Toronto Maple Leafs
Wayne Simmonds practiced Wednesday for the first time since breaking his wrist on Feb. 9 but said he was uncertain if he could play this weekend.
"It's getting better every day," the forward said. "For me, it's just making sure I can handle my own area, whether that would be shooting, playing pucks on the wall and playing
skated on the second line with John Tavares and William Nylander. He scored eight points (two goals, six assists) in six games for Toronto of the American Hockey League after he was traded to the Maple Leafs by the Carolina Hurricanes on Feb. 15.
"The organization has put a lot of time and effort into him and he's received it well," coach Sheldon Keefe said. "Whether it's now or down the line, we certainly think he'll get a chance." -- Tracey Myers
St. Louis Blues
Tyler Bozak will play against the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday (10 p.m. ET; FS-W, FS-MW, NHL.TV).
The forward has been out 21 games because of an upper-body injury sustained against the Vegas Golden Knights on Jan. 26.
"A lot of little things that maybe goes unnoticed at times," Blues forward David Perron said. "Just like a presence on the ice, a lot of smart decisions on his part, good passing ability, things like that."
Jacob de la Rose (lower body) is available, Blues coach Craig Berube said, but the forward will miss his eighth game.
Jaden Schwartz remains out with a lower-body injury, but Berube said Tuesday he's "making great progress" and might be available at the San Jose Sharks on Friday. The forward last played Feb. 12.
Forward Robert Thomas (hand) will miss his 17th game but skated on his own after practice Monday. Defenseman Colton Parayko (undisclosed) is progressing but has yet to skate. He will miss his 14th game.
Vancouver Canucks
Jimmy Vesey was claimed off waivers from the Maple Leafs on Wednesday.
The forward was not available for Vancouver's game at the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET; SN, TVAS, NHL.TV).
Vesey scored seven points (five goals, two assists) in 30 games for Toronto after signing a one-year contract Oct. 11. He's scored 117 points (64 goals, 53 assists) in 334 regular-season games with the New York Rangers, Buffalo Sabres and Maple Leafs, and five points (one goal, four assists) in 12 games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said he was hoping Vesey would clear waivers, which would have allowed Toronto to assign him to the taxi squad.
"We think Jimmy brings a lot of value to teams," Keefe said. "He did good things for us, he has a good skill set, he's a versatile guy, he can play up and down the lineup. It didn't work out for him here the way we thought that it might with the opportunity we gave him early. But he does have a lot of things that he brings to the team. He did a lot of good things for us and we would've liked to keep him for sure. But the system is what it is, and it gives players these opportunities to go to teams that may have a different chance for them."
Ottawa Senators
Goalie Anton Forsberg was claimed off waivers from the Winnipeg Jets.
"On account of recent injuries, Anton's acquisition provides us with depth and stability at the goaltending position," Senators general manger Pierre Dorion said. "He's a goaltender who's athletic and positionally sound. His addition should prove beneficial for us."
The Senators, who host the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET; SN, TVAS, NHL.TV), are without goalies Matt Murray (upper body) and Marcus Hogberg (lower body).
Ottawa is the fourth NHL team Forsberg has been with this season but he has yet to play a game. The 28-year-old signed with the Edmonton Oilers on Oct. 9, and then was claimed by the Carolina Hurricanes on Jan. 12 and the Jets on Jan. 15.
Selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the seventh round (No. 188) in the 2011 NHL Draft, Forsberg is 12-25-4 with a 3.22 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage in 48 games with the Blue Jackets, Chicago Blackhawks and Hurricanes.
