Ryan Wilson: Group of players making a push to make the big roster Penguins, radim zohorna, sam poulin, valtteri puustinen, ryan wilson

Pens forward lines this morning:

Rakell - Crosby - rust
Smith - malkin - nylander
Nieto - Eller - O’Connor
Carter - acciari - Hinostroza/Wagner

Pens forward lines this morning:

Rakell - Crosby - rust
Smith - malkin - nylander
Nieto - Eller - O’Connor
Carter - acciari - Hinostroza/Wagner
- 10inchTerror

Zohorna working in the 4th line too.

I think we all want to see Puustinen get a shot to showcase his offensive skills, but you can't deny he is a defensive liability. He is very passive in the d zone and isn't a great forechecker. He will get an opportunity but let's not act like he is a slam dunk NHL'er getting railroaded by the coach.

Per pen inside scoop:

Karlsson is at the point; Letang and Malkin are on the half walls; and Crosby and Rakell round out the unit.

Per pen inside scoop:

Karlsson is at the point; Letang and Malkin are on the half walls; and Crosby and Rakell round out the unit.


- j.boyd919

20 goals for Letang this season. Playing in the Kessel spot should work wonders for him.

Per pen inside scoop:

Karlsson is at the point; Letang and Malkin are on the half walls; and Crosby and Rakell round out the unit.


- j.boyd919

Nice...hopefully they dont get too tired hahah...sorry, had to

20 goals for Letang this season. Playing in the Kessel spot should work wonders for him.
- burgh4life87

If he gets a shooters mentality, maybe....and also, I dont think his shot is as good as Kessels was back then. That was a world class wrister.

Per pen inside scoop:

Karlsson is at the point; Letang and Malkin are on the half walls; and Crosby and Rakell round out the unit.


- j.boyd919

2nd PP

Rust, Smith, nylander, Poj, and carter net front.

Looks like someone’s been listening to grinder.

If he gets a shooters mentality, maybe....and also, I dont think his shot is as good as Kessels was back then. That was a world class wrister.
- MattStrat

Letang is a picky shooter, but the results are great. He had 6 pp goals last year. Only 2 less than the league leaders Hamilton, Josi, and Ekblad. He isn't going to be Kessel but he will have more opportunities for better scoring chances on the half wall.

Letang is a picky shooter, but the results are great. He had 6 pp goals last year. Only 2 less than the league leaders Hamilton, Josi, and Ekblad. He isn't going to be Kessel but he will have more opportunities for better scoring chances on the half wall.
- burgh4life87

Wow. I never would of thought that with all the time he missed last season coupled with how dismal their PP was for long stretches.

Picky shooter is a good way to put it. This new set up could seeing him shooting more, for sure.

2nd PP

Rust, Smith, nylander, Poj, and carter net front.

Looks like someone’s been listening to grinder.
- 10inchTerror

hahaha I kind of agreed with Grinder but always said try it out on the 2nd unit. Looks like coaching staff see things in Nylander as well.

Pens forward lines this morning:

Rakell - Crosby - rust
Smith - malkin - nylander
Nieto - Eller - O’Connor
Carter - acciari - Hinostroza/Wagner
- 10inchTerror

I really like this line up (except the carter part but....) My question thou is around oconnor. Has he separated himself from Zahorna, Poulin, etc.

As for defense, Ty Smith is not taking advantage of his opp. And i am hopeful that ruhwedel is the 7th d and not part of the 3rd pairing.

who plays PK?

I really like this line up (except the carter part but....) My question thou is around oconnor. Has he separated himself from Zahorna, Poulin, etc.

As for defense, Ty Smith is not taking advantage of his opp. And i am hopeful that ruhwedel is the 7th d and not part of the 3rd pairing.

who plays PK?
- i'mjustafan

This has been pondered a bit here over the summer. I dont really like their D for PK....Graves and Marino were tops for PK mins for the whole Devils team last season....Letang has been on the PK for years...so I would imagine that they will be the first pair usually over the boards at the start of a PK. 2nd unit will most likely have Petts...and...? I dont know that Smith will be good there...if he gets the 3rd pair RD spot its either him or POJ on his off side. I doubt EK will be killing many penalties...

POJ looked horrible last night, AGAIN. At this point, I would prefer to see Friedman in this spot. Even Shea looked better that POJ. Pens D is gonna look ulgy if 1 or 2 of the top for go down with injury...

I really like this line up (except the carter part but....) My question thou is around oconnor. Has he separated himself from Zahorna, Poulin, etc.

As for defense, Ty Smith is not taking advantage of his opp. And i am hopeful that ruhwedel is the 7th d and not part of the 3rd pairing.

who plays PK?
- i'mjustafan

Right now absolutely. Besides having a strong camp and first exhibition game himself, DOC outscored all these guys in the AHL. And he was an even possession player while playing with anchors in the NHL last year.

But the Pens have 2-3 spots open at forward for the opening roster so those guys don't need to beat DOC.

I think with Pysyk out Smith makes the team over Friedman. I don't see them giving up on his offensive potential yet. And they could use the insurance behind Letang and Karlsson for injuries. BUT, I do think he's blowing any chance he had of being in the opening lineup.

