DALLAS -- The Penguins have been losing players on a regular basis since Bryan Rust injured his left hand blocking a shot in their preseason finale Sept. 29.
Now, they're finally about to have at least a couple -- Rust and Nick Bjugstad, who has missed the past nine games because of an unspecified lower-body issue -- rejoin the lineup.
"We're hoping to have both of those guys for Saturday," Jim Rutherford said.
That's when they will face Dallas at 8:08 p.m. at the American Airlines Center.
It would be the first game of the season for Rust, who was placed on Long-Term Injured Reserve after he was hurt. Per NHL regulations, he had to miss a minimum of 10 games and 24 days.
The Stars game will be the 12th of the season for the Penguins.
Bjugstad appeared in the Penguins' first two games and did not record a point while centering the third line. He has been on regular Injured Reserve while recovering.
The Penguins did not practice Thursday, so it is not clear where either is likely to be used against the Stars.
The injuries to Rust and Bjugstad -- and others to the likes of Evgeni Malkin and Alex Galchenyuk -- prompted the Penguins to bring up Sam Lafferty, Adam Johnson and Joseph Blandisi on emergency recall from their farm team in Wilkes-Barre, because they did not have 12 healthy forwards available.
When Rust and/or Bjugstad come back, either one or two of that trio will have to be sent back to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, because the emergency conditions under which they were summoned no longer will exist.
Rutherford, though, declined to say which player or players likely will be going back to the Baby Penguins.
"We haven't gotten to that point yet," he said. "We'll announce that when the time comes."
Johnson did not play in the Penguins' 3-2 loss at Tampa Bay Wednesday because of an unspecified upper-body injury.
Rutherford confirmed that having Rust and/or Bjugstad return will not have any immediate salary-cap repercussions for the Penguins.