The Penguins are already dealing with injuries to the team’s top two offensive stars in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
On top of those, COVID-19 continues to plague the organization, keeping numerous noteworthy players off of the ice, all while the season in still in its infancy.
On Thursday, Mike Sullivan announced that vert center Jeff Carter, and the Penguins’ starting goalie in Tristan Jarry, we’re both placed in the COVID-19 protocol. Carter has tested positive. Both players are asymptomatic, according to Sullivan.
They join Jake Guentzeel and Zach Aston-Reese as players to miss time due to the virus. Guentzel, who was asymptomatic, missed the season opener. Aston-Reese experienced symptoms and did not play in the first two games of the year.
Both players were also in attendance for Sunday night’s Steelers-Seahawks game at Heinz Field.
It raises a question that was asked of Mike Sullivan Thursday. How, as an organization, do you balance normal life with the responsibilities to the team, while going through the still very prevalent threat of the coronavirus.
This was Sullivan’s response, in its entirety:
“It’s certainly a question that w’ve asked ourselves internally,” he said. “We’re trying to find the sweet spot. We’re trying to limit our exposure as best we can. But also, people have to live their lives. Where is that sweet spot, I guess, is the question. I don’t know that I have a valid answer for you. It’s certainly something that we’re throwing around internally and that we’re talking to our players about doing our very best to try to limit our exposure as best we can, and just use common sense.
“This is just the reality of what we’re all living with right now and we’re all trying to manage our way through hit. I don’t think that we’re any different from the rest of the world, for that matter. The only thing that might be different is that we test every day. So these guys that are asymptomatic, maybe in the general population — because people don’t test every day — they wouldn’t even know it. They would just live there lives. Because we test every day, we end up identifying those people. And I think it’s for good reason. We’re trying to keep the group healthy, and so that’s one of the measures that our team has chosen to try to accomplish that.
“So I’m sure that we’ll reconvene today, this afternoon, with (General Manager Ron Hextall) and we’ll have these discussion with how to proceed moving forward. I just think it’s the reality of the world right now, and we’re all trying to manage our way through it as best we can.”
The Penguins did not have a single known positive COVID-19 cases last season.
Under NHL rules, the Penguins are only required to test vaccinated players “at least every 72 hours.” But, according to Sullivan, all players are being tested every day, which could potentially be leading to an influx in positive cases. Unvaccinated players must b tested very day. But, in training camp, Hextall said that only one player was unvaccinated, but that they would become so in the coming weeks.
No Crosby Saturday
Fans hoping to watch the return to the ice of Penguins captain Sidney Crosby will have to wait a little while longer.
Sullivan confirmed that Crosby will not play Saturday night against the Toronto Maplee Leafs at PPG Paints Arena.
Crosby is still recovering from a September 8 wrist surgery and was given a minimum six-week recovery.
Boyle having fun
Back in the NHL after taking last season off, Penguins forward Brian Boyle seems to be embracing another shot in thee NHL.
That was pretty evident Thursday, when during a drill, Boyle scored a nifty goal by shooting the puck through his legs, rising the puck over goalie Casey DeSmith.
For it being a meaningless goal in practice, Boyle showed some serious enthusiasm after tallying such a good-looking shot.
“I’ve been close a couple of times to winning, and I really, really want a chance to get back into the playoffs and win.” Boyle said.
“I’m just so thrilled to be here. I think coming in on a (professional tryout), my mindset hasn’t really changed since I’ve signed. The talent level here, and the depth — we have some injuries now — but when it comes back, still want to be a big part of this. Practice is a good opportunity to continue to try to get better and be a part of it going forward.”
Boyle has one goal through the first four games.