Injured Rangers defenseman feels ‘really good’ as return nears

The Rangers were happy to see defenseman Fredrik Claesson back on the ice and participating in a practice Saturday afternoon, even if it was in a non-contact jersey.

Claesson has been out since he suffered an upper-body injury on Oct. 17 that was supposed to keep him out two to three weeks. The free-agent signee had just started to play well before the injury, which made for some difficult timing.

“I was feeling really good, felt my game was getting on a roll,” Claesson told The Post after practice, with his team preparing for Sunday night’s Garden match against the Sabres. “Then the injury and I’m out. It’s tough, but have to keep going and work hard to get back.”

The 25-year-old Swede, who signed a one-year, $700,000 deal after spending most of the past three years with the Senators, was a scratch for the Rangers’ first three games of the season but entered for the Oct. 11 match against the Sharks and stuck for the next three before getting hurt. He said he still needs to have some tests done and check with the trainers, but a return is now going to come sooner rather than later.

“Feeling really good,” he said. “Good to be back with the team.”

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Boo Nieves did indeed suffer a concussion on the blow…

Center Boo Nieves was cleared for contact and was a full participant in practice. Nieves did remain on IR, where he has been since he suffered a concussion in the first preseason game, taking a hit from the Devils’ Eric Gryba back on Sept. 17.

“Boo is a big body, he can skate. Good stick skills,” coach David Quinn said. “I know him a little bit from afar, but [it’s unfortunate] I didn’t get to see a lot of him in camp. So for me, there is still a little bit of a feeling-out process. But I certainly like a guy with size that can skate.”

It seems likely whenever Nieves comes off IR he will be sent to AHL Hartford.

Defenseman Marc Staal and winger Ryan Spooner both missed practice for “maintenance days,” according to Quinn.

Quinn just came off his first long road trip as a NHL head coach, this one being a four-game swing that went from Chicago to California and took nine days. It started poorly with two losses, but ended with two wins to make that red-eye flight home on Thursday night a little easier.

“It was good. It was good to be on the road and spend all that time with the guys,” Quinn said. “It was an opportunity for everybody to spend time together away from the rink, as well. Better time when you win two games, finish it the way we did and play the way we did.”