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Jordan Staal is on his way back, so naturally Tyler Kennedy’s out for 4-6 weeks

Jordan Staal, Tyler Kennedy

Pittsburgh Penguins’ Tyler Kennedy, left, celebrates his goal with teammate Jordan Staal during third period NHL hockey action against the Calgary Flames in Calgary, Alberta, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2010. The Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Calgary Flames 3-1. (AP Photo/THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)

AP

Sure, other positions have taken blows too, but Pittsburgh Penguins centers have only been slightly safer than Spinal Tap drummers this season.

Obviously you know about Sidney Crosby, but there was also Evgeni Malkin for a while. Jordan Staal must have felt left out because he’s on the shelf, too. Alan Robinson reports that Staal is on his way back from that knee injury, but naturally for the Penguins, every bit of good news must be laced with some bad stuff. In this case, word is that a high-ankle sprain will sideline sometimes-center Tyler Kennedy for 4-6 weeks.

Kennedy isn’t a superstar (six goals and 22 points in 42 games), but he’s been able to slide into different roles depending on injuries, culminating in him achieving career-bests in goals (21), assists (24), points (45) and even games played (80) amid last season’s wave of calamities.

Many believe that the Penguins essentially chose Kennedy over Jaromir Jagr last summer and some will argue that he’s worth it (even if he won’t rack up the same gaudy numbers). Unfortunately for Pittsburgh, it sounds like he’ll miss even more time than the aging Hall of Famer has missed this season.