PITTSBURGH — Penguins forward Jordan Staal needs five to six weeks to recover from the latest procedure performed on his injured right foot and will miss the start of the NHL season.
A tendon on the top of Staal’s foot was sliced when Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban stepped on it during an April 30 playoff game. Staal had surgery and returned to play in less than a week. After the Penguins were eliminated in the series, Staal had two additional procedures to remove infected tissue in the foot, including another operation. Staal also required treatment with antibiotics.
Staal, 22, has never missed a regular-season game to injury in four NHL seasons, but has done little skating this summer because of the injury. A finalist for the Selke Trophy as the league’s top defensive forward, he wore a walking boot and was on crutches during the NHL awards dinner June 23.
“Jordan developed a post-op infection in his foot, and it required several procedures to ensure that all infected tissues were removed,” Penguins physician Charles Burke said.
The Penguins open training camp today and begin the season Oct. 7 at home against Philadelphia. If Staal returns in five weeks, he could play as early as Oct. 21 at Nashville.
Staal had 21 goals and 28 assists last season and led the Penguins with a plus-19 rating. Staal usually centers the Penguins’ No. 3 line, but is expected to move up to their No. 2 line this season with Evgeni Malkin shifting from center to a wing to play alongside him.
Quenneville gets extension
CHICAGO — Joel Quenne-ville, who coached the Blackhawks to their first Stanley Cup in 49 years last June, received a contract extension through the 2013-14 season.
Financial terms of the three-year deal weren’t disclosed. The former Avs coach had one year remaining on the three-year contract he signed when he took the job four games into the 2008-09 season, after Denis Savard was fired.
Footnotes.
The Ducks signed free-agent defenseman Paul Mara to a one- year, $750,000 contract and will start camp Saturday without defenseman Toni Lydman, who is sidelined after an unexplained episode of double vision last week.
• Center Brendan Morrison, who had 12 goals and 42 points last season with the Capitals, will attend the Canucks’ training camp on a professional tryout contract.
