Jake Guentzel is slowly closing in on returning to the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have started shaping their roster and getting ready for the 2023-24 season, but they were expecting to start the year shorthanded.

Following an offseason ankle surgery, Jake Guentzel wasn’t expected to return to the Penguins lineup until at least a handful of games into the season.

That timeline may still hold true, but Guentzel joined the team for during a full-squad practice.

Guentzel was wearing a white non-contact jersey, but this is still great progress for him and the Penguins.

Up until this point, Guentzel had been skating with other injured players like Owen Pickering, Will Butcher, Raivis Ansons, and Nolan Colins.

Mark Pysyk joined that list after his first preseason game with the Penguins.

Prior to the full skate, Guentzel did start his day by taking reps with those injured players.

In Guentzel’s absence, Vinnie Hinostroza and Rickard Rakell have filled in the first line left wing position.

Rakell skated on the line with Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust during the Penguins 3-1 preseason win over the Buffalo Sabres.

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