chia Pet giveaway, one of the team’s most anticipated promotional nights of the season. He was still able to get in on some of the fun, helping hand out the planters and spending time with fans.
The Capitals would need to make a move before activating Milano off of IR as they currently carry a full 23-man roster. Though the team could make room by returning Mike Sgarbossa to the Hershey Bears, they could also open up a spot via trade with just over three weeks until the deadline. General manager Brian MacLellan recently suggested he could make a decision on the Caps’ direction at the deadline as soon as this week.
Washington will practice again on Friday before facing the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night.
Update: The Capitals have placed Matthew Phillips on waivers.
