Defenseman Erik Karlsson openly admits that he didn’t wait for his surgically repaired Achilles to become 100 percent before returning to the Senators’ lineup, according to the Ottawa Sun.
When Karlsson’s Achilles tendon was sliced by Matt Cooke’s skate on Feb. 13, he was projected to miss three-to-four months. Instead he returned a mere 10 weeks after the operation, but now that the Senators have been eliminated, Karlsson is shifting his focus back to rehabbing the injury.
“It doesn’t feel good,” Karlsson said. He’s hoping that “it will be back to where it was” in time for the start of the 2013-14 campaign.
All the same, Karlsson doesn’t regret returning from his injury far sooner than expected.
“If I didn’t play I don’t think I would be in a better position than I am right now,” said Karlsson. “It needs time. It’s going to take some time to get it back. I’m glad I was able to come back.
“Being part of the playoff run was fun.”
Karlsson had a goal and eight points in 10 playoff contests.