Ryan Suter aiming for training camp return, has never ‘worked this hard’

After Minnesota Wild Defenseman Ryan Suter sustained a broken ankle on March 31, he’s close to returning on the ice for Wild training camp this fall.

As the 2018-19 NHL campaign inches closer, Minnesota Wild Defenseman Ryan Suter isn’t taking the normal steps and precautions to get ready for the season. The 33-year-old blueliner is preparing to get back on the ice for Minnesota Wild training camp, after a scary right ankle fracture sidelined him for the Wild’s final four games of the 2017-18 season, as well as the NHL Playoffs.

The Wisconsin-native spoke to Wild.com  about his recovery and where he sees himself normally  at this time in the NHL offseason.

“I’m maybe a week-and-a-half behind of where I’d be in the summer time,” Suter said. “I’d usually start skating at the end of July, so maybe two weeks. But by next week, I’ll be putting the equipment on and skating. Right now, I’m just trying to get the bad stuff out of there.”

Not only was the injury a halt to Suter’s momentum at season’s end, where he produced 51 points in 78 games, but it also was a big blow to the Wild’s playoff hopes against the Winnipeg Jets. Suter’s team lost in five games to Patrick Laine and Co.

While forwards Eric Staal and Mikael Granlund paced the team in scoring, Suter remained the rock on the blue line alongside line-mate Matt Dumba. Combined, Suter and Dumba totaled 20 goals and 101 points. Losing half of that productivity on the Wild’s top-defensive pair didn’t aide their chances in the postseason.

Prior to Suter’s recent comments on Wild training camp, the last update given on his ankle was on May 22. He was interviewed by reporters and he informed them at that point, he couldn’t even put weight on the fractured ankle. When Suter talked to NHL.com one week after the incident, he told them the doctors only saw injuries like that in car accidents.

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However, Suter is beginning his preparation for his 14th NHL season and if all indications are correct, he’ll be on the ice in the coming months at Wild training camp. Minnesota fans can breathe a sigh of relief when No. 20 skates out there for the first time since March 31.