Advertisement

Hurricanes' Bryan Bickell nearing NHL return after MS diagnosis

Carolina Hurricanes’ Bryan Bickell in action during the first period of an NHL hockey game against Philadelphia Flyers, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016, in Philadelphia. The Flyers won 6-3. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Carolina Hurricanes’ Bryan Bickell in action during the first period of an NHL hockey game against Philadelphia Flyers, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016, in Philadelphia. The Flyers won 6-3. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Bryan Bickell was waived by the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday, but in this instance that’s good news.

The Hurricanes plan is for the 30-year-old forward to go down to the AHL — should he clear waivers — and get back to playing games for the first time since Oct. 30. Bickell has missed the last 48 games after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

[Follow Puck Daddy on social media: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tumblr]

“Very excited. It’s been a long road. I still have that date [in mind] where I haven’t been playing, it was in November,” Bickell said via the Hurricanes website. “To go through those months and the weeks and the treatments, the sweat and tears, and to be so close, it is special. Going through a hard moment like this it was tough, but the work that we put in… it’s definitely special.”

“He’s tackled it head on,” said Hurricanes head coach Bill Peters. “It’s a moving target of when he’s going to get back and play for us at the NHL level, but I’m not betting against Bryan Bickell.”

Bickell has skated with the Hurricanes for the last few weeks as he targeted a return to the ice while going through monthly treatments. Carolina’s AHL affiliate in Charlotte begins a six-game homestand with back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday, which will give the forward a good welcome back to hockey.

If he can get back to the NHL, Bickell will be the second player in recent years to play after being diagnosed with MS. Minnesota Wild goaltender Josh Harding was diagnosed in the fall of 2012 and made 34 appearances over the following two seasons.

[Join a Yahoo Daily Fantasy Hockey contest now]

Bickell is eagerly awaiting his first hit in his first game to get the hockey juices flowing again. He knows it will take some time before feeling like he’s all the back, but he’s looking forward to it.

“I’m sure it’s just like riding a bike – hop right back on there and keep ‘er going,” he said. “It’s going to take a game or two to find the timing and the rhythm and the game again, but it’s like riding a bike.”

– – – – – – –

Sean Leahy is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

MORE FROM YAHOO HOCKEY: