Coach Lindy Ruff indicated Monday that Spezza (upper body) may return to the lineup either Thursday or Saturday, Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News reports.

EDGE Analysis

Spezza took part in Monday's practice with his teammates, but sported a non-contact jersey in doing so. Ruff suggested that Saturday seems the more likely return date for the team's third-leading goal scorer, but hasn't officially ruled him out for Thursday either. Antoine Roussel should continue serving in the team's top six in the meantime, but seems the likely candidate to be bumped out when Spezza rejoins the lineup.