Overstocked defense poses tricky issues

Justin Schultz returned to practice Tuesday at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex after missing two games over the weekend because of an illness.

“Got sick. Not much you can do about it now,” Schultz said. “Feeling better. Good we got a week here before we play next.”

While Penguins players will use this four-day window without a game to rest and recover — Schultz probably will take plenty of fluids — general manager Jim Rutherford has a challenging puzzle to solve on the back end.

The return of Schultz once again gives the Penguins eight healthy defensemen, meaning two NHL-caliber players will sit Friday in Carolina unless Rutherford makes a move in the meantime.

Should Rutherford trade a defensemen — likely Matt Hunwick or Chad Ruhwedel — for salary-cap space or a forward?

Can he?

Those are the two key questions right now, and Rutherford isn’t tipping his hand on which direction he might go.

Depth on defense is certainly something the Penguins know a thing or two about. It’s like starting pitching. You can never have enough.

Argue for the Penguins keeping Hunwick and Ruhwedel, and you’ll probably point to the lengthy injury histories the Penguins have on the back end. You wouldn’t be wrong. Something could happen. With this group, it usually does — concussions, cancer, a stroke and shoulder issues are on the list.

On the other side . . .

Deciding to trade Hunwick — and risk having one less capable body — would give the Penguins what’s left of Hunwick’s $2.25 million cap hit in financial flexibility, plus relief over the next two seasons.

That could give them the salary-cap space necessary to add a fourth-line center or Michael Grabner of the New York Rangers or perhaps both Grabner and a fourthline center, Maybe even a player who could occupy both spots, such as Montreal’s Alex Galchenyuk.

An added bonus would be not having to replace Hunwick on the NHL roster because you already have Ruhwedel. The Penguins would recall a defenseman from Wilkes-Barre if needed.

“We have eight capable guys, and we have a few guys in Wilkes-Barre that are capable of coming in,” Rutherford said Monday. “That’s where it stands.”

Although it obviously could change, the likelihood of the Penguins moving Hunwick at this point does not seem strong. Perhaps because of the two more years Hunwick has on his current deal. Or the Penguins simply don’t want to do it. Hunwick could serve as a left-side sub — he’s better on his natural side — while Ruhwedel plays the same part on the right.

The trick will be navigating a situation that doesn’t promise a lot of playing time for either guy. It’s not untenable, but it’s not exactly easy, either.

Hunwick, to his credit, has not let any of this affect him. He has been asked about being a healthy scratch three times. Same stuff every time. Always professional. Always courteous.

“I’ve been hurt throughout my career,” Hunwick said of being in and out of the lineup as he has been this season. “I’ve been healthy-scratched. Unfortunately, it’s nothing new.”

Hunwick isn’t on social media. He’s an old soul who works on his farm in the offseason, not the type that checks Twitter after practice to see if his name pops up in the NHL rumor mill.

“You guys are usually the ones who bring it up to me,” Hunwick said.

That much likely will happen a couple of more times before Monday.

Injury update

Patric Hornqvist and Tom Kuhnhackl skated on their own before practice Tuesday. Hornqvist is believed to be closer than Kuhnhackl when it comes to rejoining the team.

Skills work

With several days between games, coach Mike Sullivan used most of practice Tuesday on skill work with skills coach Ty Hennes.

“I’m sure they’re probably tired of listening to my voice, so when they get an opportunity to hear somebody else, I think it’s productive,” Sullivan said. “I thought it was a really productive day.”

Much of what constituted the practice was drills, with players split off into position-specific groups for shooting and puck-handling and that sort of thing.

“It’s fun doing skill work,” Schultz said. “We have a couple days off. It’s a good time to get that stuff in and sharpen your skills.”