Valeri Nichushkin returned to the ice for some light skating this week, according to the Dallas Morning News.

Nichushkin returned to the ice for some light skating this week, according to the Dallas Morning News.

Analysis:

This was Nichushkin's first time on the ice since his November 13 hip surgery. It's a good first step, but Stars GM Jim Nill was cautious, saying, "He has a long way to go. We don't want to rush him, that's for sure." The team is still targeting March as the earliest time the young forward would be able to return to game action.