L K said:
Given that they are playing a Nashville team that can't score and hasn't been all that dominant defensively, I'd be a little inclined to maybe make him sit until Saturday. He wasn't playing all that well pre-injury and I think he was probably nursing something given how poorly he was performing in the faceoff circle. An extra 2 days off for the game on Saturday wouldn't be the worst thing. Kadri comes back tomorrow so that already bumps Smith/Holland down in the lineup.
I might actually use that same logic to put him in Thursday instead of holding him back. That way, he gets his first game back against an easier opponent, where he shouldn't be needed to at full speed yet. Gets him a chance to start to readjust to the pace of a game without the same pressure he'd see Saturday against Washington. If he's legitimately good to go, he should play.