Tomas Fleischmann skated and shot pucks with teammates Tuesday morning, but that’s as close as he’ll get to regular hockey action for the rest of the season.
Still, it was good to see Fleischmann on skates for the first time since he was sidelined Jan. 20 with pulmonary emboli. Although he continues to take medication for his condition — and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future — Fleischmann said he’s feeling good and hopes to resume his career next season.
“I had this two years ago, so I kind of knew what was going on and what was going to happen, so it wasn’t that scary, but it’s still not fun,” Fleischmann said. “I feel good, but the problem is in my system, so it’s what we have to fix. But it was great to be out with the boys. I just want to get in some shape and be around the guys.”
Despite the fact he’ll turn only 27 in May, Fleisch- mann is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent July 1. The Avs no doubt would not like to lose a player who posted 21 points in the 22 games he played for them after being acquired from Washington.
Fleischmann wouldn’t speculate about his future, only to say, “It’s not up to me.”
Fleischmann made $2.6 million this season.
Footnotes.
Avs captain Adam Foote (leg) remains out day to day. He did not skate Tuesday. . . . Veteran right wing Milan Hejduk returned to the lineup against Columbus after missing 11 days with a shoulder injury. . . . With four points in his previous two games before last night, Avs center Matt Duchene, with 56 points, took over the team scoring lead from Paul Stastny. Duchene surpassed his rookie-season total of 55.
Adrian Dater, The Denver Post
