Penguins/NHL
The Pittsburgh Penguins re-assigned forward Mark Letestu today in the wake of Max Talbot returning to the lineup.
Talbot is expected to receive clearance to return to game action Wednesday morning from team doctors.
Once cleared by team doctors, Talbot will be coming off of injured reserve and that could come as early as Wednesday.
Talbot’s status for Thursday’s game against Ottawa will be a coaches decision. The Penguins did not practice today.
With Talbot coming off of injured reserve, Pittsburgh is going to be up against the cap
One option being discussed to give short-term relief is
placing Alex Goligoski on injured reserved. Goligoski will be sidelined for at least 3-to-4 weeks. He is believed to have suffered a MCL sprain.
Tuesday night winger Chris Bourque was heavily scouted but the player who scouts have been impressed with of late is defenseman Deryk Engelland.
Bourque is a primary candidate to be placed on waivers once Talbot and Tyler Kennedy return to the lineup.
Kennedy saw a specialist on Friday. Kennedy’s injury is related to his groin/hip. If Pittsburgh receives more info that he could out for another 2-3 weeks, if not longer, they will place him on IR to create some cap space.
Sergei Gonchar is less than a week away from returning while Brooks Orpik and Kris Letang are still regarded as 10-14 days. Orpik is due back before Letang.
