Dvorak has been sidelined by a lower-body issue since training camp but has been skating with the Coyotes recently and a conditioning stint with Tucson is the next step to get him up to game speed. Dvorak will likely play a few AHL games before returning to Arizona where he will make his season debut. With Nick Schmaltz out and Alex Galchenyuk primarily playing the wing, Dvorak could step right into the No.2 centre role between Galchenyuk and Clayton Keller.

The Coyotes have not had any updates on Dvorak’s status, other than they had “some encouraging stuff but ti’s still a process.” With Dvorak not skating and Alex Galchenyuk out with a lower-body, the Coyotes are without two of their top-3 centres. If Dvorak misses the start of the season, Clayton Keller could move to centre for the time being.

Dvorak has bounced around from the NHL and AHL so far this season, but has yet to appear in a game with Tucson (AHL). In 12 games with the Coyotes, he has one goal and four assists (five points) and will draw back onto the second line tonight with Brad Richardson (leg) out indefinitely.

Dvorak was sent down to Tucson, but never appeared in a game. He has been recalled and will be in the lineup on Thursday because Martin Hanzal is nursing a lower-body injury. He has three assists in seven games.

Dvorak, 20, appeared in seven of the first eight games of the season, collecting three assists while averaging 13:45 TOI. With Dvorak heading back to the AHL, Dylan Strome is expected to play a much bigger role for the Coyotes.

Dvorak had one assist in 16:17 TOI in his NHL debut on Saturday, but will come out of the lineup tonight in favour of fellow rookie Dylan Strome. Don’t expect Dvorak to sit for long.