LAS VEGAS — His courageous effort playing with a sports hernia in 2016-17 earned him another layer of respect across the National Hockey League. But as he prepares for another appearance at the NHL Awards as a Selke Trophy finalist – as well as figuring out which teammate he’ll lose in the Expansion Draft – Patrice Bergeron is still itching to get back on the ice.

As he recovers from his off-season surgery, performed by Dr. Brian Busconi and Dr. Demetrius Litwin back on May 8, Bergeron is waiting for his opportunity to resume his summer training regimen. The three-time Selke winner expects to skate again in July.

“Yes I do,” Bergeron, who is looking to tie Bob Gainey for most Selke Trophies in league history, said about being ready for Training Camp. “We’ll see how it goes with skating and all that because I haven’t been able to [skate since surgery], and won’t be able to for another month.”

Bergeron, flanked by Ryan Kesler and Mikko Koivu as the two other finalists for the award given to the best two-way player at his position, may have taken a step back from his 68 point season two years ago – his best since tallying a career-high 73 points in his second season back in 2005-06. Despite the 15-point setback in 2016-17, the longest-tenured Bruin still performed at a high level as he battled through the season with the nagging injury.

No doubt, Bergeron’s focus is helping the Bruins take the next step under now full-time head coach Bruce Cassidy. Though he doesn’t have a definitive timeframe about his availability come the preseason, Bergeron still expects to be on schedule.

“I’ll know more in August if I’ll be ready,” Bergeron added about his preseason timetable, “but my guess that I’ll be 100 percent and ready to go with no restriction at Training Camp.”

Losing a teammate to the Vegas Golden Knights in Wednesday’s Expansion Draft may be hovering above him and dealing with a little uncertainty regarding his Training Camp status may not be ideal for Bergeron. But for the first time in a couple of years, the positive vibes surrounding Bergeron and the rest of the Bruins are a little more positive, especially with Cassidy at the helm.

“It’s always nice to know where were going and to know that we have [a coach leading us],” said Bergeron, who spoke to Cassidy upon returning to Boston a few weeks ago. “And for him, I guess for him it’s a lot better knowing [his fate] and getting ready and getting things going in the right direction.”