The 26-year-old forward has missed a month-plus due to a lower-body injury.
Carolina Hurricanes forward Tyson Jost could be nearing a return to game action very soon.
Jost, 26, has been out of the lineup since suffering a lower-body injury on Dec. 31 in Columbus, but has since been practicing with the Canes for a few weeks now.
On Tuesday, following the team's nine-day break, Jost was once again on the ice in a normal jersey, skating alongside Jack Roslovic and Eric Robinson
"Today was my first day back," Jost told The Hockey News. "It was kind of nice to have that break. I was hoping I'd maybe get back before, but I just didn't feel quite right. Just wasn't there yet."
When asked if he'd be ready for Saturday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour seemed positive on that front.
"Yeah, I'm hoping so," Brind'Amour said. "I think [Saturday] will be more of a game-time decision, but he's definitely right there if not then."
While most of his teammates used the break to take trips out to tropical islands for some rest and relaxation, the Alberta native spent it right here in Raleigh, viewing it as an opportunity to get over his final recovery hurdles.
"I took a couple days off the ice and then really hit it hard," Jost said. "It was kind of like a blessing in disguise because I could use the time to skate everyday and work out really hard. Some of the guys were joking that I probably feel better than 90% of them because they were on a beach somewhere while I was back here skating. I used it to my advantage, for sure."
The injury was a tough blow for the 2016 first-round pick, as Jost had finally earned the opportunity he was looking for back in the NHL after starting the season in the American League, but after just 16 games, disaster struck.
"It definitely sucks, stings and is disappointing," Jost said about the injury. "You go through a lot of emotions, but you can't really dwell on it. You just try to be positive. I was playing really well and felt good with my game and felt like I was really building something and making an impact every time I was out there."
No stranger to adversity, Jost has never been one to dwell on the obstacles he's faced.
Instead he tries to keep a positive attitude and look for ways to advance whether he's facing injuries, scratches or demotions.
"There's definitely an opportunity for you to kind of sit there and dwell on things and say, 'Why me?' and sulk," Jost said. "But honestly, I just used it to get in really good shape. I worked really hard to stay in shape and rehab. I was doing everything I could. Kind of sucked because it was a freak injury and just one of those weird things, but I feel really good right now and I'm ready to come back and just kick it off right where I left off."
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