2023 Training Camp thread

[dark_forces]

According to TIOPS, FWIW:
- Johnsson has been a huge camp disappointment, despite getting an early shot with Malkin.
- they like Wagner's bottom-six instincts, speed to the point where he could earn a two-way contract,
- new management is not impressed with Ty Smith nor Gruden.
- everyone loves Zohorna and they're very pleased with his showing and position flexibility. (FLPensFan predicted he would earn a roster spot.)
- they like Hinostroza's flexibility - he can play with skilled players, but can also inject life into the bottom-six and play throughout the lineup. A perfect 12th/13th forward. Again, if Carter wasn't there, just sayin'.

[longtimefan]

I see talk about who the 7th defenseman may be, but very little mention of Hajek. He's still around. He goes mostly unnoticed but that's not a bad thing for a defensive defenseman. He was a highly touted prospect who is younger than Friedman and brings some much-needed size to the blueline. I don't know if he can play both sides, but he seems to be mostly overlooked. So I wanted to throw his name into the mix.

[FLPensFan]

I see talk about who the 7th defenseman may be, but very little mention of Hajek. He's still around. He goes mostly unnoticed but that's not a bad thing for a defensive defenseman. He was a highly touted prospect who is younger than Friedman and brings some much-needed size to the blueline. I don't know if he can play both sides, but he seems to be mostly overlooked. So I wanted to throw his name into the mix.

I would be shocked if Hajek made the team over Shea, Butcher, or Friedman. He's been a rather large disappointment to date. He's on a PTO, and I really haven't heard anything about him this camp, good or bad. I just don't think he's done enough to earn a contract.

[longtimefan]

I see talk about who the 7th defenseman may be, but very little mention of Hajek. He's still around. He goes mostly unnoticed but that's not a bad thing for a defensive defenseman. He was a highly touted prospect who is younger than Friedman and brings some much-needed size to the blueline. I don't know if he can play both sides, but he seems to be mostly overlooked. So I wanted to throw his name into the mix.

I would be shocked if Hajek made the team over Shea, Butcher, or Friedman. He's been a rather large disappointment to date. He's on a PTO, and I really haven't heard anything about him this camp, good or bad. I just don't think he's done enough to earn a contract.

I wouldn't be shocked. He's still in the mix at this point and has 110 NHL games under his belt at age 25, whereas Shea has 0 at age 26. You don't hear a lot about defensive defensemen. Which is sometimes a plus. Smart money is on Friedman at this point.

[Puck-Lurker]

Shea was in the AHL Stars last year, so was Butcher. FWIW:

Shea 71GP, 7G, 21A, 28Pts, +37
Butcher: 65GP, 6G, 37A, 43Pts, +11

As per usual with the AHL, no context in terms of TOI, situations etc.

My money is on Shea over Friedman (and the others). Hajek so far has been meh, he wants a two way contract and stock our shelves, that's good. He wants a job with the big club, he'd have to show more. He's something like a grey tie on a grey shirt with a grey jacket.

[longtimefan]

These were the lines they used today in practice. It looks much like the game against Buffalo. Depending the stock you put into this, Shea may be ahead of Hajek, but I think the smart money is on Friedman. Butcher's likely missed too much time to be a big factor to start the season.

It's more interesting up front because of the competition. It would appear that Nylander, Zohorna, Nieto, Hinostroza, and Wagner have leaped over the rest. If true, you're done to 15 forwards including Guentzel. They likely will carry 13.

Capfriendly has them with a 20 player roster and cap space $1,795,658. Twelve forwards and 6 defensemen. The roster includes Nieto and Nylander. So they can keep 2 guys at the minimum or close. Including a 7th dman. Unless something were to happen with Carter...
Pens Inside Scoop

@PensInsideScoop
Here is the Penguins workflow...

