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The Arizona Coyotes last saw goaltender Mike Smith in net back in the middle of December, when the team shut their pricey starter down for core muscle surgery.

Now, he’s still not back for good – but he’s going to be travelling with the club as they head on their upcoming road trip, which is a sign that his return is imminent.

The Coyotes confirmed at the start of February that Smith would likely sit out the rest of the month, with March as a more likely return timetable than sometime ahead of the trade deadline. The team will travel across the Eastern Conference over the second half of February, though, playing two games in the final three days of the month before returning to Arizona to face the Anaheim Ducks; if Smith is going to head out East with the club, it shows that we can’t quite rule out a return in those final few games.

Drafted 161st overall by the Dallas Stars at the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, Smith has been with the Arizona Coyotes since the 2011-2012 season. He’s earned a Vezina Finalist nod in one of his years with the club, but currently sits on less than ideal numbers with the Pacific Division franchise; prior to his injury, Smith had gone 10-9-1 and boasted a .901 save percentage in 22 appearances for Arizona.