McIsaac to return to Mooseheads lineup next Saturday

Jared McIsaac is almost ready to play his first game of the QMJHL season.
The Halifax Mooseheads defenceman skated with the team for the first time of the year on Tuesday and is targeting next Saturday for his return to the lineup. The 19-year-old from Truro has been recovering from off-season shoulder surgery the past several months and is expected to play against the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada on Nov. 30 at home.
"That's the plan so we're looking forward to that," Mooseheads general manager Cam Russell said. "It's great news for us. We get a player of his calibre and quality back, it's a big plus."
McIsaac was the second-highest scoring defenceman in the league last season with 62 points in 53 games. He also had 16 points in 22 playoff games but needed reconstructive surgery in June and has been in Detroit rehabbing under the supervision of the Red Wings all Fall. 
Russell said the Mooseheads and Red Wings agreed it was important to take a methodical and prudent approach with the 2018 NHL second-rounder's return so that he wouldn't risk any setbacks when he did come back
"He's been skating in Detroit the past couple of months and everything's been going well," Russell said. "No one's wanted to rush him - us or them - so we're not planning to have him play any earlier than next weekend."
Because McIsaac will almost certainly be headed to the Canadian world junior team tryout camp in mid-December, he may only play in four games for the Mooseheads before he is gone again. He played for Team Canada at last year's tournament and tryouts will start sometime around Dec. 10. Following the game against the Armada, the Mooseheads play three times the week of Dec. 1-7 and then not again until Dec. 11.
It also looks like defenceman Walter Flower is ready to go again after missing six games with a minor injury and forward Cole Foston is on the verge of returning after hurting his knee in the second game of the season.
"Walter should be ready for Thursday and ... Foston is possible for the weekend," Russell said. "If everything stays on track, by November 30th we'll have everybody in the lineup. That'll be nice."
The Mooseheads (11-10-2-0) host the Baie-Comeau Drakkar (10-10-4-0), followed by the Moncton Wildcats (17-5-0-0) on Saturday. Halifax is 3-0-1-0 in its past four games.