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Peverley coaching with Dallas’ AHL affiliate

Rich Peverley

Dallas Stars center Rich Peverley responds to questions during a news conference before the Stars’ NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Friday, March 28, 2014, in Dallas. Peverley collapsed on the bench during a game earlier this month. He then had surgery to correct an abnormal heart rhythm. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

AP

Though he hasn’t played since a scary medical incident 11 months ago, Rich Peverley is still contributing for the Dallas Stars.

Peverley, sidelined since collapsing on the bench during a game last March, has taken on an informal, volunteer coaching with Dallas’ AHL affiliate in Texas.

“It’s an asset that we have within the organization right now with his (medical) issue. So we get to use his skills a bit,” Texas Stars coach Derek Laxdal said, per beat writer Sean Shapiro. “He’s a centerman by trade and he’s worked with a couple of the young centerman. It’s good to see an NHL guy working with a couple of the young kids, because they have aspirations of playing at the level.

“So it’s great to see him willing to come down here and work with them.”

Peverley, in the final year of his contract, has been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and while he was cleared to work out at the beginning of this season, he’s still waiting on clearance to resume skating (and, subsequently, his playing career.)

“It’s a process, and there are a lot of steps,” Peverley told the Dallas Morning-News back in June. “I’m trying to take the steps one at a time and just see what happens. If I can play, that will be great.

“If I can’t, then I’ll deal with that at that time.”

Should the 32-year-old be unable to return, it’s possible he could transition into coaching full-time. A heady player with a truckload of experience -- he won a Stanley Cup with Boston in 2011 -- Peverley was an undrafted free agent that worked his way to the NHL, developing a reputation as a sound two-way center that excelled in the faceoff circle.