Hal Gill (lower body) should start joining the Predators for skates soon. Gill, who has been skating on his own, has missed four straight games. That's been bad news for the Predators, who have struggled to kill penalties without him. "When you get a guy like that, you expect him to help your PK," Shea Weber said. "When he's out of the lineup, he can't, so right now we have to try to find a way without him to stop the bleeding." Meanwhile, Gill probably won't be able to return on Friday or Saturday.

Hal Gill (lower body) has been skating but coach Barry Trotz says that he is doubtful for games on Friday and Saturday. The Predators had a bad road trip in which they have lost three in a row and have slid out of a playoff spot in the West. Trotz said that Gill is skating but not very hard. He has been out of the lineup since Feb. 23 and while he has little fantasy value, he is a valuable member of the Predators defensive corps.

Coach Barry Trotz said Saturday that defenseman Hal Gill has made little progress in his recovery from a lower body injury. Trotz claimed the optimistic point of view would have Gall missing another week of action, but it sounds like he could be sidelined longer than that. Keep him reserved until further notice.

Hal Gill is dealing with a lower body injury. Gill was hurt during Saturday's contest. Predators coach Barry Trotz thinks Gill will skate on Tuesday and the team will use that to determine if Gill should accompany them on their upcoming three-game road trip. In the meantime, Gill isn't expected to play Monday.

Hal Gill was a healthy scratch on Tuesday. "It's a gut blow to sit out," Gill said. Unfortunately, even when he's played this season, he hasn't gotten much ice time. He's averaging just 13:38 minutes per contest. Gill is known primarily for his defensive abilities and is consequently not a factor in most fantasy leagues.

Hal Gill thinks players are preparing appropriating for the possibility of a Jan. 19 start to the season. "For the most part, guys are taking what they need," Gill said. "If they feel the need to amp it up and work a little harder they're doing that. Some guys are getting rest when they can. It's a balancing act, trying to stay sharp and be ready to go if we do have to go, but also be rested and take the time you can." Of course, it will all be moot if the two sides fail to agree on a CBA in the next week or so. It's believed that Jan. 19 is roughly the latest possible date the NHL season can start, so if we don't have an agreement soon, the season might be canceled.

Predators defenseman Hal Gill had an unusual theory for why the CBA talks stalled. "I have no answers," Gill said. "Now they aren't even trying. I wish I knew what is on their mind. They won't meet? Why? Maybe they are waiting for the Mayan predictions to get them off the hook." Well, seeing as the world clearly didn't end, I guess the NHL and union will promptly agree to a new CBA...right?

Hal Gill is likely to remain in Nashville during labor talks between the NHL and NHLPA. Gill is practicing with seven other Predators in Nashville and will likely not want to uproot his family as he has a young daughter attending school. "I know guys want to go and play and get on with their lives, but right now everyone is waiting to see what happens in the next few weeks and hope something could get done," Gill said. "I think we're taking steps to hopefully get a deal done and we'll see what happens."

Hal Gill will play in a couple of charity games in Quebec next week. The former Montreal Canadien will participate in the games put together by Bruno Gervais and Maxime Talbot of the Philadelphia Flyers.

Predators defenseman Hal Gill breathed a sigh of relief when he learned that Shea Weber would be returning to Nashville. Gill wasn't completely surprised that Ryan Suter signed elsewhere this offseason, but would have been concerned about the team's direction had they allowed Weber to sign with Philadelphia. "If you take Webs out of that, it's a whole different story and you start to question whether they're going to rebuild or what's going to happen," Gill said. Luckily for everyone involved, Weber looks like he'll be a Predator for a very long time.