Dupuis joins Penguins for on-ice workout, not worried about long layoffs

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Pascal Dupuis was back on the ice with teammates Monday for the first day of informal workouts prior to next month's training camp.

"My body felt awesome out there,” Dupuis told DKonPittsburghSports.com's Josh Yohe.

“Really, really good. I took a little break at the end of the season. I needed a little break from the ice, just like anyone else would at the end of a season. But I went back at it pretty quickly this summer. I’m where I need to be.”

Dupuis played only 16 games last season after being diagnosed with a blood clot in his lung in November. He revealed in February that he played five games with the condition before stepping away, and wrote in a follow-up piece last week that he hid it from teammates out of fear he would never play again.

The 36-year-old has been limited to 55 games over the last two seasons due to the blood clot and a torn ACL suffered in December 2013, but he isn't concerned that the lengthy layoffs may affect his game at his age.

“I’m really not worried at all about that, to be honest with you,” he said.

“I’m starting at the same time as everybody else. It’s not like I’m coming back from a six-month layoff and that I’m being thrown back into the playoffs or anything like that. I’ve got time. I’m going to start camp at the same time as everybody else and I’ve been skating more than most of the guys this summer. I think everything with my game is going to be fine. I really do. I feel good about it. Obviously, my timing isn’t where I want it to be, but it’s summer. It will come.”

The Penguins' addition of Phil Kessel means Dupuis would either be relegated to third-line duty as a right-winger or moved to left wing and used on the first two lines. Dupuis said he doesn't mind playing wherever head coach Mike Johnston wants him to play.

“It really doesn’t matter to me right now, not in any way. Right now, it’s a matter of me coming back and playing hockey for the Penguins. Wherever I fit, it doesn’t matter. I just want to fit. That’s not my job, to pick where I play. It’s not my concern, it never has been. I’m playing wherever they want me. I’m just happy to be out there playing.”