Is a partially healthy Tyler Seguin better than no Tyler Seguin at all?

That's how the cookie has crumbled for a Dallas Stars team all but out of the Western Conference playoff race after Seguin returned Saturday - and scored a pair of goals - from a knee injury that was expected to keep him out of the lineup for up to six weeks.

Instead, he was back in a day over three weeks, but admits it will still take some time to get back to full health.

"In two or three months it'll be back to normal. Until then it's definitely not anywhere near 100 percent," Seguin said Tuesday. "But you do what you can.

"I think I can be more helpful in the lineup at 60, 70 percent than sitting in the stands not playing at all."

Seguin ranks second among all NHL players after recording 1.09 points per game through 56, but even that kind of production likely isn't enough to help the Stars make up the 10-point difference between them and a wild-card spot.

It begs the question as to whether he and the club may be better off shutting things down in order to ensure a full recovery and long-term health.

Seguin is set to put his knee to the test once again Tuesday in Philadelphia.