Detroit Red Wings: Patrick Eaves Making Progress in Recovery from Concussion

Patrick Eaves has taken another step in recovering from a concussion. Eaves joined his Red Wings teammates for an informal skate at the Troy Sports Center Thursday, according to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press. 

Eaves sustained a concussion when he was struck by a puck on Nov. 26, 2011 in a game against the Nashville Predators. In his first NHL game, Roman Josi took a shot from the point that caught Eaves on the side of the head. Eaves remained on the ice for a number of minutes before being taken off on a stretcher. 

Eaves also suffered a broken jaw on the play, which has since healed. However, concussion symptoms continue to affect him and he has yet to go through the process of being cleared to play by team doctors.

According to St. James from the Free Press, Eaves described the recovery process as "miserable," but says the worst is behind him. 

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"The bad part is behind me now. This is part of the progress, skating with other guys and trying to get used to that. The speed is, obviously, not what it is at training camp. I'm just happy to be out there with the guys."

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Eaves hopes to skate every day, even with the possibility of an NHL lockout. 

He is one of 15 forwards currently under contract with the Red Wings. With two years remaining on a three-year, $3.6 million contract, Eaves is set to earn $1.2 million in each of the next two seasons. 

In 380 career games, Eaves has scored 70 goals and 63 assists for 133 points.