While it was a light practice today – only eight participants due to the Canes busy schedule of late – the Canes were pleased to see Scott Walker involved in a regular jersey after being cleared for contact.

Paul Branecky

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Walker won’t commit to any firm return date just yet, but was optimistic he can return sometime this week, possibly even tomorrow night at Toronto.

“It’s all on how it works day-to-day,” he said.  “Today it felt pretty good, but how does it feel tomorrow?  I’m pretty happy obviously.  The doctors and trainers here are second to none, and they keep an eye on you.”

Walker said the injury isn’t causing him much pain on the ice.  The biggest problem is the small cast he still has to wear under his glove.

“It’s a little more difficult to feel the stick,” he said.  “As long as you get the grip around the fingers, it just depends on how it feels when you get slashed.”

Coach Peter Laviolette grouped Matt Cullen (leg) and Patrick Eaves (illness) in the same day-to-day group as Walker.  Neither Cullen nor Eaves skated in this morning’s practice, which included Walker, Josef Melichar, Anton Babchuk, Cam Ward, Michael Leighton, Wade Brookbank, Dwight Helminen and Dan LaCouture.

Laviolette also said there was nothing new to report on Brandon Sutter, who continues to recover from the concussion he suffered Oct. 25 on Long Island.