Danault wasn't wearing the grey practice jersey typically reserved for players who aren't ready for contact, but his fellow Habs took it upon themselves to keep an eye out for him.
"Yes! I told him I wouldn't hit him," added Deslauriers. "It's fun to see him. I don't know if he had any symptoms today, but he looked good."
For his part, Charles Hudon has appreciated the support he's received all year from the Victoriaville native, and was extra pleased to be skating alongside him again.
"It's fun to see him on the ice. He's helped me a lot all year, so I was happy to see him on the ice," the young forward proclaimed. "He's expects a lot of himself; he wants to get back with the team as quickly as possible, so it was a good first step for him to practice with us this morning."
Still, fans will have to wait a little bit longer to see No. 24 back in game action, as the team confirmed he would not be in uniform on Saturday night when the Canadiens welcome the Nashville Predators to the Bell Centre.
As for the Preds' visit, it marks the last home contest for Claude Julien's troops before they head out on a long road trip, which will include the team's first-ever stop in Las Vegas.
"We have to create some momentum for our long trip," outlined Hudon.
It's no secret that the Habs will be in for a challenge on Saturday, with the Preds sitting tied with the Winnipeg Jets atop the Central division.
"We know they're a really strong team. We have to come out here and play our game," described defenseman Victor Mete. "We've been pretty good at home lately, so if we can keep that up, I think we'll be fine tonight.
"If we can get as many points as we can at home, it'll help us for sure. We want to win as much as possible, but on the road we haven't been too good. We have to get as much as we can at home."
