Raffi Torres has surprised even himself with a quick recovery from early-season knee surgery. Practicing full-time with the team this week, he stands only days away from playing again for the Sharks.

As long as the 32-year-old doesn’t experience a setback, Torres could make his season debut when the Sharks visit Philadelphia on Thursday with the restart of the NHL season following the Olympic break.

“I know it’s not going to be easy,” Torres said. “It’s the fastest league in the world. To think I’m just going to fit right in I know it’s going to take a few games, if not a couple weeks. But the ultimate goal is to be ready for the playoffs.”

Torres was hurt in a freak manner, stumbling over Anaheim forward Emerson Etem during the team’s second exhibition game on Sept. 20. Surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee followed, along with the uncertainty how long it might take to rehab. Torres suffered the same injury that required a surgery in 2007-08 while playing with Edmonton.

“The (trainers) have been first-class. I didn’t think I’d be back this fast,” Torres said. “The last time it took over a year to heel. At this point it’s just about getting better every day and doing the right things. If my knee is doing good I’m going to push it. If it’s not, I’ll pull back a little bit and rest it. I just have to be smart.”

Torres was acquired at the trade deadline last year, and had a immediate and positive influence on the Sharks, who rode his aggressive play into the Stanley Cup playoffs and a first-round sweep of Vancouver. Torres, who scored two goals and six points in 11 late-season games with San Jose, was suspended for the remainder of the second-round series against Los Angeles after a controversial hit on Kings forward Jarret Stoll.

The Sharks have anxiously awaited the popular locker room presence, who gives the team an added edge heading into the final 23 games of the regular season.

“His conditioning is fine, he’s worked very hard at it. His strength is good and what comes last is always the timing, the hands, the read and react, game situations and that’s still going to take some time,” Sharks coach Todd McLellan said. “We get real positive reports every day from the training staff, the fitness staff. He really wants to play and he’s done a lot of work to get there.”

In addition to Torres, McLellan welcomes back a number of injured Sharks for the stretch run. Logan Couture should be ready after hand surgery cost him the final 16 games before the Olympic break, a time in which the Sharks went 10-6. Tyler Kennedy missed the final five games with a lower-body injury and, even though he played, defenseman Dan Boyle was nursing a thumb injury. Adam Burish only made his season debut two games before the break.

McLellan won’t rush Torres if he has any doubts.