Rust (undisclosed) returned to practice Wednesday and took part in Thursday's morning skate. "Rusty is feeling really good," Coach Mike Sullivan told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "He's really close. I think the most important thing from our standpoint is to get him into some more intense drills and activities within the group. We'll try to do that over the next few days here. But Rusty is really encouraging as far as where he's at."

EDGE Analysis

It sounds as though Rust could make his season debut during the second week of the regular season. Sullivan has gone on record saying Rust is closer to returning than Sidney Crosby.