Jordan Staal returns to the ice
The struggling Pittsburgh Penguins received a bit of good news on Wednesday as injured centre Jordan Staal started skating for the first time since last year’s second round play-off loss
to the Montreal Canadiens.
Staal, who suffered a sliced tendon in his right foot to start the series, immediately underwent surgery to repair the damage. Amazingly, Staal returned late in the series, however he
developed infections that had him receiving treatments for several months. Due to the subsequent infections, Staal was unable to participate in the Penguins' training camp and was unable to train during the summer.
Staal, who is one of the best young two-way forwards in the game, is still a long way from regaining strength in his right leg and a return date to the line-up is not imminent.
On Wednesday, Staal took to the ice for an on-ice workout with Penguins’ strength and conditioning coach Mike Kadar. Staal was not in full equipment during the session and will likely
go through a series training camp-like conditioning workouts before he can start practising with his team mates.
The Penguins have struggled out of the gate to start the season and are now 1-3 following a 4-3 home loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday. The Penguins are now 0-3 at the new Consol
Energy Centre. Their only victory this season came on the road on Monday when they defeated a depleted New Jersey Devils team 3-1. When he does return, Staal is expected to line up beside Evgeni Malkin on the Penguins second line. Malkin has also struggled
with only two points through four games.
Staal was drafted by the Penguins with the second overall pick in the 2006 National Hockey League Entry Draft. Through four seasons in the NHL, Staal had missed only one regular season
game. In 2009-10, Staal set a career-high with 28 assists and finished the season with 49 points in 82 games.
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