Coyotes' Stone pushing to be ready for start of season

With a new contract now sorted, Michael Stone will turn his focus to returning to the ice.

The Arizona Coyotes defenseman continues to rehab his knee, following ACL and MCL surgery, which he feels is improving.

"I’m doing really good actually," Stone said, according to Sarah McLellan of AZCentral Sports. "I think my knee is coming along nicely."

Stone has not taken the ice since Mar. 26, in a game against the Philadelphia Flyers, where he went down after getting his leg tangled along the boards.

"It’s still not real strong just yet," Stone said. "But I feel really good, and the fact that I’m doing the things that I’m doing right now is a positive sign for me."

While Stone continues to work at getting back to full health, he admits there is no timeline in place for his return, though he is hopeful to be back for the start of the regular season.

"I’m pushing to be ready to go for the start of the season," Stone said.

"Whether that happens or not, I guess in some way it's in my control. But you have to see how everything responds. It’s something where your legs are what you’re using 100 percent of the time on the ice. You gotta be ready to go, so we’ll see what happens with that."

Stone is coming off his fourth full-season with the Coyotes where he hit a career-high 36 points in 75 games.