Pittsburgh Penguins get key injury boost as multiple players return to the ice at practice

The Penguins were having an optional practice in Cranberry after a day off on Monday following their return from Sweden, where they faced the Predators in the NHL Global Series.

Sam Poulin, recently recalled from WBS, was on the ice. Tristan Jarry and Jack St. Ivany, who have been dealing with injuries, were also taking part, which was a welcome sight for all to see.

Now that Poulin is 24 years old and has shown no consistent play at the NHL level, he has officially gone from a prospect to a suspect, and he might legitimately be looking at one of his last chances to carve out a career with the Penguins.

In 13 NHL games, he has zero goals and two assists, but he has been off to a very strong start with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the American Hockey League, where he scored seven goals with eight assists, for 15 points, in his first 16 games.

Ville Koivunen is also currently injured. This is a bit of a disappointment and adds to the growing list of forward injuries that have played a big role in the team's recent slump.

He joins an injured list that already includes forwards Rickard Rakell, Justin Brazeau, and Noel Acciari, while Rutger McGroarty, one of the team's top prospects, begins a rehab assignment in the AHL.

That is a lot to take out of a lineup that did not have a ton of depth to begin with, so hopefully, more bodies continue to make their return very soon.