PITTSBURGH — Mike Comrie is working his way back to full health as the 30 year old forward recovers from hip surgery.
Comrie who is pushing for a return to game action by the end of the month, has intensified his skating and went through a 45+ minute workout this morning with strength and conditioning coach Mike Kadar.
Comrie is skating much harder than the last time I saw him go through individual on-ice workouts, which was about 10 days ago.
Comrie is expected to be cleared for practice by mid-March. For Comrie to garner consideration and get back into the lineup by the playoffs, he’s going to have to get a few games in during the regular season and show the coaching staff something.
It remains to be seen if he will get an opportunity as the Pens roster is getting full with Chris Kunitz close to returning and Arron Asham is progressing from a concussion that has kept him out of the lineup since February 1.
Comrie who had an excellent preseason and was penciled in to play on the second line to begin the season, struggled mightily during the regular season, collecting 0 goals and 5 assists in 16 games played. The Penguins claim he had an issue with his hip since the second game of the regular season.
Asham also went through individual workouts this morning.
Defenseman Brooks Orpik also skated this morning. He is expected to be sidelined for another few weeks due to a broken finger.