Stars forward Jamie Benn 'ahead of schedule' in hip surgery recovery

Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn says he is hopeful that he will be 100% percent healthy by the time the regular season starts

Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn says he is hopeful that he will be 100% healthy by the time the regular season starts and is ahead of schedule in rehab on his hips.

Benn had surgery on both hips after the season and was expected to be out for at least five months.

He first had surgery April 27 and underwent a second procedure a week later to repair cartilage damage and to correct femoroacetabular impingement, which is a bony growth on the head of the femur.

Benn says he has only skated twice since the surgery.

“I think I am ahead of schedule. We still have a long time to go here before training camp and the season starts, so I am in no rush," Benn said on the team's website. "I am going to take it day-by-day, nice and slow. I think the main thing is that I don’t want any setbacks. I am definitely happy with my progress.”

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Benn recorded a hat trick and an assist to win the Art Ross Trophy, as the NHL’s scoring leader, on the final day of the regular season against the Nashville Predators.

The Stars captain finished with 87 points (35 goals, 52 assists) while playing in all 82 games last season, one point ahead of New York Islanders center John Tavares.

Benn said he felt good to be back on the ice, even though he acknowledged he didn’t do too much during the skating session.

"It's been going pretty good," Benn said. "I have been taking it day by day. It's definitely nice to get back here out on the ice now. I probably won't be skating every day, but a couple times a week. And I'll be sticking with my off-ice plan."

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The Stars have missed the playoffs in six of the past seven seasons. Dallas opens the 2015-16 season Oct. 8 against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

- Scooby Axson