Fast `homecoming’ for Penner

Dustin Penner knows what is coming. When the Kings finish their morning skate in Edmonton tomorrow, Penner is likely to be swarmed by Edmonton-based media members looking for reaction to Penner’s “homecoming.” As of today, Penner has been a King for exactly one month, so it’s not as though years have passed, but Penner’s three-plus years with the Oilers were notable, so it’s certain that his return will be a major topic of discussion. It’s all the more relevant now, given that Penner is the only remaining member of the Kings’ first line. A week ago, he was skating with Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams. Now they’re both out with serious injuries, and Penner is left to carry the water with Michal Handzus and Oscar Moller. After practice today, Penner talked about that challenge, as well as his emotions about his return to Edmonton…

PENNER: “Maybe a bit of excitement, to see some old friends. Not that old, I guess. It will be kind of weird. I haven’t experienced being traded midseason and then going back there and playing the same year. It will be nice to see the familiar faces and the people that I had friendships with for the past three-and-a-half, four years. … I was there for a long time. Obviously I laid some roots down and it was tough to leave.”

Question: It’s only been a month, but have you been able to put your time in Edmonton in any perspective? It was kind of a roller coaster there…

PENNER: “It’s tough to get a full grasp of my time there, right now. I haven’t had time to power down, like you do in the offseason, and just kind of think about the season before. I think, as the summer wears on, and the years, I’ll be able to understand exactly what that meant to me and how it helped me. I know it was a great experience for me, and I enjoyed every minute of it.”

Question: What’s going to be the most important thing, going forward without two of your top forwards?

PENNER: “It’s tough to replace not only Willy but now Anze. It’s not five or 10 days, a muscle strain. Injuries are normal, but when you get the ones with the severity of these, it puts a lot of onus on the rest of the guys in the room but it’s also a great challenge and a great opportunity for guys like Oscar and myself. When you take 23 minutes from Kopi and 20 from Justin and you spread them around to the guys in the room, everybody is going to get extra playing time, and with more playing time comes more success.”