Stars' Jamie Benn increases workouts following double hip surgeries

Jamie Benn was not at full health last season when he led the league with 87 points in 82 games. He required double hip surgery this offseason, going under the knife first in April for one hip and later in May for the other, and hopes to be fully recovered by the start of next season. His recovery was initially expected to take 4-5 months. 

If Benn's increased workouts are indicative of how ready he will be, the signs are good for an October return.

"I’m skating three times a week now — it’s just working on the edges really," Benn told The Dallas Morning News. "Workouts are picking up, but it’s still controlled. I get pretty antsy at times, but the trainers remind me that I’ve got plenty of time and just take it slow." 

Opening night for the Stars is on Oct. 8, and the captain likely wants to be on the ice to start the season off better than last year's 4-5-1 beginning. The Stars scored plenty of goals last season, but they also gave up a lot, allowing 35 goals-against in the first 10 games of last season alone. 

"I honestly can’t stop thinking about it this summer," Benn said to The Dallas Morning News. "We need to get off on the right foot, we need to be prepared, and we need to build on the things we did at the end of last season. We learned a lot, so we need to remember those lessons."

(h/t The Dallas Morning News)