Steven Stamkos is back . . . on the ice for first full practice with Tampa Bay Lightning

by Erik Erlendsson | @Erik_Erlendsson | Like us on Facebook
March 17, 2017

TAMPA, Fla. – Steven Stamkos is back!.

Or, at least he’s back on the ice with his teammates.

Stamkos participated in his first full practice with the Lightning since undergoing surgery on Nov. 17 to repair partially torn meniscus in his right knee. Friday marked the four-month mark since the surgery in what was expected to be a four-to-six month recovery process.

Tampa Bay’s captain has been cleared for contact.

With 12 games remaining in the season and the Lightning one point out of a playoff spot, all eyes will be on Stamkos wondering exactly when he will return to the lineup.

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”It’s been a long process,’’ Stamkos said. “It was four-to-six months with four months really out of the question. My first goal was a full skate today so it was nice to get out there with the guys and participate fully. Lot of hard work behind the scenes just to get to this point. Hopefully these guys can continue to play well, that’s helping the process too.’’

But at this point, there is no set date or any sort of a timetable for Stamkos to get back in to the lineup.

”When I feel 100 percent (he’ll play), obviously that’s not the case yet,’’ Stamkos said. “I can’t pick a date because I might not feel 100 percent on that date. I’ve gone through stuff like this before. You start setting dates (and) that’s when sometimes you set unrealistic goals. When I feel 100 percent I’ll be back playing. I want that to be sooner than later but that’s how these injuries go.’’

Just seeing Stamkos back on the ice, knowing there is a chance he could possibly be in the lineup to help the team in the late-season playoff push is a boost for morale. While Stamkos has been a growing presence around the team, hanging around the locker room more often and traveling with the team on road trips, getting him back on the ice is a different feeling.

”It’s nice to have him around,’’ left wing Alex Killorn said. When guys are hurt and going through rehab, you don’t really see them, they don’t come on the road, they are in here early and out of here early. They are part of the team but they are not really around much so to see him here, back in the regular routine, it’s nice, it’s a confidence booster for a lot of guys.’’

Though everything is moving forward and is positive in his recovery, at the moment there is not any sort of expectation of when – or if – he will return before the end of the season.

”When it’s 100 percent I’ll be back,’’ he said. “Honestly it’s a question I can’t answer. I’ve had a lot of ups and downs in this rehab process where it feels like it’s never going to get better then you have a week where you go through in the roof in how it’s feeling. There was never any expectation or any set days. They throw out the four-to-six months but to be honest it was closer to five months. Today was a first skate, it was a start, hopefully after more of those you gain some confidence and go from there.”

The next full skate is not expected to be until Monday. The Lightning host Washington on Saturday and will likely have an optional skate in the morning. The team will not practice on Sunday as the team hosts the third Bolts Family Carnival charity fundraiser at Amalie Arena.

The limited practice time could have an effect on how quickly Stamkos can feel comfortable with the knee.

”We need to pump the brakes a little bit,’’ Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said. “It was good to see him out there and trying to get some timing back and stuff like that. By no means does this [mean] his return is imminent.’’

It’s all about Stamkos feeling comfortable, and having been through long-term injuries before, he understands what that means.

”There needs to be no restrictions, you need to feel like you did before the surgery,’’ he said. “When I came back from the broken leg, there was the curve that came with that . . . there shouldn’t be any uncomfortable moments on the ice. Some of that is mental, too. I’ve been through this before and I think I have a good understanding of what my body needs to feel like in order to get back on the ice.

“It’s helped going through the leg thing in taking that first hit or fall where you can trust and prepare. Today was a good step in that as well, just getting out there. It’s a contact practice, but nobody is going out there hitting me but just being out there around the guys knowing that somebody could hit you or fall on you, just being prepared for that is a big step. It’s easing to go out there and have no issues like I did today.’’

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