Stars' Nichushkin free of pain in surgically repaired hip
Valeri Nichushkin is ready to pick up where he left off in his rookie season.
The young Dallas Stars forward missed the majority of his sophomore season due to a hip injury that required surgery, but he appears to be fully recovered in advance of training camp next month.
Valeri Nichushkin said he is feeling great, no more pain in the hip he had surgery on last season.
— Mark Stepneski (@StarsInsideEdge) August 28, 2015
Nichushkin was limited to eight games in 2014-15 after impressing with 14 goals and 20 assists during the previous season, his first in North America.
He was well enough to appear in five games for the AHL's Texas Stars and two games at the World Championship with Russia, recording four and two assists with those teams, respectively.
Nichushkin is set to claim a spot in the Stars' impressive group of top-six forwards, made up of Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn, Jason Spezza, Ales Hemsky, and Patrick Sharp.