The 2012 NHL Entry Draft class could be boosted by an unexpected returnee soon.

Gone but not forgotten, Alex Galchenyuk is back on the ice after undergoing what was originally expected to be season-ending surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee on Oct. 27. Galchenyuk – who hasn’t played a minute in the regular season this year – is recovering faster than expected and could return to the Sting lineup as soon as early March, good news for head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu.

It’s also exciting news for the scouting community, who haven’t seen Galchenyuk play a meaningful game since recording 31 goals and 83 points in 68 games last season. An early return for the six-foot-one, 185-pound can offer a glimpse, albeit brief, that scouts can use to project Galchenyuk.

Deciding whether or not Galchenyuk is still the elite prospect he was projected to be or if his injury has taken some of the shine off the potential top-5 pick.