"The questions for anyone after surgery are ‘How fast do you want to come back? How hard do you want to test your body’s limits?’ " Stalock said from home. "I’ve never had a serious injury before, so I’m finding out what it takes to recover. Walking was a big day for me. That was a big step."

Doctors have told the former Minnesota Duluth All-American that he cannot have contact in his sport for one year from his surgery date. That means Stalock could resume on-ice training in February, 2012, at the earliest, near the end of the regular season with the Worcester (Mass.) Sharks.