"It wasn't the most eventful 41 minutes in the history of hockey, but, for Daymond Langkow, it'll do.

Langkow, for only the second time since fracturing vertebrae in his neck more than five months ago, was back on the ice. Twice this week, including Thursday afternoon, he's gone for twirls at the Westside Recreation Centre.

"I feel good now," said Langkow. "I'm pretty close to 100 per cent, but I think it's going to be a couple more weeks before I can take contact. Obviously, it's been a while since I've been on skates. Definitely a little rusty out there."

Despite having to skip session-ending scrimmages, Langkow is pleased to be once again swapping passes with teammates such as Jarome Iginla, Olli Jokinen, Cory Sarich, Rene Bourque and Adam Pardy.

Not that he is too fussy about company. So starved is the man for hockey that even summertime skating holds a certain appeal.

"I was definitely excited to get back on the ice - just for shinny - and that's usually not the case," he said with a smirk. "I was just getting in some skating. I'm going to make sure I'm 100 per cent before I come back."

The most recent noon-hour get-together for the Edmonton native, who wore no visible neck brace, featured light skating, a handful of drills, then a fair amount of coasting around while others were embroiled in one-on-one battles. Main camp for the National Hockey League club is still a couple of weeks away."