Team: 2023-24 Pittsburgh Penguins

Initial Creation Date: Dec. 11, 2023

Published: Dec. 11, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Random thoughts all put together in a hopefully semi-logical way...

Jesse Puljujarvi signed a Free Agent Tryout with PIT. Slightly different than a PTO, in that it lasts only 10 days from the team's obligation standpoint, and the player can do everything except play games.
He's rehabbing double hip surgery from this past offseason.
During Pens practice, he took reps on the Pens top line with Sid/Jake... (rotated with DOC)
Also of note, Puljijarvi took Rusts now empty locker stall, and rusts info was removed…

Rust left the game v/s TBL last Wednesday and is still being evaluated per Sullivan... now going on day 5 since then...never seen it take this long for a conclusion to be reached even for tight lipped NHL coaches regarding clarity on the term of injuries.

Per Yohe on an interview Friday, Rust has been playing hurt from his Lower body injury which he missed 3 games from a week or two ago... and was trying to play out the season before getting a procedure done in the offseason...after the TBL game, sully said rust was being evaluated for an upper body injury. I wonder if between these two things, if pens management and medical staff and rust are contemplating just LTIR-ing Rusty and getting both these issues worked out now... obviously rust wants to play, but playing through 2 injuries?

Rakell is back skating (not practicing yet) but I suspect Rusty would be out until playoffs or even the summer...depending on the severity...

I do believe the Puljijarvi thing is connected to Rust... id hate to see rust out for an extended period of time, BUT.... if that doesn't force desperation into the penguins players, coaching, management, etc.... then nothing will..... and also is does give Dubas cap flexibility to acquire much needed lineup depth....

let me know your thoughts down below ⬇️ guys!