NHL training camp: Wild showing boldness week after week despite lower-body injury

The Pittsburgh Penguins

Erik Karlsson has started skating individually but is dealing with an upper-body injury.

The defenseman worked out alone before practices Saturday and Monday, with a day off scheduled for Sunday. Karlsson, who is entering his second season with the Penguins, has been sidelined since training camp opened Wednesday.

The 34-year-old is expected to continue playing in defence alongside Marcus Pettersson, with Sebastian Aho currently playing alongside Pettersson.

Karlsson led Pittsburgh defensemen with 56 points (11 goals, 45 assists) last season. Kris Letang was second with 51 points (10 goals, 41 assists).

Matt Grzelcyk, who signed a one-year, $2.75 million contract on July 1, has been with Letang for the first four full-team sessions on what could be considered the top pairing.

Karlsson should also resume his role as a point guard on the top power play.

Letang, who spent most of his first 17 seasons in Pittsburgh, took over for Karlsson on Monday, the first day the Penguins worked on special teams. Forwards Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell rounded out the rest of the unit.

Pittsburgh’s power play ranked 30th in the NHL (15.3 percent) last season. David Quinn was hired as an assistant on June 12, replacing Todd Reirden as power play coach.

“It changes a lot,” Letang said. “He brings new ideas, obviously. Everyone has their own vision. … He wants to bring certain details that he thinks we should exploit. There’s always an adaptation and new ideas coming through.” — Wes Crosby