Heatley Returns to Practice With Thrashers

Atlanta Thrasher star Dany Heatley was back on the ice with his teammates, moving effortlessly through a 45-minute workout and looking as if he could rejoin the team any day.

However, it was a simple pregame skate, held hours before the Thrashers played host to the Carolina Hurricanes. Atlanta Coach Bob Hartley was quick to make the distinction.

“This basically was a walk in the park,” Hartley said. “Dany’s doing very well, and he’s pain-free.”

Although Heatley did the same drills he’s been doing by himself, his appearance with the team was his first since the car wreck in September that killed teammate Dan Snyder, a crash that left Heatley with a broken jaw and torn knee ligaments.

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The San Jose Sharks recalled goaltender Seamus Kotyk from their AHL affiliate in Cleveland. Starting goalie Evgeni Nabokov could sit out the Sharks’ game at Colorado tonight night because his wife is expected to give birth to their first child soon.

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Phil Housley, the highest-scoring American-born player in NHL history, retired after failing to sign with a team this season.

The 39-year-old defenseman had 1,232 points in 1,495 games in 21 seasons with Buffalo, Winnipeg, St. Louis, Calgary, New Jersey, Washington, Chicago and Toronto.