A key player for Colorado was on the ice for the entire duration of practice on Monday. The forward and team captain has participated in practices intermittently since undergoing cartilage transplant surgery in the right knee on May 10, 2023, often engaging in non-contact drills.
“He’s looking good; I thought he looked great in practice today,” Colorado’s coach said. “It’s mostly just flow-and-go, non-contact work, but it’s certainly nice to have him out there.
“He’s making progress. This type of rehab isn’t always a straight path—there are ups and downs, sometimes two steps forward and one step back. But he’s still improving and obviously feeling comfortable enough to take part in certain drills with the team. Hopefully, that continues, and he keeps working toward a return.”
The forward has not played since June 26, 2022, when Colorado secured a 2-1 victory in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. He contributed an assist in that game to help the team win the championship. He also recently released a five-part docuseries documenting his recovery journey, which is airing on TNT and TruTV and will be available for streaming on MAX starting March 21.
After practice, he joked about suiting up for Wednesday’s game against Toronto. He will travel with the team during their three-game road trip, though there is still no set timeline for his return.
Originally selected by Colorado with the No. 2 pick in the 2011 NHL Draft, the forward has amassed 571 points (248 goals, 323 assists) across 738 regular-season games, along with 67 points (27 goals, 40 assists) in 69 postseason appearances. During the 2022 playoffs, he recorded 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) in 20 games.
Colorado has been on a strong run lately, posting an 8-1-1 record in their last 10 games, including a 4-3 overtime victory against Dallas that brought them within two points of second place in the Central Division.
“It’s tough to say when he’ll be back, but everything is going well, and it’s great to have him on the ice with the team,” the coach said. “His energy and attitude bring a boost to everyone.
“We don’t have many road trips left, so we’re bringing everyone who can skate or participate in any way.”
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