Andrew Brunette's (upper body) status will be determined prior to tonight's game against Colorado. If Brunette does play against the Avs, his return would be earlier than expected and limit his time missed to one game. Brunette suffered his injury in last Thursday's game at Edmonton. In his 16th NHL season, Brunette is 9-10-19.

According to Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville, Andrew Brunette (upper body) will probably be back by the end of the week. Brunette suffered the injury in the first period of Wednesday's game. He has struggled this season with just nine goals and 19 points in 52 games.

Do not expect to see Andrew Brunette (upper body) in the Chicago lineup anytime soon. Brunette suffered the injury in the first period of Wednesday's game in Edmonton and did not return. "We'll get a better assessment over time," coach Joel Quenneville said of Brunette's injury. "Clearly, we don't have a time-frame on it. He's going to be out." The Blackhawks are being coy about this injury as they are likely in the dark as well as to the severity of the injury. He is not having a good season with only nine goals, 19 points and a minus-nine rating in 52 games. If he was in your fantasy lineup for any reason, bench him now.

Andrew Brunette suffered an upper body injury in the first period Thursday and did not return. There is no word on the severity of the injury but he will be re-assessed on Friday. Brunette was thought to be a top-six forward when he signed with the Blackhawks in the off-season but the veteran has struggled mightily with only nine goals and 19 points in 52 games with a minus-nine rating and is now a bottom six forward. Consider him day-to-day for now.

Andrew Brunette will play in Minnesota on Wednesday for the first time since signing a one-year deal with the Blackhawks over the summer. Brunette has spent six seasons in Minnesota over two stints. The first was from 2001-02 to 2003-04 and the last spanned from 2008-09 through 2010-11. However, if you think Brunette will go out there with a special desire to excel against his former teammates, you might be disappointed. "I'm not excited," Brunette said. "It's not fun. I don't think when you play somewhere for so long that it's one I circle and look forward to. You just kind of want to get it over with, get a win and get the heck out of there."

Andrew Brunette broke out of a 12 game goal scoring slump on Thursday. Brunette scored on the power play and it was his third goal with the man-advantage. He was on the second power play Thursday alongside Marcus Kruger and Steve Montador up front with Duncan Keith and Nick Leddy on the points. Tħe unit was responsible for both Chicago power play goals.

Andrew Brunette is still not comfortable on the top line in Chicago. Brunette has two goals thus far both on the power play and while he feels his chemistry with Patrick Sharp and Jonathan Toews. "It's more about me," Brunette said. "Sometimes we bump into each other a little bit. We like the same areas on the ice. We're both pretty strong one-on-one, and a lot of times we get a little too close and kind of cut the ice off from one another." The line should start taking off and if Brunette is available in all but the shallowest of pools, now would be a good time to get him.

Andrew Brunette is looking like the leading candidate to join Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane on the Blackhawks top line this season. If true, then Brunette's fantasy value gets a huge boost as the 38-year-old knows how to score and should get some nice setups from the outstanding Toews. Brunette will likely see power play time on the second unit as Marian Hossa should remain on the top line but still will be playing with Patrick Sharp and Dave Bolland and that isn't too shabby as well. Grab him in the late middle rounds of deeper drafts if he remains on the top unit.

Andrew Brunette is expected to add veteran leadership to Chicago's lineup this season. The soon-to-be 38-year-old winger is projected to skate alongside cornerstone players like Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane in 2011-12 after signing a one-year deal with the Blackhawks this summer. Brunette has a wealth of experience he can bring to the table and he is no slouch in the scoring department either, which should make him an attractive fantasy option this year.

The Blackhawks plan for Andrew Brunette appear to have him as a top-six forward next season. Brunette signed with Chicago on free agent frenzy day and it looks like he will line up either on the top line with Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews or on the second unit alongside Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp. Look for Dave Bolland, Viktor Stalberg or Michael Frolik to grab the sixth spot in the lineup with Bryan Bickell also having a shot. Brunette will be reunited with his former head coach in Colorado, Joel Quenneville, and that will only help him. Brunette had 46 points with the Wild last season but an increase to the 60 point mark is not out of the question in Chicago.