Stars’ Rich Peverley Working Toward NHL Return After Heart Surgery

Dallas Stars forward Rich Peverley collapsed on the bench during a March game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, and after undergoing surgery in June to address an irregular heartbeat, the 32-year-old is working hard to resume his NHL career.

“Everything’s been going really well,” Peverley said last Friday during a radio interview with 1310 The Ticket in Dallas. “I’ve been taking steps along the way here to see how my heart reacts to ongoing steps that I’ve been taking, and it’s been going really well. Just been ramping it up as time goes on and as I keep achieving new goals, and everything’s been going really well.”

How far is Peverley on his way back to the NHL? He’s making progress, but a lot more work needs to be done.

“I think we’re just in the middle of the process still,” he said. “I think we’re moving along here, and hopefully in the next few months, I’m not sure exactly when, but we’re taking new steps, and I’m going to take some new steps here in Dallas in the next couple weeks and we’ll see exactly where I am. I’m not exactly sure what’s going to happen, but I’m hoping to play and it’s got to be under the right circumstances. So we’ll wait and see, and hopefully I can. I’m kind of hoping that way.”

Peverley, a member of the Boston Bruins’ 2011 Stanley Cup-winning team, played in 62 games for the Stars last season and tallied 30 points (seven goals, 23 assists).

The decision to return to the ice — if Peverley reaches that point — will be a collective one. His family’s opinion certainly will be a factor.

“When I get to that step and cross that bridge, I’ll cross it,” Peverley said. “I think there’s definitely a lot of factors, myself where I am mentally, my family, my wife, I have two kids, and I think it’s got to be made under the right circumstances, under the right educated decision.

“So I think in terms of, I think we also have to take into fact of the coaches and the players that were there that night and their comfort level and the organization’s comfort level of having me come back. I can’t answer for anyone else except for myself, but right now I’m motivated to come back. But like I said, it’s got to be under the right circumstances.”

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