Steel was a healthy scratch on Tuesday but will replace Max Comtois in the lineup on Thursday. Steel, who has played primarily as a bottom-6 option for the Ducks this season, has no goals and just three assists in his last 18 games.
Steel and Max Comtois were placed in COVID-19 protocol on Sunday and likely won't be able to re-join the Ducks until the middle of next week.
Steel has been out since the season-opener but will be back on the Ducks’ top-line on Monday afternoon. Steel will have Maxime Comtois and Ondrej Kase on his wings, but have a tough matchup against the Bruins.
Steel missed Saturday’s game vs. the Sharks with what the Ducks described as a “mid-body” injury. Isac Lundestrom replaced him on Saturday but Steel could play in Detroit after accompanying the team on the road trip. Monitor his status after the team’s morning skate.
Steel missed the second half of training camp with a lower-body injury but was on the ice for Wednesday’s practice and head coach Dallas Eakins said Steel is “ready to rip.” Steel is expected to centre the second line with Rickard Rakell and Jakob Silfverberg on his wings, which is a great opportunity for him to build off of the 11 points (6G / 5A) he had in 22 games last season.
Steel has struggled in the early part of the season, scoring just one goal with two assists in 13 games with the Ducks. He’ll head to the AHL for the first time in his career.
