Add Jared McCann (Day To Day) To Penguins Injury List

Another day, another Pittsburgh Penguins forward who is injured. Or at least it seems that way with Jared McCann being the latest to get hurt.

McCann did not practice with the team Tuesday at PPG Paints Arena. Afterward, coach Mike Sullivan described McCann as day-to-day because of a lower body injury. It’s not clear how he got hurt.

“Tomorrow is a new day. We’ll take each day as it comes, and we’ll make decisions accordingly,” Sullivan said.

The Penguins already are without injured forwards Evgeni Malkin, Alex Galchenyuk, Nick Bjugstad, and Bryan Rust. If McCann misses any games – the Colorado Avalanche play at PPG Paints Arena Wednesday – that would effectively leave the Penguins without three of their top four forwards, considering McCann had been filling in for Malkin. He also can play on the wing.

Of course, top center Sidney Crosby remains healthy, as does Teddy Blueger.

Crosby and Patric Hornqvist earlier were day to day because of injuries sustained blocking shots, and it was something of a false alarm as neither missed a game.

If McCann is out for one or more games, one possibility is to have rookie Sam Lafferty take his spot between Dominik Kahun and Hornqvist.

“Based on his performance the past week or so, I think he’s shown everybody his ability to play at this level,” Sullivan said of Lafferty, who has three goals, five points in his first four NHL games. “He can really skate. He’s got a good 200-foot game. So that’s a possibility. I’m not saying we’re going to go that way, but that’s certainly an option.”

If Jared McCann can’t play against Colorado, the Penguins will need to call up another forward from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League or dress seven defensemen.