Seguin 'pretty much back to normal' after dealing with injury, COVID-19

After playing just three games in the 2020-21 campaign and battling COVID-19 this offseason, Dallas Stars center Tyler Seguin is pleased to report that he's in a healthier spot.

"I can confidently say that I can do pretty much 98% of the things in the gym now, which is really exciting," Seguin told Saad Yousuf of The Athletic. "It has taken a long time to get here. There are certain things like sprinting that have been a little bothersome but, on the ice, I feel pretty much back to normal, which is exciting for me."

Seguin missed the majority of the shortened campaign after undergoing hip surgery last November. He made his season debut May 3 and scored two goals, but the Stars missed the playoffs after making the Stanley Cup Final in 2019-20.

However, his health battles weren't over. Seguin, who is fully vaccinated, tested positive for COVID-19 while at home in recent weeks. He had been feeling a little sick and opted to get tested.

"I was like, 'I can't believe it, but I got COVID.' That knocked me on my ass for a couple of weeks," he said.

The 30-year-old said his symptoms kept him "in the doghouse" for a week, and he's still trying to get his sense of smell and his lungs back to normal. Fortunately, Seguin said he feels "better every day."

"Just another eye-opener for me, just realizing that this thing is still real and affects so many people. It's a crazy time right now. It was honestly confusing because I'm double vaccinated. I wasn't doing anything stupid or anything like that but maybe you have a little bit of ignorance thinking you're more invincible being double-vaxxed."

Seguin added that the experience "humbled" him. He hit the ice for the first time in 14 days last Wednesday and battled cramps, while his nose and lungs felt like they were "on fire."

The alternate captain expects to be back at 100% by the end of the week. Training camp is set to kick off in two weeks.

"No matter what, it's hard not to have a smile on my face when competing and being back on the ice," Seguin said.

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