Taylor Fedun Set To Skate Again

In his latest column, Jim Matheson noted the progress of Taylor Fedun, the Oilers rookie defenceman from Princeton:

Fedun will apparently be on the ice for the first time in the next few days, his first tentative steps in his comeback. He’s been walking without crutches or a boot for a long while since crashing into the boards on Sept. 30, and has watched games from the pressbox. He’s been taking daily, gruelling rehab early in the mornings while trying to keep his spirits up, but it’s a long grind. Hopefully he’ll be ready by next fall’s training camp.

Matheson also noted Kurtis Foster's encouraging texts to Fedun concerning the recovery process. Foster suffered nearly the exact same injury and though it took a year, he made it back to the ice and has signed two contracts since. In the midst of that comeback, Foster also overcame a crippling personal tragedy. So if there is anyone who can help, and anyone Fedun should listen to and take encouragement from it's Kurtis Foster. Foster's actions speak volumes about him.

If September 30th never occurred, Fedun would be a regular in the Oilers' lineup right now. His call probably would have come before Taylor Chorney and Alex Plante and given the lack puck-moving ability on this defence, he would have been a great compliment to Andy Sutton, Theo Peckham or Colten Teubert.

When he hits the ice, the first stride Fedun takes will be his first in over three months and represent a very small, but significant milestone. He still has at least six months of therapy and rehabilitation before he's the player he was the morning of September 30th. We can't wait to see that player again.