So far the fringe vets (Pitlick, Hinostroza, Johansson) haven't really stood out. But the fringe prospects (Nylander, Puustinen, Poulin, Zohorna) are turning heads. Since I expect many of the vets to fail, I wouldn't be surprised if we see a youth movement at mid-season.

Nylander- if camp ended today, not only is he on the team, but he might get a crack at the top six until Guentzel comes back.

Puustinen- showing impressive offense, but coach mentions his defensive lapses. I think what works against him is I feel Sully will be reluctant to play him and Nylander on the same line and Nylander may be better. Maybe he can temporarily grab the open third line spot and see what he can do.

Zohorna- he's forcing his way into the conversation. While Puustinen and Poulin I would send back to the AHL if they don't earn a top nine spot, I wouldn't mind if he even won the 13th forward job and waited for an opportunity.

Poulin- plays the most bottom six style in this group and kills penalties which could give him the advantage if the offense is close. It feels like when more than if until Poulin is in Pittsburgh, but he might have to go to the minors while others get a chance.

TLDR- I think Nylander is in front for the last top nine spot and temporary top six spot. Puustinen, Poulin, and Zohorna are forcing into the conversation for the temporary third line spot. None of the vets are grabbing that though Hinostroza has been decent. Z is the only one I'd consider for the thirteenth forward.

I thought POJ looked fine last night? Smith was handling the puck like a grenade for most of the night with quite a few unforced icings and turnovers.

When he did make a mistake he seemed neither fast enough, nor strong enough to make up for it.

If Z had even a tiny bit of a mean streak he'd be a no brainer for the fourth line. He has some skill, skates well for a big guy and has a good reach.

Detroit has been drafting some size! I think they had 4 guys over 6'4 last night with one dude at 6'8 250?!

I thought POJ looked fine last night? Smith was handling the puck like a grenade for most of the night with quite a few unforced icings and turnovers.

When he did make a mistake he seemed neither fast enough, nor strong enough to make up for it.

If Z had even a tiny bit of a mean streak he'd be a no brainer for the fourth line. He has some skill, skates well for a big guy and has a good reach.

Detroit has been drafting some size! I think they had 4 guys over 6'4 last night with one dude at 6'8 250?!
- Thorny87

Agree. If anything I think he's getting more comfortable. I'm hoping for a jump from POJ.

Agree. If anything I think he's getting more comfortable. I'm hoping for a jump from POJ.
- Tojo.

Sully seems to agree as well. Has very good things to say about Poj compared to last year.

Thanks Tojo for the summary. I haven't had time to watch any of the preseason games.

Don't want to read too much into these, since the opposing lineups are mostly scrubs or vets who aren't going full speed, just working back into it -- but it's good to see some of these young guys stand out against lesser (or disinterested) competition.

Let's see how they do as the play starts to get closer to real NHL level.

Sully seems to agree as well. Has very good things to say about Poj compared to last year.
- 10inchTerror

I thought he made a couple of smart defensive plays to go along with his puck moving ability. I think he will take the next step this season, but due to limited minutes he won't cost much to re-sign. Smith is on the outs unless he can take advantage of an injury during the season.

Thanks Tojo for the summary. I haven't had time to watch any of the preseason games.

Don't want to read too much into these, since the opposing lineups are mostly scrubs or vets who aren't going full speed, just working back into it-- but it's good to see some of these young guys stand out against lesser (or disinterested) competition.

Let's see how they do as the play starts to get closer to real NHL level.
- MickV

Detroit had pretty close to their opening night roster iced and Columbus, in their 2nd of of Sunday, had Gaudreau, Laine, Johnson, Fantilli, Werenski, Severson and Gudbranson all dressed.

The Pens have been straight prospect and scrub'n for 3 games straight. I think the only opening night locked guy that has played has been POJ and I guess Nieto in the first game.

Now, tonight....

Detroit had pretty close to their opening night roster iced and Columbus, in their 2nd of of Sunday, had Gaudreau, Laine, Johnson, Fantilli, Werenski, Severson and Gudbranson all dressed.

The Pens have been straight prospect and scrub'n for 3 games straight. I think the only opening night locked guy that has played has been POJ and I guess Nieto in the first game.

Now, tonight....


- MattStrat

My point there was that the high-profile vets are not at 100% compete level. They're just trying to avoid injury, work on their timing, and get a good burn in the legs. So you can't read that much into prospects playing against those guys this early. Wouldn't be surprised at all to see the Sabres beat the Pens tonight for that reason.

Anyway, glad to see some of our young guys doing well in these situations, but the true tests will come later in the pre-season games when the play gets closer to true NHL level of compete and pace.

My point there was that the high-profile vets are not at 100% compete level. They're just trying to avoid injury, work on their timing, and get a good burn in the legs. So you can't read that much into prospects playing against those guys this early. Wouldn't be surprised at all to see the Sabres beat the Pens tonight for that reason.

Anyway, glad to see some of our young guys doing well in these situations, but the true tests will come later in the pre-season games when the play gets closer to true NHL level of compete and pace.
- MickV

Oh I agree, its usually the case in pre seas. However, watching the games there wasn't much taking it easy from the opponents and I think a big factor in that was how hard all of those guys trying to make the Pens roster were working.