Dumoulin: Simmonds’ hit not to head, still bad one
Brian Dumoulin exonerated Wayne Simmonds in a sense, saying the former Philadelphia forward — and current member of the Nashville Predators — didn’t hit him in the head during the Stadium Series game Feb. 23 at Lincoln Financial Field.
“I would say all of the concussion was from my head hitting the glass,” Dumoulin said after returning to Penguins practice in a non-contact capacity Monday.
Even though Simmonds didn’t make contact with his head, the Penguins defenseman didn’t sound thrilled with what Simmonds did — blasting Dumoulin when he wasn’t really a threat to do anything with the puck. Simmonds was not disciplined for his actions.
“He didn’t hit me in the head, but obviously it was kind of a blind-side hit,” Dumoulin said. “I was in a tough spot. I couldn’t really do anything. I don’t know. Not a great hit to be a part of. Just trying to keep the puck in. It is what it is. Nothing you can do about it now.”
Not unless you consider heating the boards and glass, another thing that contributed to a concussion for Dumoulin. Because it was so cold, Dumoulin said his head hitting the glass “felt like hitting concrete.”
“The outdoor games, it’s pretty chilly,” he said. “The glass is pretty cold. Definitely didn’t help it.
“Feel good now. It’s good to be back skating.”
There’s an outside chance Dumoulin could play Tuesday against the Florida Panthers, although it’s not terribly likely.
Coach Mike Sullivan’s typical procedure for a player returning from a concussion is to take contact, recover overnight, then go from there, although there have been exceptions.
The Penguins received more good news Monday when defensemen Kris Letang (upper body) and Olli Maatta (shoulder) took part in an on-ice workout with skating and skills development coach Ty Hennes.
Letang was hurt after the Simmonds-Dumoulin hit, in a wrestling match with Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere.
Maatta separated his shoulder in a 4-1 win Feb. 12 at Philadelphia. He is expected to miss at least a month.
Prospect signed
The Penguins signed forward Jan Drozg to a threeyear, entry-level contract, which will begin when Drozg turns pro next season.
A fifth-round draft pick from Slovenia in 2017, Drozg, 19, leads Shawinigan of the Quebecj Major Junior Hockey League in points this season with 53 in 54 games.
In his past two seasons, the 6-foot-2, 174-pound righthanded shot has 35 goals, 103 points in 115 QMJHL games.
Ceremony for Cullen
The Penguins will honor forward Matt Cullen before the game Tuesday against Florida, when Cullen is slated to play in his 1,500th NHL contest. “It’s crazy. I don’t think people realize how many that really is,” Phil Kessel said Monday. “It’s a great accomplishment. I’m sure he could play more years. He can still play well.”
Crosby a star again
Sidney Crosby was named the NHL’s Third Star of the Week for the second time in three weeks Monday. In three games, Crosby tied for the NHL lead with 11 points.
Since Feb. 1, only Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov — who has a 12-point lead in the scoring race — has more than Crosby’s 25 points. Kucherov has 27.