Sullivan: All healthy Penguins players present, accounted for

Social-distancing might be a little tougher for the Penguins than most NHL teams these days.

Turns out there are an awful lot of players reporting for work at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry.

Fact is, Mike Sullivan told a conference call Wednesday that he believes every healthy player who could turn up on their postseason roster is in the area, even though formal training camps aren't allow to begin until July 10.

"To my knowledge, everybody is here right now," Sullivan said. "The last player to arrive was Patric Hornqvist, who's going through the quarantine/testing protocol that the league has mandated. Right now, we have our full complement of players in Pittsburgh."

And barring injuries, of which the Penguins have had a few in 2019-20, their roster apparently will remain intact, because Sullivan said he hasn't heard from any players who are concerned about risks associated with playing in games while the pandemic is in progress, whether because of underlying health issues or simply concerns about contracting the illness.

Several NHL players have expressed reservations about competing this summer, and some players in other sports already have gone public with their intention to put their careers on hold because of virus-based fears.

"Of all the discussions I've had with our players, I'm unaware of anyone who has that sort of concern," Sullivan said. "The discussions I've had to this point with our players is more around the opportunity that's in front of us, and these guys are excited to play.

"All of us understand the risks associated with the return to play. We also trust that the league is doing everything within (its) power to control what (it) can do mitigate those risks, the best it can. That's really where the mindset of our group is at right now."

In addition to a full complement of players -- forwards Dominik Simon and Nick Bjugstad, both of whom are recovering from surgery, apparently are the only absentees -- the Penguins should have a complete coaching staff for their qualifying-round series against Montreal, which is supposed to happen in about a month.

Although assistant coach Jacques Martin is 67, which puts him in a higher-risk category for COVID-19, Sullivan said Martin has made it clear that he plans to be in his usual spot behind the bench when play resumes.

"Jacques understands the circumstances," Sullivan said. "He and I had a conversation about it. He's comfortable participating in a full capacity in this environment. He does a great job, from a fitness standpoint, of taking care of himself. He's a healthy guy. He feels as though he's strong and healthy, for his age, and he also understands the risks associated with it.

"But certainly, that was a conversation that Jacques and I had, for obvious reasons. That is his choice, to decide to participate in a full capacity. If he wasn't comfortable, (he'd be given) the opportunity to participate in a limited capacity. We would work with him."

Martin's decades of experience should be an asset for the Penguins during the postseason, and Sullivan believes that having a lineup studded with veteran players -- guys such as Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang -- also could work in their favor when the team is obliged to step directly for an extended layoff into high-stakes games, beginning with that best-of-five series against the Canadiens.

"I think it's invaluable to have the experience level we have on our team, and the leadership we have on our team," he said. "These guys have been through a lot in their careers and because of that, they have the benefit of perspective. I think it serves them well in uncertain times like this.

"I know that in the discussions I've had with our guys, and in particular our leadership group, these guys look at what's in front of us as a great opportunity. So they're trying to do everything in their power to make themselves ready and to prepare themselves for that opportunity, because they also know how hard it is to win."