Concern was certainly an appropriate reaction last week when Coyotes center Martin Hanzal was sidelined with a lower-body injury.
Not only had Hanzal been a lightning rod for offense in his first nine games, pacing the entire league in assists with 10 before sitting out the Oct.27 game against the Bruins, but the 28-year-old had just returned after losing the second half of the previous season to undergo back surgery.
But Hanzal and the Coyotes weren’t worried about another long-term absence and after a five-day hiatus, the 6-foot-6 pivot is ready to return when the Coyotes host the Avalanche Thursday night.