The Pittsburgh Penguins saw a couple faces return to the ice for their final full skate of the calendar year.
In the final full-team practice of 2023, the Pittsburgh Penguins got a pair of faces back skating with the team.
Top line winger Bryan Rust and free agent tryout Jesse Puljujarvi both skated with the rest of the Penguins lineup after a few days off the ice.
Rust has been out of the lineup on a week-to-week basis since early December, hampered by an upper-body injury.
In his place in the lineup, the Penguins tired a few faces, but Ricakrd Rakell returned from an injury himself and has been the mainstay alongside Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel.
While skating with the rest of the team, Rust swapped spots with Valtteri Puustinen on the second power play unit.
Rust’s first game he is eligible to return is January 2 against the Washington Capitals.
Puljujarvi is yet to sign a full contract with the Penguins organization but is being looked at as a solid upgrade to the depth forward position.
During the full skate, Puljujarvi was showing his defensive skill by suiting up on the penalty kill.
At 25-years-old, Puljujarvi was left available as a free agent thanks to a double hip surgery this past offseason.
It seems like Puljujarvi is still working his way through the rehab process while looking to earn a full contract.
The Penguins likely won’t see any changes to their lineup in the last few days of 2023, but they could see a fully healthy lineup very soon.
Matt Nieto is also still among those injured, but has not returned to skating with the team.
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