Seguin, Bishop among recovering Stars back on ice in camp

FRISCO, Texas (AP) – Tyler Seguin believes he is at a point in his career where he will never be completely healthy again. The 29-year-old Dallas Stars forward is as close as can be after missing all but three games during his rehab and recovery from hip replacement last season.

“If you’re into the last nine of your careers, I don’t know if 100% will ever be legitimate, but it is definitely high 90s. I feel great, I’m really excited, ”said Seguin, a six-time All-Star entering his 12th NHL season. “It’s hard not to have a smile on your face every day in training camp to be part of the team again.”

When the Stars opened training camp on Thursday, exactly one year to the day after playing Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final for the 2020 season interrupted by the pandemic, Seguin wasn’t the only Stars player to break away recovered from an injury. Goalkeeper Ben Bishop and top striker Alexander Radulov were also on the ice.

Bishop didn’t play at all last season after receiving two knee operations. Mostly at the top with Jamie Benn and Joe Pavelski, 35-year-old Radulov had 12 points in 11 pre-surgery games to repair a core muscle injury that had plagued him for several seasons.

“Bish looked fantastic, Seggy ran well and so did Rads. They know their bodies and seemed to be fine with it, ”said coach Rick Bowness. “Are you 100%? No. But hopefully they will all be there by October 14th. “

The absence of that trio for most or part of the 56-game compressed season certainly helped the stars miss the playoffs just six months after making their first appearance in the Stanley Cup final since 2000 with a Game 6 loss to Tampa Bay . The stars had an NHL-high loss of 14 overtime / shootouts in the second consecutive season changed by the pandemic.

Roope Hintz had 43 points in 41 games but is healthy after that point-a-minute season while experiencing a persistent groin injury. General manager Jim Nill said Hintz is on schedule to be ready for the season.

Bishop’s status is still uncertain, though he has skated all summer hoping to play in a preseason game. The goalkeeper said he “absolutely” expected to play this season.

“It feels amazing to be training with the guys again. I think this is my first full practice since pre-COVID. So it took a long time, ”said Bishop. “It’s still a building process. We’re still trying to get better every day on myself and the knee. So now just take it day by day and see where it leads. “

Bishop had his first knee surgery in May 2020 and stopped playing after the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The knee bothered him during the postseason run, which was followed by another operation to repair a tear in the meniscus.

Seguin, who also underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in his absence, made his season debut on May 3, six months and one day after surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip. He scored two goals in his three games, including a goal in the third period to force extra time in his first before Dallas was kicked out of the playoffs. He also had a fight with COVID-19 in the summer despite being vaccinated.

“I never wanted that reset, but it was a blessing, physically and frankly, mentally,” said Seguin. “You remember how much you love this game and how much I love the routine and lifestyle of an NHL player, being on a plane and being part of something bigger than you. It was dark days that didn’t belong . “

Radulov, who went into the final season of his five-year contract with the Stars, said everything seems to be back to normal after his first operation in his hockey career. He said he got off the ice for three months before starting skating again in mid-July.

“At some point you realize that you are not getting young. It’s tough, but I still feel like I can play and it’s good to be back and feel 100%, ”said Radulov. “I tried to manage it. At some point it got worse and worse and then it was chronic. “

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