Rakell-Crosby-Rust
Smith-Malkin-Nylander (Zohorna rotating in)
O’Connor-Eller-Nieto
Wagner-Acciari-Carter (Hinostroza rotating in)

Graves-Letang
Pettersson-Karlsson
Joseph-Ruhwedel
Shea-Friedman

[FLPensFan]

These were the lines they used today in practice. It looks much like the game against Buffalo. Depending the stock you put into this, Shea may be ahead of Hajek, but I think the smart money is on Friedman. Butcher's likely missed too much time to be a big factor to start the season.

It's more interesting up front because of the competition. It would appear that Nylander, Zohorna, Nieto, Hinostroza, and Wagner have leaped over the rest. If true, you're done to 15 forwards including Guentzel. They likely will carry 13.

Capfriendly has them with a 20 player roster and cap space $1,795,658. Twelve forwards and 6 defensemen. The roster includes Nieto and Nylander. So they can keep 2 guys at the minimum or close. Including a 7th dman. Unless something were to happen with Carter...
Pens Inside Scoop

@PensInsideScoop
Here is the Penguins workflow...

Rakell-Crosby-Rust
Smith-Malkin-Nylander (Zohorna rotating in)
O’Connor-Eller-Nieto
Wagner-Acciari-Carter (Hinostroza rotating in)

Graves-Letang
Pettersson-Karlsson
Joseph-Ruhwedel
Shea-Friedman

I think Nieto is a given at this point, and it is start to look like Guentzel may make the opened or only miss a game or two (he's still not cleared for contact, though). It seems to be down to Zohorna, Nylander, Wagner, and Hinostroza for 2 spots..the 12th and 13th forward. My gut tells me Zohorna has one of those locked up. They never wanted to lose him, Dubas picked him up in Toronto and picked him up here in Pittsburgh, too. He's a good locker room guy, and his ability to play all 3 forward spots helps his cause.

Then it is down to Nylander, Wagner, and Hinostroza for the last spot. It's a toss up for me between Wagner and Hinostroza. They are similar players IMO. Hinostroza would seem to have the inside track since he has an actual contract at the moment and I think Hinostroza has a little more offensive potential to his game today than Wagner, meaning Hinostroza may be able to play on more lines.

Nylander isn't going to do much for this team on a 4th line. Wagner and Hinostroza would likely be better fits there. But on a 3rd line or as a top 6 winger fill-in, Nylanders higher end skill potential makes him a better fit.

On defense, I don't have a preference between Shea and Friedman. I haven't watched enough to look at Shea but they must like something there. He's 26 and yet to play an NHL game. They know what they have in Friedman, and also know he's made it through waivers plenty before. Hajek needs to earn a contract, and I would assume if he is in the mix for an NHL spot or at least being considered, he'd be getting into games like Ryan Shea is.

[Antonio]

What I just don't get is...just don't dress Carter. Fine, we get it, you have to pay him no matter what and eat his cap space. Fine, but christ you don't have to keep acting like he should be on the ice. Just accept the dead weight and dress someone else who can contribute. Assuming of course someone is cheap enough to be an improvement and be carried on the team as well, but I can't imagine that none of those bottom 6 guys would be an improvement. I suppose if you just absolutely can't find the room to carry another 800K+ though, I get it.

[FLPensFan]

What I just don't get is...just don't dress Carter. Fine, we get it, you have to pay him no matter what and eat his cap space. Fine, but christ you don't have to keep acting like he should be on the ice. Just accept the dead weight and dress someone else who can contribute. Assuming of course someone is cheap enough to be an improvement and be carried on the team as well, but I can't imagine that none of those bottom 6 guys would be an improvement. I suppose if you just absolutely can't find the room to carry another 800K+ though, I get it.

I'm hoping to see Carter on a short leash this year. Can't say it will happen, but, it seemed there were some comments over the summer where Dubas was "expecting" him to be better. I'm hoping that he really doesn't show much the first month or so of the season, and they at least begin to scratch him every few games.

Acciari and Nieto on the 4th line would/should operate much better as a unit with another speedy banger on that line. That's not Carter. BJC needs to show something other than faceoff ability. If he keeps getting a sweater with a continuation of last year's play, I'll be sorely disappointed.

