The difference is that this time, Sturm won’t be ready to start the regular season. He and the Bruins have pegged mid-November, six months from the procedure, as a likely return date.

“It’s kind of weird,’’ Sturm said yesterday at Ristuccia Arena. “I kind of feel, right now, like I’m ready to go. It’s tough.’’

For now, Sturm’s most significant contribution toward the roster is the $3.5 million in cap relief he’ll provide by starting 2009-10 on long-term injured reserve. But with his recovery progressing as expected, Sturm, an unrestricted free agent at year’s end, is planning to make an impact once he’s healthy enough to play.

“I’ve just got to make sure that I will be 100 percent and I will be ready to go,’’ said the 32-year-old veteran. “It’s a big year for me, too. Obviously, I want to do good. I want the team to do good, too. That all helps.’’

For fitness, Sturm has been riding the bike, which he says he can do full-out. With the knee structurally sound, Sturm’s primary task is to strengthen the area around the site of the surgery on his right leg. Under caution, he has been squatting, lifting, and performing band work. Recently, he was cleared to start jumping to build up his explosive power.

Doctors have not cleared Sturm for running or skating yet. He is aiming to resume skating in the next 3-4 weeks.

“It’s all about getting my strength back and getting the muscle back that I pretty much lost,’’ Sturm said. “It looks good. It feels good. I’m on time.’’

If the Bruins don’t clear cap space prior to activating Sturm, they must make one or more transactions. One target for assignment could be Michael Ryder, whose $4 million salary would come off the books if the Bruins demote him to Providence.

At full health, Sturm will give the Bruins additional up-front depth. He is a natural left wing, but he saw some time on Marc Savard’s right side last season amid the perpetual hunt for Phil Kessel’s replacement. The coaching staff has usually fed Sturm power-play time, and he traditionally has killed penalties alongside Patrice Bergeron.

“Tough to say,’’ Sturm said of nailing down his return date. “But I will be happy if I come back in 2010, I would say. That would be really good.’’

The 6-foot-4-inch, 235-pound forward, selected by Los Angeles in the fourth round of the 1999 draft, had his most effective years in the Ottawa system. In 2005-06, McGrattan dressed for the Senators in 60 games, getting two goals and three assists while totaling 141 PIM. That year, according to hockeyfights.com, McGrattan threw down 19 times.

McGrattan could push Shawn Thornton, the team’s resident enforcer. Thornton (21 fighting majors last season) is under contract for two more years at $812,500 annually.

“If I’m back, they named me captain before I left,’’ said Cunningham, selected in the fourth round of the 2010 draft. “If I go back — which, obviously, I don’t want to do — a lot of pressure’s going to be on me.

“It’s exciting to be the go-to guy. It’ll be my fifth year in Vancouver, so if I’m back, I’d like to win a Memorial Cup on the way out.’’

Cunningham, who turned 20 this month, is eligible to return to Vancouver as an overage player. But the gritty forward’s goal is to play pro this season in Providence.

“Maybe I’ve noticed him more this week than I did at the prospects camp,’’ said Providence coach Rob Murray. “I’ve liked him more this week than at the prospects camp. I’ve seen more of what he might bring.

“He’s got a certain edge to him, that grittiness that you look for in a player of his stature. He’s not a really big guy. But it looks like he plays with an edge. We’ll see.’’

Fluto Shinzawa can be reached at fshinzawa@globe.com.