Richards talks about his recovery

Mike Richards, still recovering after taking a hit to the head by Florida’s Sean Bergenheim on Dec. 1, didn’t skate Saturday but did emerge from an off-ice workout with a sweat-drenched shirt, and appears to be making progress. Richards remains on injured reserve and won’t fly with the team to Boston tomorrow, but left open the possibility that he might join the team at some point during the nine-day road trip. On Thursday, Richards visited with a team doctor and was encouraged to continue his rehab, and Richards skated briefly Friday, but today, Richards didn’t have much of an update on his status.

RICHARDS: “Not too much. Just continue on, and when I’m healthy, I’ll be back playing.’’

Question: Will you go on the road trip?

RICHARDS: “I’m not going to start with them. I hope to join them at some point during the trip. I’d like to elaborate on it, but there’s not much to really say.’’

Question: It must be frustrating too, everyone asking you how you’re feeling all the time…

RICHARDS: “It’s frustrating, because I’m watching and not being out there, and obviously you want to be out there but you don’t want to come back when you’re not healthy and re-injure yourself. As much as you want to be out there, you have to be smart about things.’’

Question: Have you been through something like this before?

RICHARDS: “I’ve been injured like this before. It’s just time. It’s nothing you can rush back from. It’s just a `hurry up and wait’ sort of thing.’’

Question: But there’s just not a lot you can do…

RICHARDS: “Obviously it’s something where you’re used to going out and playing every day and having fun. It’s just not the same when you’re not with the guys in the dressing room. You always feel like you can be doing more, but like I said, you don’t want to push things. It’s not the same, not being with the guys and being on the ice and having fun.’’