It’s a bit of deja vu right now for the Penguins and Jason Zucker.
A week after returning from a two-month absence due to core muscle surgery — a game in which Zucker managed to last just half a game before being injured again in Thursday’s win at Minnesota — the Penguins’ forward is again nearing a return from injury.
Zucker was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice in Cranberry, and could be ready to return to the lineup soon.
“I thought he had a good practice today.” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “He didn’t miss too much time, which is encouraging. We were able to put him in a full participation circumstance. I thought he did really well in practice.”
Sullivan categorized Zucker as day-to-day. He will travel with the team to New York for Thursday’s game against the Rangers.
In his first game back from injury, and playing against a Minnesota team he played with for nine years, Zucker was injured midway through the game on a controversial hit from behind from Kevin Fiala.
“It was just kind of a weird deal, obviously,” said Zucker, who declined to address the hit from Fiala. “When you’re out that long, you’re hoping that you can get into the rhythm of the game. You’re worried more about the game and just getting back into it mentally, physically. Your hands, your feet get back into the rhythm of that game. It’s unfortunate that it happened that way, especially after being out for so long.”
Zucker has played in 32 games this season and just 38 a year ago. He had scored six goals and has eight assists this year, and has 32 points while bouncing in and out of the Penguins’ lineup since being acquired in 2020.
He is also making $5 million per season and, to this point, has not lived up to that cap hit. Hit could mean added pressure for a player that, according to Sullivan, provides a ‘jolt’ to the roster.
“A lot of that pressure is internal for me,” Zucker said. “This is the first time that I’ve been healthy for a long time. I’m excited for that. So for me it’s about just going out and playing hockey and just kind of enjoying that and the feeling of being healthy.”
“You learn about a player’s character and his make up (after injures),” Sullivan added. “Those are hard situations. When you’re faced with adversity, regardless of what that adversity looks like, it’s going to test your character.
“He’s put a lot of work in to get to the point he’s at. He had a short setback a week ago, and we’re hopeful he can take off here for the rest of the season.”
McGinn skates
Another Penguins forward could be close to returning, as well.
Brock McGinn, who has been out since March 11 with an upper-body injury, took part in practice Wednesday while wearing a non-contact jersey.
McGinn has 11 goals and seven assists in 56 games this season.
Hear from Jeff Carter
Penguins veteran forward Jeff Carter also met with the media Wednesday. Hear what he had to say: