Pittsburgh Penguins forward Zach Aston-Reese skated Friday in Cranberry. It was the first time he had done so since the team announced he tested positive for covid-19 on Sept. 27.
According to coach Mike Sullivan, Aston-Reese worked out with skating and skills development coach Ty Hennes prior to the team’s practice session, which began at noon.
Per the NHL’s protocols for covid-19, Aston-Reese had been in isolation since testing positive and was not permitted to train . Sullivan described his symptoms as “mild.”
Forward Jake Guentzel remains in isolation. The team announced his positive covid-19 test Sunday. According to Sullivan, Guentzel has been asymptomatic since testing positive.
Sullivan indicated it was too early to determine if Aston-Reese or Guentzel would be available to open the regular season. The first game is a road contest against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday.
Notes
• Defenseman Mike Matheson left practice after approximately 35 minutes Friday. According to Sullivan, Matheson is dealing with an undisclosed ailment that is not believed to be serious.
• Defenseman Juuso Riikola placed on waivers. Should he clear by 2 p.m. on Saturday, the team could assign him to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League. Such a maneuver would relieve the team of all but $25,000 of his $1.15 million salary cap hit.
• Veteran forward Michael Chaput was also waived.
• Goaltender Louis Domingue cleared waivers and was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
