Photo credit: Rob Carr

Since ostensibly hurting his right shoulder over two weeks ago, Eric Fehr has only taken to the ice delicately, keeping his legs fresh while engaging in light movements with his upper body. Today, he joined practice for the first time since getting injured by Kyle Okposo of the New York Islanders, participating in a noontime optional skate. Capitals head coach Barry Trotz has perpetually and apocryphally insisted Fehr’s return could be imminent since the aliment occurred, but F-16 reported Tuesday that he was unsure when he would rejoin to the lineup.

“I don’t have any idea about any of those things,” he told reporters.

Trotz didn’t offer many clues either, but did say he was vexed over where Fehr would slot into the lineup when he did finally return.

“He won’t be playing tomorrow, but he’s getting closer,” the coach said. “The way the other guys have been playing, it’ll be more hard to get him back in the lineup.”

For now, that’s not a decision Trotz will have to make. Fehr said that while he feels a “a lot stronger” since getting hurt, he didn’t “know exactly what level” he is at with his injury. There were, the forward reported, “all kinds of things” that needed to improve before he could get back in the lineup.

“You don’t want to be a liability on the ice,” he said. “I think that’s the most important thing.”

“The toughest part of hockey is not being around the guys,” Fehr, who scored 19 goals during the regular season, said. “I want to be a big piece of this team being successful.”