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Blues’ McDonald (concussion) doffs non-contact jersey, practices with team

Andy McDonald, Scott Hannan

St. Louis Blues’ Andy McDonald (10) and Calgary Flames’ Scott Hannan (23) battle for a loose puck in the third period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Oct. 10, 2011, in St. Louis. The Blues won 5-2.(AP Photo/Bill Boyce)

AP

Fresh off the All-Star break, the St. Louis Blues received some positive news today as assistant captain Andy McDonald participated in practice -- with contact -- for the first time since suffering a concussion back in October.

“This is just kind of the next step,” McDonald told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “To be able to get out there and take some contact in practice and see where I fit in that regard and see how the body reacts from getting bumped around. It’s nice to be able to compete for real and get some contact out there.”

McDonald was placed on injured reserve after being checked into the boards by Dallas’ Vernon Fiddler on Oct. 13. The concussion suffered was his second in less than 12 months (the first one forced him to miss 24 games the season prior) -- as a result, he and the Blues have taken a cautious approach to recovery.

McDonald stated here’s no real set plan or timetable to get him back into the lineup.

“It’s just kind of wait and see,” he said. “I’ve been real close for a long time and like I’ve said before, in the past, I want to be 100 percent. I don’t want to go out there and hold back and feel like there’s something still going on. I want to be able to go out and play my game and not have any worries out there.

“From some standpoints, I feel like I’m ready to play. But I’ve just got to be patient with it and make sure you’re a 100 percent before you get back out there.”
Getting McDonald back would be a huge boon for St. Louis. Last year, he had great production despite being injured (50 points in 58 games) and is one of the few Blues with bonafide playoff experience. He played in all 21 games in Anaheim’s Stanley Cup run of 2007, leading the team with 10 goals.