Penguins Practice: Frustrated Blueger Remains in No-Contact Jersey

Pittsburgh Penguins center Teddy Blueger again practiced with his teammates Sunday at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, but he still wore a no-contract jersey.

Blueger, who has been out because of an upper-body injury since he left a Sept. 28 practice, took the optional morning skate Friday in a non-contact jersey, his first time with the team after skating separately several times. The team was off Saturday, but coach Mike Sullivan expressed optimism that Blueger would be back to a full go soon.

That didn’t happen Sunday.

“It’s been a little frustrating, going a little slower than I had hoped,” Blueger said after practice. “But it’s s positive being out there with the guys at practice.”

Blueger, the anchor of the fourth line, declined after Sunday’s practice to make any predictions about his potential availability for when the season opens Thursday at home against the Arizona Coyotes.

“I think we’ve got to probably still talk about it,” he said. “It’s a very day-to-day process right now.”

The Penguins have wrapped up their exhibition schedule and will need to get their roster set by Monday evening, along with becoming salary cap compliant.

Defenseman Mark Friedman, who is on waivers, was not at practice.

The lines and pairings at practice:

Jake Guentzel-Sidney Crosby-Rickard Rakell

Jason Zucker-Evgeni Malkin-Bryan Rust

Danton Heinen-Jeff Carter-Kasperi Kapanen

Brock McGinn-Ryan Poehling-Josh Archibald

(Blueger taking some reps)

Brian Dumoulin-Kris Letang

Marcus Pettersson-Jeff Petry

Ty Smith-Jan Rutta

P.O Joseph-Chad Ruhwedel