Hagelin’s return could be coming soon

“He’s getting closer,” Sullivan said. “He skated [Monday]. He skated yesterday on his own. He’s making progress. We’re hopeful we’re going to get him soon. It’s one of those injuries that’s going to be a day-to-day thing. I can’t say for sure, but certainly we’re hopeful.”

Hagelin had been skating in the early sessions before practices or morning skates, occasionally alongside other players returning from injury such as fellow forward Chris Kunitz or defenseman Chad Ruhwedel.

But Hagelin had broken off when the Penguins traveled to Columbus for Games 3-4 of their first-round playoff series and never appeared with the injured group again. He has been out since getting a lower-body injury March 10 at Edmonton. In 61 games in the regular season, he had six goals and 22 points.

The point production is one thing, but the Penguins had the success they did against the Capitals in the playoffs last season in large part because of their speed.

There’s nobody faster on their team than Hagelin, but, as Sullivan has routinely said, it’s not simply about how fast a player moves his skates. It’s also about how quickly he thinks.

Until Hagelin gets back, Sullivan is hoping that part of the Penguins’ identity remains.

“Whether we have him or we don’t, we believe we have a speed team,” Sullivan said. “He obviously increases our speed because of what he brings to our team. We’ve got plenty of speed throughout our lineup. That’s obviously part of the fabric of this team’s identity and its competitive advantage. We’re trying to play to that.”

Murray yet to skate

Sullivan also said goaltender Matt Murray has yet to skate since he re-aggravated a lower-body injury in warm-ups before Game 1 against Columbus.

To return, Murray would likely have to start skating on his own, then join teammates, then react positively to all that. It basically means his return to game action is not imminent.

It is believed, although not confirmed by the team, that Murray’s injury traces to a groin issue he incurred while making a breakaway save on New Jersey’s Taylor Hall three days before the end of the regular season.

Game-time decisions

Kunitz and Ruhwedel took contact at practice Monday, and Sullivan said they would be game-time decisions for Game 1 Thursday against the Capitals.

Kunitz took line rushes on a fourth line with Matt Cullen and the rotating, right wing duo of Tom Kuhnhackl and Carter Rowney.

It was impossible to determine any potential place for Ruhwedel as the Penguins defensemen rotated.

“They’re hard decisions, but they’re good decisions to have because it’s an indication that we have players available to us as part of our team that allow us to try to put the most competitive team on the ice,” Sullivan said.

“These guys have all helped this team win games throughout the course of this year.”