Photo by Doug Brumley David Legwand skated at Centennial Sportsplex Thursday morning--one of his first on-ice excursions since knee surgery in May.

Predators center David Legwand, who had surgery in May to repair the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, is back on the ice. Thursday morning he was among a group of five Predators players who have begun skating informally at the team's practice facility inside Centennial Sportsplex. Legwand's ice time was limited, as prescribed by a training regimen designed to gradually increase the use of the recovering knee. The 26-year-old center exited the rink before the other players began more rigorous drills and exercises then took a moment to answer a few questions for nashvillepredators.com.

Q. How did the knee surgery go this summer?

A. It went well. It's coming along better than expected and I'll hopefully be ready for the start of the season.

Q. What kind of rehabilitation activities did they have you doing?

A. Everything. Biking, a bunch of squats, and all that stuff.

Q. How long have you been back on the ice?

A. Just this week. I just started this week lightly, and I'll gradually get more and more and more [ice time], so I'll hopefully be ready by--they don't even want to set a date on it, but whenever.

Q. And they're just letting you on for small periods of time right now?

A. Yeah, 10 to 15 minutes.

Q. How hard are you pushing the knee and how does it feel?

A. It feels good. I'm pushing as much as I can. It's only been three months so it's hopefully ahead of schedule right now. Usually it takes four to six, but I don't really need to push it right this second. It's been going good.

Q. Over the summer you signed a new two-year contract with the team. Was it good to avoid an arbitration hearing?

A. Yeah, I think so. I don't think you ever want to go to arbitration. It's not a fun thing to do. I think both sides are happy with it and we'll see what we can do this year.

Q. The signing of Jason Arnott lets you move to the No. 2 center spot. Is that a comfortable place for you?

A. Yeah, it's fine. He's a huge signing for our team. That's what we needed, more size up front. He's obviously won the Stanley Cup and been deep into the playoffs many years. He's a huge asset and he's going to be a great guy in the room too I think.

Q. Does that take pressure off you at all?

A. I think it takes pressure off everyone. We're going to have three deep lines, and with Tomas back and the young defense it's going to be a huge lift to our team.

Q. With the trade for center Josef Vasicek, do you feel that there's going to be some competition for that No. 2 center spot at training camp?

A. I think so. Obviously, yeah, he was traded for a very well-liked guy around here [Scott Walker] and it'll be interesting.

Q. Finally, as a friend of musician Kid Rock's, did you attend his local wedding with Pamela Anderson, or either of the couple's other two ceremonies?

A. No. [Laughs] No weddings for me.