Gaborik hopes to suit up for Blue Jackets next week

Blue Jackets right winger Marian Gaborik, out since mid-November with a sprained left knee, hopes to return to action next week, writes The Columbus Dispatch's Shawn Mitchell. 

Gaborik said about returning to the ice:

"It was good to get out there. It was just a morning skate. You don’t want to jump in too much with the team doing its thing. But there were some shooting drills. It was good to be part of it, just getting some flow and actually getting some passes on the stick and being in some sort of game-like environment."

Columbus is at home to Winnipeg on Monday, in Philadelphia on Thursday, and back at home against the Flyers on Saturday.

Head coach Todd Richards won't put a timeline on Gaborik's return:

"I don’t know exactly when. I don’t want to say Monday, but guys are starting to get close."

Gaborik has five goals and six assists in 17 games this season. He hasn't yet been cleared for contact in practice, so you can probably rule out a Monday return for the 31-year-old.