Subban has missed 12 games because of an upper-body injury and was placed on injured reserve Jan. 1. The prognosis was that he'd miss 2-3 weeks before being re-evaluated.
"Subban, as we talked about last week, we gave a two to three week timeframe," Predators general manager David Poile told 102.5 The Game in Nashville on Tuesday. "I think that's still looking good but I think it's probably going to be closer to the three weeks than the two weeks. He's skating and making progress. All I can say is the sooner the better. We need everybody back right now."
The Predators (18-16-7) are 5-4-3 without Subban and one point behind the Los Angeles Kings for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference.
"It's good to see him there," coach Peter Laviolette said Thursday. "Anytime somebody's been off the ice for a while, [Subban] or [forward James Neal], whoever, it's always positive when they start mixing back in with the group."
Acquired by the Predators in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens for defenseman Shea Weber on June 29, Subban has seven goals and 10 assists in 29 games. He was named Central Division captain for the 2017 Honda NHL All-Star Game in Los Angeles.
