Colorado centre Joe Sakic skated on his own before the team practised Thursday and appears closer to returning to the Avalanche lineup.

"I didn't see a whole lot of it," head coach Tony Granato said. "But I saw enough to know Joe's in good shape and he wants to play. We also want him to play."

The 20-year veteran hasn't suited up for a game since Nov. 28 against Phoenix, when he played 28 seconds.

Sakic, 39, underwent successful surgery for a herniated disc in his back on Jan. 7. The plan is for the captain to skate on his own a few more times before joining the team for practice.

"Getting him back would be great for the youg guys," Wojtek Wolski said. "Just to have him around and in the room is enough to make guys feel better."

Added Laperriere: "We don't know exactly what's happening. He's had a great career and it would be nice for him to get into a couple games before the end of the season and keep it going."

Colorado hosted the Edmonton Oilers Thursday night and had nine remaining regular-season games following that.

It has been an injury-plagued season for Sakic, who has only appeared in 15 games but still has two goals and 12 points. Sakic ranks eighth on the NHL's all-time scoring list with 1641 points.