At one point earlier this summer, Penguins center Jordan Staal thought he and medical professionals had a reasonable timetable to get his right foot healthy for training camp.

"It was a little different story, though," Staal said Thursday.

An infection set him back to the point where he got clearance just this week to start working out. He will miss the start of training camp Sept. 18, but he and the Penguins are hopeful he will be ready to play in the season opener Oct. 7 against Philadelphia at Consol Energy Center.

"That's the date I'm looking for," general manager Ray Shero said. "If he can get back earlier and play in exhibition games, great, but we're looking for the [season opener]."

A tendon on the top of Staal's foot was lacerated by the skate of Montreal's P.K. Subban during a collision in an April 30 playoff game. Staal had surgery that night but came back after missing just two games.

He had a second procedure after the Penguins were eliminated by the Canadiens.

Although the tendon appears to be healthy, concern grew when the incision area became red and sore, Staal said.

He and Shero said the problem is not one of the antibiotic-resistant staph infections such as MRSA, which can be difficult to treat.

"It wasn't life-threatening," Staal said.

"It was a slow process. You don't want to fool around with that stuff."

Shero said Staal -- who has been breaking in the sparkling training room area of the team's new arena -- is getting treatment to restore full range of motion in his foot and ankle and to strengthen his leg after months of inactivity.

Staal, who turns 22 next Friday, has been a workhorse for the Penguins, missing just one regular-season game as a rookie in 2006-07 because of illness and the two playoff games in May.

Still, he is willing to be reined in if it means he will not have lingering problems through the season.

"The decisions I make right now are going to affect the rest of the season," he said. "You want to be strong throughout the whole season.

"I feel like I'm on track now. Now until the beginning of the season is going to be key for me. Every day counts. If everything goes smoothly, the goal is to start the season."

Shero figures Staal's experience this summer will be enough to convince him he can't rush things.

"I think he'll be smart on it," Shero said. "He's seen what it's like to have a setback."

Staal also does not have to look far for an example of what can happen if an infection is not checked.

Tom Fitzgerald, an assistant coach on the Cup team and now assistant to the general manager, was hobbled for months after he got a gash in his foot in a swimming accident in August 2009.

At one point, the ensuing infection left doctors wondering if he might lose his foot.

The infection in Staal's foot does not appear to be that severe.

Staal, a first-time finalist for the Selke Trophy as the NHL's top defensive forward, matched a career high with 49 points, including 21 goals, last season and led the team with a plus-minus rating of plus-19.

After the Penguins advanced to the Stanley Cup final two years in a row, winning it in 2009, a second-round exit this year left them with a longer offseason than most of the players were used to.

Staal had plans similar to those outlined by many of his teammates.

"I was looking forward to a summer of some good workouts -- resting but at the same time getting my body in good shape," he said.

"Didn't turn out that way. It's going to be a lot tougher now."

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