Derek Stepan hasn’t been available for the Arizona Coyotes since the last day of February, having suffered a lower-body injury – with the American originally expected to miss between four to six weeks.
But it appears that the 28-year-old centre could be returning far sooner than expected, with head coach Rick Tocchet reportedly stating he is ‘very close’.
Per Craig Morgan of The Athletic, Stepan could be back in the Coyotes’ starting line-up as early as this weekend, when the team take on the New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders.