After being ruled "unfit" to participate last week, Connor Murphy skated on his own before practice on Tuesday, which was encouraging news for the Blackhawks. Calvin de Haan also skated for the first time in a week after being out because of a family emergency.
But a key player was added to the injury/medical report list.
Click to download the MyTeams App for the latest Blackhawks news and analysis.
Jonathan Toews was held out of practice after leaving Monday's session halfway through for reasons that remain unclear. He left the ice after the Blackhawks finished power play drills and never returned, but head coach Jeremy Colliton didn't sound too concerned afterwards.
"Just trying to keep him fresh," Colliton said. "Nothing other than that."
But when the Blackhawks hit the ice for practice on Tuesday, their captain was not part of the group.
Colliton was asked to provide an update on Toews but was limited on what he could reveal because the NHL and NHL Players' Association mutually agreed to keep all injury and medical information private for Phases 3 and 4.
NHL
"The term we’re being asked to use as a blanket is unfit to participate," Colliton said. "So that’s how we’ll phrase it."
The Blackhawks have a scheduled off day on Wednesday and leave for Edmonton on Sunday, which is in five days. GM Stan Bowman said in a video conference call that the 31 players who travel will be the group for the entire postseason, barring emergency circumstances.
There's no reason to be concerned about Toews' status just yet, but there will be if No. 19 isn't on the ice for Thursday's practice.