Penguins/NHL
Jordan Staal is progressing at a fast pace and is looking like a player whose ready for game action but the Penguins will not alter their plan and rush him back.
A source close to the situation tells Inside Pittsburgh Sports that the initial plan for Jordan Staal has been for him to get 3-to-4 weeks of full participation in on-and-off ice workouts before the team cleared him to return for game action.
Staal is only 8 days into that format and he’s about 10-to-14 days away from the team clearing him for game action, a league source tells Inside Pittsburgh Sports.
The Penguins are taking a very patient approach and no timetable has been established but those close to the situation are predicting Wednesday, November 10th against the Boston Bruins as the date Staal returns to the lineup.
There are doubts that Staal will be cleared for the end of the Penguins upcoming four game trip, which begins on October 30 and ends on November 6th.
Although it appears unlikely right now, It also wouldn’t be a surprise to those in the know if the Penguins extended Staal’s rehab period and he is held out until closer to Thanksgiving. Although the infection is no longer a concern, they want to get this right and make sure Staal’s foot is near 100% health.
