CRANBERRY Township, Pa. \u2014 The first Pittsburgh Penguins practice since the Olympic break began on Feb. 6 brought good news, and very good news, both professionally and personally Tuesday at the UPMC Lemieux Complex.<\/p>\n
In the more than hour-long practice, Penguins forward Filip Hallander<\/a> made his first appearance with the team since the Nov. 3 loss against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. In the days following, Hallander was diagnosed with a blood clot and has missed the last three-plus months. <\/p>\n Neither coach Dan Muse<\/a> nor Hallander had a timeline for the forward\u2019s return to action, but both also sounded optimistic. <\/p>\n \u201cNot really (a timeline). I mean, it\u2019s just the first step\u2013being out here with the boys,\u201d said Hallander. \u201cSo just take it day by day and (I was) just be happy to be out there.\u201d<\/p>\n Muse confirmed there isn\u2019t a timeline, nor a schedule, by which the team would likely first send him to the Wilkes-Barre\/Scranton Penguins of the AHL on a two-week conditioning assignment. <\/p>\n Hallander is not waivers exempt, so the Penguins must keep him on the NHL roster, and any attempt to send him to Wilkes-Barre\/Scranton other than a conditioning assignment would expose him to waivers. <\/p>\n Understandably, the time away from the game and the team was initially hard on Hallander, who admitted he had never been away for this length of time. However, after he got over the initial worries and angst, he found a renewed perspective. <\/p>\n Even he wondered if the severity of his condition was the end of his career, but the time away had a silver lining. <\/p>\n \u201c(The time away) has gone through phases. I would say in the start, it was tough, especially when it\u2019s something that\u2019s been a part of your life for such a long time as hockey has been,\u201d Hallander said. \u201cYou don\u2019t know if it\u2019s going to be the end, if it\u2019s going to be in the start there. But after that, it\u2019s actually been probably the best three months. It\u2019s weird to say, especially when you find a way to get into the NHL and play a lot and start there, but you get perspective on things when stuff like that happens. <\/p>\n \u201cWhen something that\u2019s so close to you almost gets away from you, you love it even more when you get the chance to do it again.\u201d<\/p>\n This season, Hallander had four points, including a goal, in 13 games, primarily playing on the fourth line. <\/p>\n Kris Letang<\/p>\n So much for Kris Letang<\/a> being out for at least four weeks. <\/p>\n The Penguins defenseman broke his foot blocking a shot on Jan. 29 but was a full participant and full-go Tuesday, just 19 days ago. <\/p>\n Letang confirmed that he was 100% now and expected to play when the Olympic break ends next week. He has 25 points, including three goals, in 50 games this season while averaging 22:05 of ice time per game. <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTags: filip hallader<\/a> Kris Letang<\/a> Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a> <\/p>\n