Whitney to Start Practicing Soon

Penguins defenseman Ryan Whitney has been recovering since having surgery last August to correct a deformity in his left foot. Rob Rossi reported the possibility that he could return to practice as early as next week or at least by Thanksgiving.

"A week or two - that's the idea and hopefully go from there," Whitney said Thursday prior to the Penguins' game against the Philadelphia Flyers at Mellon Arena. "I skate each morning, and it's getting much stronger. Slowly and surely it's getting better."

A date hasn't been given for Whitney's return to the Penguins lineup, but he told Rossi that December is "'the goal,' and he would not rule out playing in early-December."