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Marc Savard won’t play Wednesday, but didn’t rule out a Thursday return

Marc Savard

** ALTERNATE CROP ** Boston Bruins center Marc Savard reacts after scoring the game-winning goal against the Philadelphia Flyers during overtime of Game 1 of a second-round NHL playoff hockey game in Boston, Saturday, May 1, 2010. The Bruins won 5-4. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

AP

As you may know by now, Marc Savard is hoping to return to NHL action in “early December” after sitting out all of the 2010-11 season up to this point with post-concussion syndrome.

For those of you without calendars, December begins on Wednesday, so many wonder if that means Savard could return as soon as then. The brilliant passer denied the possibility of coming back on Wednesday, but didn’t necessarily rule out the chance of a Thursday return.

In case you were wondering if Savard is worth the trouble, it’s pretty difficult to argue against it. He scored 88 points in his best season with the Bruins (2008-09) and also produced 97 and 96 point campaigns as a member of the Atlanta Thrashers.

He told Douglas Flynn of NESN about the possibility of returning on Thursday.

“I don’t think so, no,” said Savard. “I’m not going to be playing Wednesday.”

But when pressed about playing in Thursday’s home game against Tampa Bay, Savard was less definitive. “I don’t know, we’ll have to wait and see,” said Savard.

Savard is clearly anxious to return, but understands he still has work to do to get his timing and conditioning ready for game action.

“I think I’m nearing that point,” said Savard. “I’ve been skating a long time now, but only got in -- this was only my third real practice, plus a couple morning skates which don’t really count, so I’m looking at another couple days and go from there.”


Flynn writes that Bruins coach Claude Julien will ultimately have the last word when it comes to when Savard can play again.

One thing that people are overlooking is the fact that Savard received time to heal other parts of his body as he dealt with those concussion issues. He told Flynn that the off time allowed problematic knees to heal up, allowing him to be “quicker in small areas.”

Of course, once Savard’s actually ready to return, the question then becomes: who needs to go? (When that happens, the decision goes from Julien to GM Peter Chiarelli.)