PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Kris Letang has yet to rejoin the team after the death of his father, as they practiced on Thursday. They are not sure when he will return and then Pens Head Coach Mike Sullivan confirmed there is then an injury to rehab.
"He's obviously going through a difficult circumstance right now," Sullivan said. "We are all trying to offer him the space that is necessary and also be supportive. That's what we are trying to do."
Sullivan would not say how long a potential rehab would be or what the injury is. It's a defense dealing with a couple of usual players out. Along with Letang, Jeff Petry remains out although he skated before the team on Thursday.
Mixing D
In the absence of their two most veteran and accomplished defensemen, lines have changed. A once thought of player to trade, Marcus Pettersson on the top pairing with Jan Ruuta, who missed practice Thursday due to a maintenance day. Then Brian Dumoulin with Ty Smith and PO Joseph and Chad Ruhwedel.
"We had a little of that in the beginning of the season and now it's kind of testing us," Dumoulin said of different pairings. "It will build character. It's something we've had to do in the past. I remember when I was first coming up, we had three-four-five guys from Wilkes-Barre it seems like it's that way every year. We've always had to rely on guys. That's why we've had a great organization."
"That's something we've always done. They assign guys a little bit older people who have experience in the NHL that can come in a play with us. We need to rely on everyone now."
"It comes down to how the organization prepares it's players," Rudwedel said. "We all play the same with every team in the organization. Sure you have to get used to your D-partner a little bit, I think everybody is easy to play with because we all play within our system."
Taylor Fedun is the latest defensive call-up with Mark Friedman sent down as Sullivan said he wants to give Friedman the opportunity to play down at Wilkes-Barre.
Dumo-Smith
A new pairing that has done fairly well is Dumoulin and Smith together. Smith has now played in five games since his call-up days before New Years'. He has a goal and two assists and is a plus four.
"Maybe a little more comfortable," Smith said. "They guys have done a good job helping me out with that. I think it's been something that I've tried to build from the first game that I played just continue to get better, continue to work on things and try and help the team as much as I can."
Part of the reason he started the season in the minors is the salary cap, the 22-year-old was the player in the John Marino trade with the Devils and someone they are thinking could be a part of their future even if it wasn't necessarily this season. He was New Jersey's first round pick in 2018 and in 26 games in the AHL this season had four goals and 10 assists.
"He's a great skater," Dumoulin said. "He's very poised with the puck, makes really good plays. He's got some confidence, too. He's really, really smart with the puck and a really good skater. Really effective in the offensive zone, creating extended time down there. He's been really good for us."
Injury Notes
While not yet practicing with the team, goalie Tristan Jarry, defenseman Jeff Petry and forwards Ryan Poehling and Josh Archibald all skated before practice.
DeSmith Take
The resident starting goalie with Jarry still out, Mike Sullivan said of Casey DeSmith who is 5-8-2 with a 3.17 goals against average and .904 save percentage and coming off a game where he was pulled.
"Probably similar to what our team has been, volatility," Sullivan said of DeSmith's overall play. "He's had moments where he's been really strong and given us a chance to win. Others where you would like him to bring a little more consistency to his game. I think it's been similar to what the group has been."
Up Next
Pens host 26-14-1 Winnipeg Friday night at 7p and then play a back-to-back at Carolina.
