Numminen Excited To Return

Teppo Numminen and the rest of the Buffalo Sabres had their first on-ice drills and tests yesterday, and no one was happier to be out there than Teppo Numminen:

��I��ve been waiting for this,�� Numminen said. ��I feel good, I feel strong�� I feel healthy.��

Teppo missed all but one game last year after doctor’s found a worsening of his heart valve situation during last year’s physicals. Corrective surgery was done, and he feels better than he has in a long time. I just love reading how much enjoyment Numminen gets from playing:

��It was great to see a smile on his face in the game he played last year,�� Head Coach Lindy Ruff said of Numminen. ��It was even nicer to see him grinding it out [today], with his heart rate as high as he did.��

The smiles continued as he fielded questions from the media, particularly when asked if he could sustain the longevity of Red Wings�� defenseman Chris Chelios �� who enters his 22nd season in the NHL at 46 years old.

��No,�� Numminen laughed. ��I��ve been playing one year at a time since I was 33 years old. So no way, that��s unbelievable.��

:D

Tim Connolly is also back after an injury-riddled season, but it’s worth noting that Ruff still doesn’t feel he’s 100%. Still, as we say pretty much every year, a healthy Timmy is a difference maker, and he’s pretty much playing for his next contract right now, so we’ll see. See ya at Puck Drop!