As promised by coach Alain Vigneault, Rick Nash rejoined the New York Rangers for practice Wednesday.
It's the first time the injured winger has participated in a full team session -- albeit with a yellow, non-contact jersey -- since sustaining a concussion more than a month ago, when the San Jose Sharks' Brad Stuart elbowed him in the head during a 9-2 loss Oct. 8.
"I felt pretty good, actually. Better than I thought I would feel," Nash said of an intense practice that ended with a stint of conditioning sprints. "I kept up, but there's still some work to be done."
Nash had skated on his own for four straight days before returning to practice Wednesday. There still is no timetable for his return to the lineup, however, and he's not expected to play Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens.
"We'll see how the next couple of days go and take it from there," Vigneault said, indicating the team would chart its course depending on when Nash feels ready.
Nash's ability to practice suggests he is making progress, though he needs time to improve his conditioning. The forward, one of the team's key offensive weapons, had previously suffered headaches after sustaining the head injury and visited well-known Michigan-based neurologist Jeffrey Kutcher last month.
"I'm confident in that I'm, kind of, OK with symptoms and all that," Nash said.
Nash also missed time last season with a concussion suffered after a hit from the Boston Bruins' Milan Lucic.
The Rangers were without captain Ryan Callahan, who recently returned from a broken thumb, during Wednesday's practice. The team called it a "maintenance" day. Dominic Moore (strained oblique) likely will be available for Saturday's game.