UPDATED: Penguins’ Winger Skates After Missing Most of Last Season

CRANBERRY, Twp — The prognostications and medical reports were not encouraging last April, but Pittsburgh Penguins winger Matt Nieto was a participant on Day 1 of training camp. Nieto skated in the early group before Groups 1 and 2 Wednesday morning, participating in individual drills with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins players Sam Houde and Jagger Joshua.

However, it wasn’t the drills that were the story, but Nieto’s participation.

Nieto missed almost all of last season after suffering a knee injury that required surgery and then a midseason setback. Penguins president of hockey operations/GM Kyle Dubas indicated Nieto would be seeking additional opinions regarding more surgeries over the summer.

Nieto, 31, signed a two-year, $1.8 million deal last summer but played just 21 games, scoring one goal with three assists. Nieto underwent successful reconstructive MCL surgery on his left knee on May 2.

Nieto didn’t skate with the larger Group 4, which simultaneously conducted drills on Rink 2. A Penguins’ source indicated it was Nieto’s appearance was not a full participation.

UPDATE: Wednesday afternoon, the Penguins classified Nieto as “month-to-month.”