Pittsburgh Penguins players must have been smiling this morning

This means that the Pens' star forward is getting closer to a return to action, which is estimated to be after Christmas. The Penguins will face the New Jersey Devils, but it would be surprising if number 71 makes a return.

This possibility has been labeled as a "likely".

Remember that he underwent a knee surgery that made him miss the first 29 games of the season. The Pennsylvania organization must be happy with this news, as they have been decimated with injuries since the beginning of the season.

Still, Mike Sullivan's team is 12th overall in the NHL with 16 wins in 29 games.

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