Rick Nash (seen above) will return to practice with the Rangers tomorrow. He shouldn’t be rushed under any circumstances.

The Rangers just got some good news. Alain Vigneault just announced that Rick Nash will return to practice with the team tomorrow. Out with a concussion sustained in the third game of the season Oct. 8 at San Jose, he’s missed 14 games since. Nash has skated three straight days and reported no signs of PCS.

It’s great that he’ll return to team practice Wednesday. But they should still be guarded. Just because he’s feeling better doesn’t mean he’s ready. The Rangers cannot rush him back under any circumstance. Concussions are the unknown. One day, a player can feel good. The next, they can report headaches. You never know. Nash still has to be cleared for contact. Not until he is can we even get excited about a possible return. This is merely the next step in the process.

Having won six of seven entering tonight’s match against the Devils, the Rangers have to feel good with where they are. At 9-8-0 with 18 points, they trail second place Washington by a point and first place Pittsburgh by four. If they take care of business, that’s four in a row. Beating the teams behind you is a necessity. The schedule picks up this weekend with a visit to the house of horrors Montreal and then returning to Manhattan for Los Angeles. No disrespect. But they should win tonight. It’s an important game with tougher opponents ahead including the Bruins visiting next Tuesday. They then embark on a five-game road trip with stops in Dallas, Nashville, Tampa, Florida and Boston before returning for the Canucks Nov. 30. John Tortorella’s return.

We’ll examine with caution where Nash is. I don’t expect him back anytime soon. They should wait until next month. Rushing him back would be a huge mistake. There’s the future to worry about with him signed through 2017-18. They better be careful.