Draeger returned to the lineup this past weekend, playing in both games against rival No. 12 Michigan, both losses for the Spartans, one at home.

Draeger said he felt OK on the ice in his return, but doesn’t expect to get back to his top playing level anytime soon.

“I don’t think I’ll be 100 percent all year, to be quite honest with you,” Draeger said. “But I’m 80 percent, so I’m just going to have to play through it and we’ll see.”

Draeger underwent lower body surgery during the offseason, forcing him to miss the first stretch of MSU’s games. Draeger considered the most recent four-game stretch he missed to be a result of the surgery and his body still adjusting.

Draeger has five assists in the 11 games he’s played. That already is half the points he had last year while playing in every game.

Head coach Tom Anastos said the addition of Draeger to the lineup always is good, but pointed out that the star defenseman isn’t playing at 100 percent. Anastos said in his current condition, Draeger needs to simplify his game and play with a “less is more” mentality.

“One of the challenges he’s going to have that we’ve warned him about is to try to go out and keep his game very simplistic,” Anastos said. “When he does that it’s a benefit to him, it’s a benefit to the team. When he tries to do too much it’s not a benefit to him.”

Draeger started to buy into the newer, simplistic mindset when on the ice. He said he thought he made clean plays against U-M and will need to keep it that away when MSU (8-12-3, 2-4-2-2) travels to No. 1 Minnesota this weekend (18-2-4, 7-0-1).

On top of making adjustments to his playing style, Draeger said he also needs to monitor his intensity throughout the week in practice.

“I don’t want to overdo it during the week because I want to be ready to play,” Draeger said. “So it’s hard to find that balance of getting ready to play, but also not going too far.”

Unless Draeger experiences a drawback this week in practice he will get the special treat of taking on his home-state team of Minnesota.

The Faribault, Minn., native said he always enjoys returning home and playing in Mariucci Arena, where all the fans hate the opposing team.