CRANBERRY, Pa. -- The Penguins are getting their No. 1 defenseman back.
They just aren't sure exactly when.
Kris Letang, who has missed the past four games -- including three consecutive losses -- after being diagnosed with COVID-19, has left the Covid protocol. He had an on-ice workout Monday, not long after clearing his final cardiac exam, and is scheduled to join his teammates for practice Wednesday.
Mike Sullivan, though, declined to predict when Letang will be back in the lineup.
"Time will tell," he said. "Everybody's a little bit different, in how it affects them."
Letang experienced some COVID-19 symptoms, which prevented him from training the way players who are asymptomatic, such as Jeff Carter, have been able to.
Regardless of when Letang gets clearance to be back in uniform, it won't be soon enough for the Penguins.
Especially since the positive tests Marcus Pettersson and Chad Ruhwedel recorded over the weekend have been confirmed, which means they will be out of the mix for a while.
Sullivan said Pettersson "has shown some signs of symptoms," but that Ruhwedel had not, as of Monday morning.
Their absences led to the recall of P.O Joseph from Wilkes-Barre Sunday and an overhaul of the defense pairings during Monday's practice.
Brian Dumoulin, who normally mans the left side on the top pairing, shifted to the right alongside Mike Matheson, while Joseph worked with John Marino and Juuso Riikola teamed with Mark Friedman on the No. 3 tandem.
"We're trying to find combinations that give us some balance," Sullivan said. "Obviously, when Kris comes back into the equation here, it's going to change the dynamic. But in the meantime, like today for example, it was an opportunity for us to just explore different options."
He added that Dumoulin was placed with Matheson because "we're trying to find a pair that can bring us consistent play against another team's top line."
Giving Matheson a partner whose style stresses defense will allow him to remain aggressive, offensively, although working on his off-side could cause some complications for Dumoulin.
"There are a few benefits and negatives to it," he said. "One of the tougher parts is in the neutral zone, especially under pressure, whether you're receiving a pass (from the other defenseman) on your backhand or your forehand and you look up ice, I'd say that's more challenging."
He noted that being positioned for a one-time shot is a plus to working the off-side, but that pulling pucks off the boards on the backhand is tougher than doing it on the forehand.
Joseph, who had three assists in six games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, said he "didn't do as well as I wanted to" during training camp, which likely scuttled any outside chance he had of starting the season on the major-league roster.
It's no surprise that Joseph is back in the NHL; the question was not whether, but when, that would happen this season.
"He's been knocking on the door here for a while," Sullivan said.
True enough, but Joseph, 22, doesn't seem frustrated that he hasn't secured a steady job with the parent club yet.
"It's a process to get to the NHL," he said. "I love the progress I've been (making) for the last three years in this organization."
During that time, he's convinced the franchise's decision-makers that he's worthy of a prominent place in the franchise's future.
"He's a good two-way player," Sullivan said. "He defends well. He has good mobility. He's got a long reach. He has good offensive instincts. He can help us on the breakout. He makes good outlet passes. He joins the rush well. He's active on the offensive blue line."
MORE FROM PRACTICE
• Right winger Kasperi Kapanen, still looking for his first goal this season, was dropped from the second line to the fourth during the workout. "(Kapanen's) game has just been inconsistent," Sullivan said. "There have been some games where he's played really well and he has an impact. You notice him. His speed is noticeable. He's a threat when he's on the ice. ... And he's had other moments when he hasn't. He's gotten away from it."
• Sullivan, on the Penguins' COVID-19 issues this season: "I don't think it's because guys aren't diligent or aren't doing the right thing."
• Personnel combinations:
Jake Guentzel--Sidney Crosby--Evan Rodrigues
Jason Zucker–-Jeff Carter-–Danton Heinen
Zach Aston-Reese--Teddy Blueger–-Brock McGinn
Drew O’Connor–-Brian Boyle-–Kasperi Kapanen
(Sam Lafferty and Dominik Simon were the extras.)
Mike Matheson--Brian Dumoulin
P.O Joseph--John Marino
Juuso Riikola--Mark Friedman
No. 1 power play -- Crosby, Rodrigues, Riikola, Carter and Guentzel.
No. 2 power play -- Marino, Matheson, Kapanen, Zucker and Heinen.
• Bryan Rust and Evgeni Malkin worked out on the ice with skills coach Ty Hennes for 50 minutes before their teammates practiced. As expected, neither took part in the team session.
• The Penguins will have a scheduled day off Tuesday.