With Carter on the roster, we'll only be able to play with a 22 man roster (one short of the 23 man limit). There are no configurations that allow a 23 man roster as long as Carter is here.

[Sigwolf]

With Carter on the roster, we'll only be able to play with a 22 man roster (one short of the 23 man limit). There are no configurations that allow a 23 man roster as long as Carter is here.

Until someone goes on LTIR, which, given this team's history, should occur somewhere on or before game one of the season.

[Pens4Life]

Maybe its just me, but I would get DOC on 2nd line with Malkin and Poulin on 3rd line with Eller, big Z on 4th line.. trade or waive Nylander

Puustinen is the player I like more than Nylander at this stage,but its better for him to try to get a trade and chance elsewhere,as Sully wont use him here.

Until Jake is back, I would go with :
Smith - Crosby - Rust
O'Connor - Malkin - Rakell
Poulin - Eller - Nieto
Zohorna - Carter - Acciari
x - Hinostroza

Down the stretch of the season,2nd part, try to rest JC as much as possible , he should play max 58 games in regular..

[Three Stars]

Lines at today’s practice courtesy of Taylor Haase.

Rickard Rakell - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust
Reilly Smith - Evgeni Malkin - Radim Zohorna

Drew O'Connor - Lars Eller - Matt Nieto
Austin Wagner - Noel Acciari - Jeff Carter


Ryan Graves - Kris Letang

Marcus Pettersson - Erik Karlsson

P.O Joseph - Mark Friedman

Ryan Shea - Chad Ruhwedel

Nylander and Hinostroza did not take part in the line rushes.

Edit: I have very little objection to these lines. Zohorna and Wagner are being rewarded. If that Smith-Malkin-Zohorna combination has some juice then there exists the possibility (When Guentzel returns) of bumping Rust down to line 3, Nieto to line 4, and Carter to the press box. Assuming that the Eller-DOC combo also continues to click…those are some useful lines right there.

[Three Stars]

FWIW, Kingerski switched Wagner/Hinostroza and Friedman/Ruhwedel in his impression of the lines.

[Puck-Lurker]

Wager not playing against Ottawa, nor is Friedman

[FLPensFan]

Sure, OK. I guess this was the Penguins way of getting these guys through waivers early. I dunno. Not sure where the fringe parts of the roster are going at this point. Maybe we can claim a few more 4th liners on waivers to figure this all out.

[Ericf]

They just need a few more bodies to play against the Wings tomorrow since the big guys won’t play. That’s all this is

[FLPensFan]

They just need a few more bodies to play against the Wings tomorrow since the big guys won’t play. That’s all this is

A little bit of this. The other reason, apparently, is that the team couldn't take their full compliment of players to Halifax, per Sullivan. So that's why these guys got sent down early. But I still don't see any of these 3 making the final roster.

[Admin]

Guentzel wearing a regular black jersey at today's practice.

[KG]

Guentzel wearing a regular black jersey at today's practice.

Excellent! Hopefully no setbacks and returns ASAP.

[Admin]

He's gliding well.

[dark_forces]

Is it safe to say that all of our PTOs will not receive a one-way, NHL-only contract? Maybe Wagner sticks around on a two-way deal, and that's it?

[FLPensFan]

The PP should be the 5 guys who fit best. Not assembled to placate the 5 biggest names. They better get it right, because the PP will make or break the Penguins. 0/6 last night.

--Mark Madden

Cannot say that I disagree here.

[lemieuxReturns]

I imagine when everyone is healthy Geno is playing with Smith and Rakell... so why on earth is Sully not allowing that line to gel during the preseason

[KG]

Seth Rorabaugh
@SethRorabaugh
·
1h
Per Mike Sullivan, P.O Joseph will be sidelined on a day-to-day basis due to an undisclosed injury.

[KG]

Harkins was at practice today as well..