Sean Monahan is progressing on schedule and is expected to be ready for training camp with the Calgary Flames after having four surgeries in April.
The 23-year-old center missed the final seven games of the regular season and had wrist, groin, and two hernia surgeries. The expected recovery time was three months.
"Everything is going just as planned," Monahan told the Flames website Wednesday. "I've been working out and haven't been limited in doing anything. The hip area, I'd say, is 100 percent cleared and now it's a matter of being back on the ice and getting used to shooting and stuff again."
"When I saw the surgeon and specialist they were really happy with how things were progressing so they gave me the go-ahead to take [the cast and sling] off the wrist, the arm, and get back into some small movements. ... Now I'm doing everything."
Monahan led the Flames with 31 goals this season, tying his NHL career high, and finished with 64 points, setting a personal League high in 74 games, the fewest he has played in his five NHL seasons.
He was second on Calgary in scoring behind forward Johnny Gaudreau, who had 84 points (24 goals, 60 assists) in 80 games.
"You definitely appreciate being healthy more after being hurt and it gives you extra motivation to be as ready as possible," Monahan said. "Most of last year was a real grind. I'm just happy I have some strength back in my wrist, my hand, and my fingers are moving again properly."
The Flames missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second time in three seasons; they were 37-35-10 with 84 points, 11 behind the Colorado Avalanche for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Western Conference. Bill Peters was hired as coach April 23, six days after Glen Gulutzan was fired following two seasons as coach.
"The summers are tough," Monahan said. "In some ways, they're harder than the season. But it's the work you've got to put in to make the season, training camp, feel easier on your body."
Monahan said he's looking forward to bonding with his new coach and teammates in training camp. The Flames preseason will be highlighted by two games against the Boston Bruins in the 2018 O.R.G. NHL China Games in Shenzhen on Sept. 15 and in Beijing on Sept. 19.
"There are bound to be a couple new faces by then, so to be over there, get to know people and play a few games will be important, too. Any time you can get the group together is good. Teams that go on and win, you look and the core of those groups -- with the obvious exception of [the Vegas Golden Knights] -- and they've been teammates a long time.
"Just to see what Washington's doing right now [in the Stanley Cup Final], you can see the level of excitement every time they score. [Forward Alex] Ovechkin's going crazy. [Center Nicklas] Backstrom, too. Those guys have been together six, seven, eight years, some of them longer, and that's huge, the feeling you build up."
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