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Kris Versteeg's return uncertain

PITTSBURGH -- Chicago Blackhawks forward Kris Versteeg could miss more time than the original timetable of four weeks due to a hand fracture, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said on Wednesday.

Versteeg suffered a metacarpal fracture in his left hand when he was struck by a puck during the Winter Classic on Jan. 1. He underwent surgery on Jan. 6 to stabilize the fracture and was expected to miss four weeks.

Versteeg still has a cast on his hand and has not resumed skating.

"Maybe it was going to be a little bit longer than that, but we said around four [weeks]," Quenneville said prior to Wednesday's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. "We'll see. It'll probably be a little bit longer than that."

Quenneville said there's a possibility Versteeg could join the team during their upcoming six-game road trip. They play on the road from Jan. 28-Feb. 8 following the NHL All-Star Game.

Versteeg has nine goals, 18 assists and is a plus-14 in 34 games this season. He will miss his ninth consecutive game due to the injury on Wednesday.