Philip Tomasino will be staying with the Penguins for a while longer after clearing waivers today. The Pens have the option to re-assign him to the AHL but haven’t not announced that immediately.
With Tomasino on the outs for at least the playing lineup, here’s how the lines were looking for the team’s first full practice back after Sweden.
That’s a thin forward group, some good news is that Rickard Rakell, Justin Brazeau and Noel Acciari all hit the ice prior to the team practice. Rakell was said to be out 6-8 weeks from a hand injury suffered in late October, which would put his return around early/mid December if that initial timeline holds. Brazeau was announced as out for a minimum of four weeks from his early November injury, which would put his window to return in early December should nothing change in that recovery process. Based on timelines, Acciari could be at the front of the line since he was announced as the least severe with a minimum three week injury at the start of November. None of the three are likely to be suiting up for games in the very near future but it’s nice to see a little progress in their respective processes to get a step closer to eventually coming back.
Beyond that, a player curious by his attendance was Harrison Brunicke. Brunicke has been scratched for five-straight games and though ineligible to play full-time in the AHL this season as a Canadian junior player, he could be assigned to the AHL for a 14-day rehab assignment (clear as mud, huh?). Based on the Wilkes-Barre schedule with games on Friday and due to the maximum 14-day window, there’s no reason to keep him in Pittsburgh if the team wanted him to gear up and get ready to play this weekend in the minor leagues, so that unclear situation hasn’t gained much clarity or movement.
The Pens will have a little more time to get over their jet lag and long trip, their games don’t resume until Friday and Saturday night home contests against Minnesota and Seattle.