When we learned from Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff at the end of May that captain Adam Lowry had required offseason hip surgey we weren’t certain as to a timeline for his return aside from being told it would be a 5-6 month rehabilitation.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
Just over two weeks ago we saw that he had resumed skating. And since we have returned to hockey for all centre for informal chats with players we have seen Lowry skating alongside former NHLer J.P. Vigier for approximately an hour per day as he works back to full health.
Following his skate today we heard from him on a variety of topics including a target date for his return to the Jets lineup which does align with the October/November date. He indicated:
“Yeah end of October, start of November. November 1st. Something like that. With these things it’s tough. I feel really good. I feel like maybe I could go sooner but at the end of the day it’s all about avoiding setbacks. Making sure when I do come back it’s for good. It’s not one of those things that you constantly have to manage. Making sure I’m strong. Making sure I’m in good shape. But I feel really good. Really happy with the outcome of the surgery, really happy where the rehab’s been. It’s nice to have a goal in mind but those things can change. I think everyday we’ll just see how my body responds to more loads, see how my body responds to different stressors and gauge it. Listen to the medical staff, listen to our strength coaches and take it from there.”
If he’s able to return by November 1st it means he will have missed 11 games.
But as he pointed out to us during his chat, if they opted to just treat it and he required surgery during the season that could have cost him quite a few more games.
“…you get into the end of October/November and all of a sudden you have to operate and now instead of missing 10-15 games you’re missing 60-70 and potentially the playoffs. That was the thing that we were ultimately trying to avoid.”
If he does come back for November 1st it will come against Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
