ST. LOUIS -- Chris Pronger is making progress in his recovery from a severe wrist injury, but doesn't know when he'll return to the St. Louis Blues' lineup.

	Pronger

Pronger, the MVP and Norris Trophy winner as the league's top defenseman in 2000, wouldn't speculate if he'll return in time for the playoffs when he met with the media Friday.

"I'll come back when it feels ready to go,'' Pronger said. "I don't think I've sat out the whole year to rush myself back and get hurt again. That defeats the whole purpose.''

In addition to the wrist injury, Pronger is recovering from a torn right-knee ligament sustained in the last year's playoffs.

Despite missing a number of players for long stints because of injury, the Blues are 30-15-8-5 and lead defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit by four points in the Central Division.

Some Blues believe getting Pronger back would be a bonus.

"He's our best player,'' Keith Tkachuk said. "If we could get him back that would be a huge plus for us.''

Cory Stillman echoed that sentiment.

"We've played so long without him, we don't even look for him to come back,'' he said. "That's the way we have to look at it. If we get him, it would be a great bonus.''

Pronger was struck on the wrist by a puck in February 2002.

Pronger said he felt pain and lacked range of motion in the wrist for "a couple of years.''

He has had three operations on the wrist, the most recent in October.

Pronger was examined last week at the National Hand Center in Baltimore by Dr. Thomas Graham, the surgeon who performed the last operation. He said that exam indicated progress, though he doubts the wrist will ever recover completely.

"I doubt it will be 100 percent,'' Pronger said. "But if I can get to 90, 95 percent ...''

Pronger has been limited to lifting light weights and other exercises designed to strengthen the wrist. Monday or Tuesday, he hopes to begin stickhandling for 10-to-15 minutes. If the wrist seems strong and pain-free, he'll progress to other drills.