CRANBERRY Township, Pa. — The first Pittsburgh Penguins practice since the Olympic break began on Feb. 6 brought good news, and very good news, both professionally and personally Tuesday at the UPMC Lemieux Complex.
In the more than hour-long practice, Penguins forward Filip Hallander made his first appearance with the team since the Nov. 3 loss against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. In the days following, Hallander was diagnosed with a blood clot and has missed the last three-plus months.
Neither coach Dan Muse nor Hallander had a timeline for the forward’s return to action, but both also sounded optimistic.
“Not really (a timeline). I mean, it’s just the first step–being out here with the boys,” said Hallander. “So just take it day by day and (I was) just be happy to be out there.”
Muse confirmed there isn’t a timeline, nor a schedule, by which the team would likely first send him to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL on a two-week conditioning assignment.
Hallander is not waivers exempt, so the Penguins must keep him on the NHL roster, and any attempt to send him to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton other than a conditioning assignment would expose him to waivers.
Understandably, the time away from the game and the team was initially hard on Hallander, who admitted he had never been away for this length of time. However, after he got over the initial worries and angst, he found a renewed perspective.
Even he wondered if the severity of his condition was the end of his career, but the time away had a silver lining.
“(The time away) has gone through phases. I would say in the start, it was tough, especially when it’s something that’s been a part of your life for such a long time as hockey has been,” Hallander said. “You don’t know if it’s going to be the end, if it’s going to be in the start there. But after that, it’s actually been probably the best three months. It’s weird to say, especially when you find a way to get into the NHL and play a lot and start there, but you get perspective on things when stuff like that happens.
“When something that’s so close to you almost gets away from you, you love it even more when you get the chance to do it again.”
This season, Hallander had four points, including a goal, in 13 games, primarily playing on the fourth line.
Kris Letang
So much for Kris Letang being out for at least four weeks.
The Penguins defenseman broke his foot blocking a shot on Jan. 29 but was a full participant and full-go Tuesday, just 19 days ago.
Letang confirmed that he was 100% now and expected to play when the Olympic break ends next week. He has 25 points, including three goals, in 50 games this season while averaging 22:05 of ice time per game.
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