Chicago, IL (My Sportsbook) - Chicago Blackhawks volatile forward Theo Fleury missed practice again on Thursday, his second straight absence. Fleury was unexcused on Wednesday, but had permission from head coach Brian Sutter on Thursday.

Reports had indicated that Fleury, who checked himself into the NHL's substance-abuse program in the spring of 2001 and had other off-ice problems that caused a distraction when he was a member of the Rangers, could be in trouble again.

However, TSN-Canada reported Thursday that Fleury is expected to re-join the team on Friday morning for a flight to St. Louis, where the right winger is slated to play in the team's preseason game against the Blues.

Fleury met with Blackhawks' general manager Mike Smith on Thursday instead of attending practice.

"We had a meeting," Smith told TSN. "It was a good meeting. Brian (Sutter) gave him the day off from practice. Theo will be back with us tomorrow morning to go to St. Louis. He has some personal things to deal with. There's not really anything else to say."

The Blackhawks, who signed the 34-year-old free agent to a reported two-year contract worth $4 million per season, were expecting Fleury to be at practice on Wednesday. Neither Smith nor Sutter said they heard from Fleury or knew where he was.

"I'm just concerned about Theo," Sutter said on Wednesday night during his radio show on WSCR-AM. "We knew when we got into this that there would be days that weren't easy sailing."

Fleury missed 20 games in 2000-01 after checking himself into the substance- abuse program and continues to take part in a mandatory after-care program. He also was troubled by a personal relationship last season, which appeared to play a role in his anger-management issues on the ice.

Entering his 15th NHL season, Fleury accumulated 10 penalty minutes in Chicago's preseason game against Detroit on Saturday. Fleury was called for tripping in the first period, received a four-minute minor for high-sticking and a roughing penalty on the same play in the second period, and picked up another roughing penalty with one second left in the game.

In his 1,030-game career with the Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche and Rangers, the 5-foot-6, 180-pounder has recorded 443 goals and 612 assists. He enjoyed his best season in 1990-91 with Calgary when he scored 51 goals and assisted on 53 others. Fleury was also a member of the Canadian team that won the gold medal at the Salt Lake City Olympics this past February.