ST. PAUL, Minn. -- While the rest of the Minnesota Wild lamented the playoff loss to the Chicago Blackhawks and were asked what is needed in the future, defenseman Keith Ballard was left trying to answer Monday whether he has a future in the NHL.
Ballard missed the playoffs and the final 56 games of the regular season after suffering multiple facial fractures and a concussion in a December game against the New York Islanders when he was driven into the boards by New York forward Matt Martin.
"Not much has changed," Ballard said Monday. "Still have days that I don't feel well. Hopefully I start feeling better at some point and then decide. . . . I'd love to play, but I've got to feel better first. That's where I'm at."
Ballard, 32, hasn't made any decisions but he has much to weigh. Ballard, with 10 seasons in the NHL, has dealt with concussions previously. The former University of Minnesota star from Baudette, Minn., came home in 2013 to try and resurrect his career.
He played 45 regular-season games last year, plus three playoff contests. Ballard was limited to 14 games this season. Returning to the ice to skate hasn't given Ballard much optimism.
"My day-to-day stuff has been pretty good," Ballard said. "It's been more when I've been on the ice and even working with the guys last week. There's days I just get headaches from it. You start getting dizzy a little bit."
Ballard has said he has to take his post-career life into consideration with his wife and two kids. Ballard isn't ready to declare a decision one way or another.
"It's something I think about, for sure," Ballard said. "But I don't want to close the door and say, 'Oh, I'm done,' but I'm going to factor everything in and give it some time and see if I can get to a point where I can get on the ice and feel OK."
Medical personnel tend to Wild defenseman Keith Ballard after he was injured on a check into the boards by New York Islanders left wing Matt Martin on Dec. 9, 2014.
An unrestricted free agent, Ballard said he will try and treat this summer like any other and prepare for next season.
"If I spend all summer and can't really do a lot, then it makes it tough for next year," Ballard said. "I don't have a contract. So it'll be kind of a difficult process, but I'm not ready to close the door on it yet. But we'll see."
Other injury news: Forwards Jason Zucker and Chris Stewart revealed what bothered them in the playoffs. Zucker didn't miss a game but he suffered a broken thumb in the first-round series. Stewart missed the end of the playoffs with a separated shoulder.
Zucker's broken thumb occurred in Game 2 of the first round when he blocked a shot. Zucker finished the playoffs with two goals and one assist in 10 games after a breakthrough regular season saw him score 21 goals.
Zucker, who scored one goal in the eight playoff games after breaking his thumb, said he would have the thumb numbed before games.
"Pain-wise it wasn't bad until the numbing wore off," Zucker said. "But overall, I think the toughest part is once your thumb is numb, you can't feel your stick very well. So stickhandling was a little bit tough. But I can't complain too much."
Stewart, who had three goals and eight assists in 20 regular-season games with the Wild after a midseason trade, missed the final two games of the second round against Chicago.
"I tried to go," Stewart said. "I had nothing. It sucks. It's just frustrating. Want to get out there, want to help your team. Toughest job in sport is watching. Wasn't a storybook ending, but I'm still happy with the opportunity I had here."
Stewart, an unrestricted free agent, had no goals and two assists in the playoffs.
Forward Matt Cooke, who played seven playoff games, said he was still limited a bit in the playoffs after he missed 31 games in the regular season with a sports hernia.
"I felt like the first few games in St. Louis were tough," Cooke said. "I hadn't really played in three months; all year actually. So to come back in at the highest level of (competition) possible, just thrown into the fire, it's tough. But I felt as I gained each game, I got better and better."
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