Tampa Bay Lightning's Mikhail Sergachev returned to practice Monday in a red non-contact jersey for the first time since suffering a leg injury, but head coach Jon Cooper poured cold water on the idea that the defenseman is nearing a return.
"He's making progress, but don't read into it that he's going to be a first-round playoff participant because he won't be," Cooper said, per NHL.com's Chris Krenn. "But who knows? We win a round or two, never say never. Like I said, great to have him out there."
The Lightning clinched a playoff berth for the seventh straight year Friday.
Sergachev hasn't played since fracturing his tibia and fibula on Feb. 7. That game was his first after he suffered a foot injury that caused him to miss nearly two months.
The 25-year-old has recorded 19 points in 34 games this season as Tampa's No. 2 defenseman behind Victor Hedman.
