Trevor van Riemsdyk is making progress toward returning to the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup after being cleared for contact and participating in recent team practices. Coach Dan Muse described the defenseman as “moving in the right direction,” though van Riemsdyk is not expected to rejoin the lineup immediately, with no changes to the defensive pairings for the upcoming game against Ottawa.
Van Riemsdyk has appeared in only five games this season due to injury. His return could strengthen the Penguins’ penalty kill, which has struggled in recent weeks. However, the team’s recent acquisition of Spencer Stastney complicates decisions about ice time and pairings on the right side of the defense. The current defensive pairs remain unchanged, with van Riemsdyk practicing alongside Ilya Solovyov but not yet slotted into the regular rotation.
Meanwhile, Bryan Rust and Elmer Soderblom took a step forward by skating before practice, according to Penguins reporter Wes Crosby. Rust’s injury dates back to October 19th, with a six-week evaluation window set on October 22nd. This places him roughly halfway through his recovery, with a re-evaluation expected in late November or early December. Dan Muse noted no change in Rust’s status, implying he remains weeks away from a return to game action, but his involvement in skating sessions is a positive sign.
Soderblom’s situation remains more uncertain. He last played on October 24th and was initially listed day-to-day before his injury timeline shifted to week-to-week. Like Rust, Soderblom has not seen a status update, indicating he is still in the early stages of recovery. His return could come before Rust’s, but the team has not provided a specific timeline.
Ryan Graves remains the fourth Penguin on injured reserve and has not been mentioned in recent updates. At the start of the season, it was revealed Graves would undergo surgery on one knee followed by rehabilitation before addressing the other knee surgically. The team appears to be managing his recovery with a long-term view, and expectations are that he will miss the entire season.
In practice, the Penguins shuffled their forward lines, moving Tommy Novak back to wing and preparing Hendrix Lapierre for a return to the lineup after being a healthy scratch last game. This adjustment puts Ville Koivunen at risk of sitting out, as Lapierre also replaced Koivunen on the power play during practice.
The Penguins face a busy schedule after Saturday’s game, with four days off before playing seven times in the final 12 days of November. The team’s ability to manage injuries and integrate returning players like van Riemsdyk, Rust, and Soderblom will be tested as they navigate this stretch.
Current lines for the Penguins include Mikael Rakell, Sidney Crosby, and Evgeni Malkin on the top line, followed by Tommy Novak, Kasperi Kapanen, and Kirill Chinakhov. Hendrix Lapierre, Cole Robertson, and Samuel Brazeau form the third line, with Josh Dewar, Zachary Lizotte, and Zach McGroarty rounding out the forwards. Defensive pairs remain Justin Girard with Nate Korczak, Ian Carlile with Kris Letang, and Solovyov with van Riemsdyk, while Spencer Stastney and Felix Karlsson hold the top defensive pairing spot.
Van Riemsdyk’s recent progress and the return of Rust and Soderblom to skating signal cautious optimism for the Penguins as they work through one of the most injury-affected seasons in recent memory.
According to Yahoo Sports.
