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Pittsburgh Penguins News
Crosby (concussion) will be a game-time decision on Tuesday.

Crosby was a full-participant in the Penguins’ practices on Monday and Tuesday and will be a game-time decision on Tuesday. Crosby centred the top line and top power-play, so it looks like he will return tonight vs. the Panthers. Monitor Crosby’s status when warmups start at 6:30pm ET.

Sidney Crosby
Crosby (concussion) was a full-participant in Monday’s practice; not ruled out of Tuesday’s game.

Crosby was cleared for contact on Monday and finished the practice with no limitations. It was a great sign that Crosby is nearing his season debut and head coach Mike Sullivan did not rule Crosby out of Tuesday’s game vs. Florida—he remains day-to-day.

Sidney Crosby
Crosby (concussion) has been cleared for contact.

Crosby missed the first six games of the season, but he practiced in a regular jersey on Monday and appears to be nearing a return. Being cleared for contact was the next step in Crosby’s recovery, so signs are pointing towards him potentially returning this week.

Sidney Crosby
Letang is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

Letang left Tuesday’s game with an upper-body injury and did not return. The Penguins did not give much of an update on Letang, other than to call him day-to-day. Letang has had a difficult time staying healthy throughout his career, so add this to a lengthy list. Monitor his status during Thursday’s morning skate.

Kris Letang
The Ducks have signed Rickard Rakell to a six-year deal worth $22.8 million ($3.8M AAV).

Rakell missed the first game of the season because of a contract holdout, but the Ducks were able to sign him to a six-year deal this afternoon. Rakell is imperative to the Ducks success as their second/third line centre. He is coming off of a career-year, having scored 20 goals with 23 assists (43 points) in 72 games.

Rickard Rakell
Crosby (concussion) will miss the Penguins’ season opener.

Crosby took part in parts of the Penguins’ practice on Wednesday, albeit in a non-contact sweater. Crosby will miss the first game of the year, but his availability this morning is encouraging and suggests that he won’t miss an extended period of time.

Sidney Crosby
The Penguins have sent Tristan Jarry to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).

Jarry was set to start the season as Marc-Andre Fleury’s backup after Matt Murray suffered a broken hand in the World Cup of Hockey, but after they claimed Mike Condon this afternoon, Jarry heads back to the AHL to start the year. The 21-year-old was 17-13-3 with a 2.69 GAA and .905 SV% in 33 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last year.

Tristan Jarry
Crosby is out with a concussion; no timetable for his return.

It has been a while since we’ve seen Crosby and concussion in the same sentence, but on Friday, Crosby’s old demons returned as he suffered a concussion in practice. It is normal to not have a definitive timetable when someone has a concussion, but it’s even more difficult when someone has had multiple concussions before. The Penguins will take every precaution with their captain, which obviously clouds his availability for the season opener.

Sidney Crosby
Rust (undisclosed) still yet to return to practice; unlikely to be ready for the start of the regular season.

Rust, 24, had a nice playoff run last year picking up nine points (6G / 3A) in 23 games on Evgeni Malkin’s wing. With Rust unlikely available for the start of the season, that leaves the door open for Scott Wilson to start the year with Malkin.

Bryan Rust
The Rangers signed Kevin Hayes to a two-year deal worth $5.2 million ($2.6M AAV).

Hayes, 24, had an excellent rookie season and was among the breakout candidates heading into 2015-16, but he struggled for the majority of the year. He scored 14 goals with 22 assists, falling short of his 17-goal, 28-assist rookie campaign. Heading into 2016-17, Hayes remains an intriguing sleeper option given his great size and skill, but he will need to find a way to break into the Rangers’ top-6 if he’s going to have huge impact.

Kevin Hayes