Devils' Clowe feeling 'pretty good' but not cleared to play following concussion
Ryane Clowe's latest concussion ended his 2013-14 season on March 31. Five months later, the New Jersey Devils forward is back on the ice and hopeful his head will be healthy enough for training camp.
Clowe, who missed 39 games due to concussion issues last season, told Tom Gulitti of The Bergen Record he is ready to join the team and prepare for the season, but that will depend on the Devils medical staff clearing him for contact:
I feel pretty good. I'm not going to say if I'm ready to go or not because I've got to get cleared to play and I've got to see the doctor again before the season starts. But I feel good. I, obviously, haven't done any contact. I've been skating the last few weeks, just scrimmaging since I got back with the guys. I've been on the ice and stuff. The biggest thing with me is, when we start practicing, if I get some contact in then and just go from there. I've been feeling pretty good. I've been working out pretty normal the last, I guess, month.
Clowe suffered his first concussion while playing for the New York Rangers in April 2013. He returned during the postseason but was sidelined again by a hit to the head, raising concerns he returned to the ice too soon.
The concussions did not faze New Jersey, which signed him to a five-year contract worth $24.25 million in the offseason. Clowe missed 32 games after taking an elbow to the head in the first month of last season and made sure to be patient following this latest setback.
"I just took my time and I didn't feel any pressure from the Devils," Clowe said. "They weren't pressuring me over the summer. They just checked in every now and then to see how I was doing."
Clowe will see a concussion specialist again before taking his team physical and plans on easing back into on-ice activity even if he gets a clean bill of health.
"Obviously, I've got to practice and get some contact in before I play games," he said. "I'd like to get at least the practice side of it in and then in the preseason just take it how I feel. I'm sure there’s no rush there. But, for me it's just I'd like to be able to practice and then getting ready for the season."