GLENDALE, Ariz. — After missing seven games with a right ankle sprain, Dylan Strome has been cleared to play and will return to the lineup Saturday when the Blackhawks take on the Arizona Coyotes in their first game back out of the bye week.
Strome skated on his own in Chicago on Wednesday, was a full participant in practice on Thursday and Friday, and took part in Saturday's optional morning skate. He feels ready to go.
"It sucks being away," Strome said. "The guys got back in the playoff hunt there, only [four] points out now so should be an exciting game. A lot of Blackhawks fans here, so should be fun."
Strome skated on a line with Alex DeBrincat and David Kampf during Friday’s practice, so expect that trio to start together against the Coyotes. Strome, who's a natural center, will play on the right wing like he did before he got injured on Jan. 7 in a 2-1 loss to the Calgary Flames.
"It just frees him up a little more to use his energy on the offensive side of the puck," head coach Jeremy Colliton said. "He can still play center and he probably will at times here. But any time you can have two centermen on a line, if that's what we're able to do, you're able to share the workload. ... He's a guy that can produce offense for us and if he's fresh, it's easier."
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