The latest on Alex Galchenyuk's health 
Looks like Alex Galchenyuk could be back this season after all. The Sarnia Sting center, a projected top-10 (at least) pick in June's draft, hurt his knee in a September preseason game and had his ACL surgically repaired a month later, a procedure many expected would keep Galchenyuk out all year.
But the Russian-American, who turned 18 last month, has spent the last couple of weeks skating with his teammates and could be cleared for contact soon.
"It was my goal from the start to hopefully come back this season," Galchenyuk told the blog in an interview Wednesday afternoon. "Some players have come back [from ACL surgery] in four months, so I knew there was a chance."
But the road back was anything but easy, and Galchenyuk admittedly wasn't always upbeat about his luck.
"Obviously I was really upset" when the injury happened, he says. "Early on, watching games was the toughest part. You're on crutches, you're still three months away from skating and you know you can't help your team. Rehab is a slow, tough process."
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Grant Sonier
Grant Sonier has scouted for six NHL organizations over the past 13 years, most recently for the Atlanta Thrashers during the 2010-11 season. He is a special contributor to ESPN Insider.
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Victoria Matiash
Victoria Matiash has served as a Fantasy Hockey columnist for ESPN.com since 2007, and contributor to NHL Rumor Central since 2010. She lives in Toronto.
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