CRANBERRY, Pa. -- Derick Brassard practiced with the team for the first time this season on Wednesday after missing the first five days of training camp with a chest infection.
Brassard said he suffered from bad fevers and chills and low energy from the infection. He said it was a "rough couple of days", and now he's just focused on getting back to where he was before the illness.
Brassard practiced with the non-game group in Cranberry prior to the morning skate for tonight's game in Detroit. Mark Recchi confirmed after the skate that Brassard was a full participant.
"It feels pretty good," Brassard said of being back on the ice. "Had a little setback last week, was sick for a few days. But it was good to practice with the team. I worked all summer and the last couple weeks before training camp to get ready before the first day, and I get sick like that for four, five days. I was a little frustrated."
Brassard said he got tired quickly during the skate and that he'll look to stay energized during Thursday's off-day to make up for the lost time. He added that he'll likely be ready to play in one of the Penguins' home preseason games this weekend.
Recchi said that he expects Brassard to play in two or three preseason games, and that he doesn't view the illness as a setback. He said that Brassard will be "ready to roll" by the time the regular season starts.
Brassard, a center, spoke on the Penguins' center depth at this camp. He said that he hasn't ever been in a camp that has had this much depth, and that it's a good thing, even if it means he gets moved to wing.
"We added some key pieces that can improve our team. I'm all for it, obviously," he said. "We can have four really good lines and play a high-paced game, I'm all for it. I'm just going to try to do my best depending on where I'm going to play. I'm not sure about it yet."
Riley Sheahan, dealing with a nagging lower-body injury, skated on his own before practice today. "Riley's coming along," Recchi said after the skate. "We're just taking our time because we want him to be ready for the start of the year."