https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/…art/c-283593056
VANEK UPDATE: Thomas Vanek, who has missed the last seven games with a lower-body injury and was placed on long-term injured reserve Monday, is taking a step towards returning.
"He skated today," Blashill said. "Thomas is skating a little bit. I think he's going to have the sufficient time to make sure that when he comes back he's going to be going full out. I assume when he's ready to come off the long-term IR then he should then be ready to step in and play. The one thing I talked to him about was he came off the World Cup and I thought he could hit the ground running at the start of the year. Now that he's been off a lengthy amount of time we want to make sure it's the same thing. He's ready to hit the ground running when he comes in for his next game."
Long-term injured reserve means a player will miss at least 10 games and 24 days.