Jordan Staal skating with Pittsburgh Penguins again
Pittsburgh Penguin centre Jordan Staal was back at practice with the team on Tuesday 19 October. Staal's appearance at practice was his first all season, as he has been kept out due to injury.
Staal suffered a foot injury during the play-offs last season, which reportedly required several surgeries. The youngster was hoping to get back into the line-up at the beginning of 2010-11 season. However, it quickly became clear that the 22-year-old would
not be available for the beginning of the season.
The sight of Staal at practice is a promising one for the Penguins as the centre’s injury was said to be healing slowly and it was unclear if he would be back before the end of November. Fortunately for Pittsburgh it appears as though he should be back before
the midway point of the season.
Staal’s importance to the club has grown over the past two seasons, as the Ontario native has developed into one of the League’s best two-way forwards. Staal’s propensity for defensive play was acknowledged when he received his first Selke Trophy nomination,
as the League best defensive forward during the off-season. Moreover, the Penguins were hoping to use Staal on the wing this season, taking him out of his usual third line centre position. The thought was to move Staal up to the second line with Evgeni Malkin
in order to bolster the flanks on the club’s top two lines.
In addition, the Penguins also welcomed back Aaron Asham and Brooks Orpik to practice. Asham has yet to play a game this season since suffering a shoulder injury, while Orpik is out with a groin injury.
The club is keen to get all three players back, as a recent injury to defenseman Zbynek Michalek has thinned their ranks even further.
Last season with the Penguins Staal managed 21 goals and 28 assists for 49 points.
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