I ran into Kitchener Rangers centre Radek Faksa this morning at the Aud.
The Czech import is on the sidelines with an MCL injury and not scheduled to return until the week before the playoffs, at best.
His spirits were high and the noticeable limp he's been sporting practically gone. He was on his way to the gym to workout. He said he's been riding the bike and able to do off-ice training.
"It's getting better," he said of his knee.
His return will be a huge boost for the Rangers. Faksa has 26 points in 32 games this year.
I can't see GM/coach Steve Spott breaking up the top unit of Tobias Rieder, Josh Leivo and Matt Puempel, since it's smoking hot.
That means Faksa will likely be slotted on the second line with Matia Marcantuoni and Ben Thomson on the wing when he returns.
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During the pre-season, I predicted a line of Faksa, Reider and Puempel could combine for 100 goals. Due to injuries, that's not going to happen.
But, interestingly, had the trio remained healthy, at their current pace they would have combined for 97 goals. That's not bad when you work in Rieder and Faksa's early season slumps.
