Sharks' Torres hopes to continue career after surgery

SAN JOSE -- San Jose Sharks forward Raffi Torres, two weeks removed from the third major right-knee surgery of his career, said he's encouraged he'll be able to return to the NHL next season.

"Yeah, big-time," Torres said. "I've had a chance to rest mentally and physically big-time too. I know I've only played 5-10 games in the last two years, but I feel refreshed. I'm on a track right now where I know what I have to do in order to be successful and stay in the League and help the team out."

Torres played five regular-season and seven Stanley Cup Playoff games last season after injuring the ACL in his right knee during a preseason game and having surgery to replace the damaged ligament. He hasn't played a game this season because of an infection that forced surgeons to remove the ACL.

Torres hoped to be able to play this year without an ACL in his right knee but ultimately decided to have ligament-replacement surgery two weeks ago. He missed the final 49 games of the 2007-08 season with the Edmonton Oilers after injuring his right ACL and having it surgically replaced.

"About two weeks post-op right now, and everything's feeling good," Torres said. "In terms of the surgery and stuff, it looks like everything went well. This will give me the best opportunity to keep playing and to come back, and hopefully everything's behind me."

Torres, 33, has one season left on his three-year contract. The Sharks acquired him in a trade with the Arizona Coyotes on April 3, 2013, for a third-round pick (No. 62) in the 2013 NHL Draft.

"It's been tough," Torres said. "I've got to be honest with you. It's been tough coming to the rink and just not healing and progressing with the speed I wanted to. It's a struggle, but the guys have been great in the room, keeping me upbeat. Obviously my wife and kids and my family back home have been a huge support group. ... I'd be lying to you if I said there [weren't] some times where you start doubting yourself and [think] this might be it. But I feel like I'll be able to come back from this and be a player again."

Torres has played 635 regular-season NHL games and has 137 goals, 123 assists and 260 points. In 68 playoff games, he has 11 goals, 17 assists and 28 points.

In his first season with the Sharks, he was suspended by the NHL for an illegal hit to Los Angeles Kings forward Jarret Stoll in the opener of a second-round playoff series. Torres missed the rest of the series, which the Sharks lost in seven games.

Torres said he'll be on crutches for another month.

"In terms of all these little aches and pains I was feeling going into surgery, everything feels great now," Torres said. "I know it's the third time around with rehab, but I see the light at the end of the tunnel now."