Lindy Ruff, 1 year after Rich Peverley health scare: 'Every day is precious'

It was a night the Dallas Stars won't soon forget.

One year ago today, their game against the Columbus Blue Jackets came to a screeching halt when forward Rich Peverley collapsed on the bench due to a cardiac event. 

Carried back into the tunnel, Peverley received emergency treatment with a defibrillator while teammates, coaches and fans were left wondering what was going on.

"I look back on that, and it’s almost a life-changer for the rest of us," coach Lindy Ruff shared with Mike Heika of the Dallas News. "When you think about it and remember it, that was someone’s life on the line, and you don’t forget that. You take a step back and realize that every day is precious."

Peverley underwent surgery to repair an irregular heartbeat, and has been skating with the Stars' AHL affiliate while his condition is regularly monitored. 

Now in the final year of his deal with the Stars, there's a building sense that his playing days may be over, but for general manager Jim Nill, that's a secondary concern. 

"We haven’t really worried about any of that," Nill said. "We’ve just been worried about Rich’s recovery. The good part of this story is that he’s doing great and that he can live a good life. I look at it this way: If he wants to play again, he’ll be supported in that; and if his career is over, he’s had a tremendous career and he’ll be supported in anything he wants to do after that career."

The 32-year-old, who recorded 85 goals and 157 assists in 442 regular-season NHL games, began his career as an undrafted free agent signing of the Nashville Predators, and was part of the 2011 Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins