The Penguins continue to get closer to a fully healthy lineup for the first time this season.
Jeff Carter, who was added to the Penguins' COVID protocol list on Jan. 1, exited protocol on Wednesday and joined the Penguins for their optional morning skate at PPG Paints Arena.
He's not quite ready to return to the lineup, though. Mike Sullivan said that Carter won't play for the Penguins' against the Blues.
Carter was symptomatic during his time in COVID protocol, with Sullivan saying after Tuesday's practice that Carter was "feeling much better," considering him day-to-day at that point.
Sullivan noted that each player is different in how they are impacted by COVID, so how they are treated once being removed from protocol must be different. If a player is asymptomatic and was able to work out in his home while quarantining, he has an easier time returning to the lineup than the players who were symptomatic and unable to train as they normally would.
"We take the player's feedback as part of it," Sullivan said. "I just think the criteria that we try to use is we're trying to put players in a position to be successful, and we're not trying to set them up to fail. And so if they're not prepared, or we don't think they're ready for game action, then we're not going to put them in it. If they need more reps in practice or whatever it may be to capture their game, then we're going to try to provide that opportunity for them."
Though Carter is cleared from protocol, he'll have to wait a bit longer for a return to the lineup.
MORE FROM THE SKATE
• It was an optional morning skate. Participants beside Carter were Tristan Jarry, Casey DeSmith, Zach Aston-Reese, Evgeni Malkin, Sam Lafferty, Kasper Bjorkqvist, Radim Zohorna, Dominik Simon, Teddy Blueger, Brian Boyle, Kasperi Kapanen, Marcus Pettersson, Mark Friedman, Juuso Riikola, Chad Ruhwedel, Mike Matheson
• Casey DeSmith will start in net.
• Sullivan said Tuesday that Jarry, Kapanen and Blueger are all available after exiting the COVID protocol, and he reiterated that today.
• After the skate the Penguins traded Lafferty to the Blackhawks in exchange for forward Alex Nylander.
• Malkin is still out tonight. Last week he said that he expected to play on the western road trip; I asked Sullivan if that's still a likely target.
"You've probably got to ask Geno," Sullivan said with a laugh. "He's been cleared for contact. He's been cleared for a little while now, he's been practicing in a full capacity. He's working toward a return to play. Obviously, this is the last step, so he's getting close, but won't play tonight. We're encouraged with where he's at. We feel like his approach is nearing."
• Regarding the players on the taxi squad this season, Sullivan said that he expects it to be a "bit of a revolving door" so nobody goes too long without playing this season.
"They can't just sit on the sidelines and practice and think they're going to grow," Sullivan said. "We're trying to manage the short term as far as having enough players available to us in the event that somebody tests positive for COVID, or things of that nature. We're trying to make sure that we think through those contingencies and are prepared for them."
• Former Penguin James Neal came out to the Blues' bench briefly during the morning skate. His former linemate Malkin made a beeline straight to the bench to catch up with him for a few. Neal also spoke with Mike Vellucci, who was his head coach in junior with the OHL's Plymouth Whalers.
• Jordan Binnington will start in net for the Blues.
