Wideman may return before end of the season
If Chris Wideman doesn’t suit up again this season, nobody will be able to accuse him of not trying.
He’s done everything in his power to get back.
Sidelined following hamstring surgery after a gruesome game injury he suffered when the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin fell on top of him Nov. 16, Wideman wasn’t supposed to play again this year. But with the season winding down, he’s closing in on a return.
An unrestricted free agent on July 1, Wideman would probably like to get back just to show everybody he’s healthy, but it would also
give him peace of mind going into the off-season that the hard work he’s done trying to return to the lineup has paid off.
Guy Boucher has no issue with Wideman returning to the lineup this year if he can, but the club’s head coach will want re-assurance from doctors and medical staff that there’s no risk involved.
“We’re hoping to be able to do it,” Boucher said before facing the Stars Monday night in Dallas. “It’s not like he has to come back because the playoffs are coming, either. You want to be smart with that one because it’s taken so much time to heal and he’s doing really good now.
“You don’t want to jeopardize him having to wait another (six weeks) or two months trying to get back to the same spot. Right now, he’s looking at coming back faster, but we’re going to make sure medically that it’s 100 per cent and he gets a lot of practise before we say he’s ready to go.”
While the Senators were in Las Vegas last week, Wideman was pictured skating with the club’s American Hockey League affiliate in Belleville. A couple of weeks ago, he showed up at an outdoor rink in Westboro to skate with some kids after inviting anyone to join him if they wanted.
Wideman wants badly to play. “(Belleville) was the next step,” Boucher said. “He’s definitely getting closer, but I’m very cautious. That was a nasty injury and we’re talking about as nasty as it gets. For him, it’s good that he’s getting closer and it’s good for his mind.”