Hate to see it. TEB reported he'll start on IR but a move to LTIR is likely. I'd assume he'll go to LTIR only after Patches or Edmundson is ready to return for LTIR shenanigans but we'll have to wait and see. Lines today were:

Ovi-Strome-Wilson
Milano-Kuznetsov-Oshie
Mantha-McMichael-Phillips
Malenstyn-Lapierre-Protas

I think we'll see McMichael at 3C long term, and Lapierre potentially staying up for a while, depending on how well he plays. Wouldn't be surprised if he supplants Protas in the starting lineup before Patches returns.

What is the local reporting on patches coming back? Man, would have loved to see him with the Canes for more than like 5 games last year.

McMikey was great at center in hershey, especially in the faceoff dot. I think he stays in the 3C. But I like how him and Kuzy have been playing.

He hasn't started skating yet but the current word is that'll start soon. The timeline is still up in the air so no idea when we see him. I imagine they'll want him to take his time when he does gets back on the ice, so it's anyone's guess really.

He definitely makes up for a lot of the defensive shortcomings of Kuz. I've been on the "give McMichael a shot as the 2C and move Evgeny to the wing" for a long while. I just want to see it.