"In his heart of hearts, Taylor Hall would like to play this weekend against the Flames in Calgary.

Unfortunately, his head, which is a truer arbiter of all things medical, is telling Hall he can't hurry the rehabilitation after he damaged his shoulder two weeks ago this Saturday.

"I can shoot and pass and don't have any pain ... there's some discomfort but, for the most part, I'm very happy with how it's coming along," said Hall, who skated with the Oilers on Wednesday morning as they prepared for the Carolina Hurricanes.

"I'm supposed to get assessed by the (team) doctors during the game (Wednesday) to see how it is."

If Hall gets the green light, he could take contact on Thursday, but the Flames game is still a longshot. That would be the low-end of the two-to-four-week prognosis when Colorado Avalanche defenceman Ryan Wilson belted him in Denver on Nov. 26."