2024 Rookie/Training Camp Thread

[FLPensFan]

I am of the opinion that GMKD had enough time to rid the roster of ghosts and goblins since being hired. Keeping in the Halloween theme, he is the scarecrow afraid to bring in a brute to force his way onto the roster, no matter what sullivan wants on his lineup card. Or, even at the AHL level.

Graves is the tough guy on the roster, year two? Rooty Tooty pancake player. Malkin will be the Penalty Minutes leader again, and no minutes will be for fighting.

Nothing so far to pay a NHL subscription for me.

I want to believe, really I do.

Penguins, please prove me wrong once the season starts.

We have Valteri "The Punisher" Puustinen on the roster. At 5'8", he scares....well, squirrels and small rabbits...but it's a start right? Lol

[KG]

Listening to DK's pod this morning, he doesn't think there's a chance that McGroarty makes the team out of camp. He likes what he sees, but doesn't see him making the team yet. If that's the case, my chances of winning our lineup contest take a big hit lol

I want to see McGroarty play with some skilled players. I also want to see him play with more confidence and physicality. Maybe going down to WBS playing top line minutes, and hopefully dominate will be good for his development.

I liked what I saw out of Hayes last night. He dominated and looked smooth out there. I would definitely put him at 3C over Eller.

[FLPensFan]

Listening to DK's pod this morning, he doesn't think there's a chance that McGroarty makes the team out of camp. He likes what he sees, but doesn't see him making the team yet. If that's the case, my chances of winning our lineup contest take a big hit lol

I want to see McGroarty play with some skilled players. I also want to see him play with more confidence and physicality. Maybe going down to WBS playing top line minutes, and hopefully dominate will be good for his development.

I liked what I saw out of Hayes last night. He dominated and looked smooth out there. I would definitely put him at 3C over Eller.

I would agree about McGroarty. Honestly, if they want him to improve though...they need to hire a skating coach that can work with him during practices or off hours. That's where he needs the most work, his initial acceleration. I know he was working with a very well respected female skating coach whose name is eluding me right now.

On Hayes, I think he's likely to start on the wing. I wouldn't doubt that Hayes-Eller is 2/3 of our 3rd line. Throw Puljujarvi on that RW. Some mixture of Acciari, Lizotte, Glass and Beauvillier on the 4th line.

[KG]

Looks like we have our starting lineup.



Guess Puljujarvi and Puustinen as the extra forwards maybe? Poulin no where to be found there. Start trimming the fat on this roster.

Would really like to get rid of a vet or two to get Pono in the lineup, but he will have to wait.

[Wyopen]

I was under the impression that RMG trade was to minimize the effect of the retool or rebuild this year. If he is sent to the AHL what has this trade accomplished? Maybe this trade was overhyped. Everyone now is saying it’s ok to send him to the AHL. What happened? I know it’s early, things can change.

[Puck-Lurker]

I was under the impression that RMG trade was to minimize the effect of the retool or rebuild this year. If he is sent to the AHL what has this trade accomplished? Maybe this trade was overhyped. Everyone now is saying it’s ok to send him to the AHL. What happened? I know it’s early, things can change.

Very overhyped.

But Yager is still further out than RMG.

[FLPensFan]

I was under the impression that RMG trade was to minimize the effect of the retool or rebuild this year. If he is sent to the AHL what has this trade accomplished? Maybe this trade was overhyped. Everyone now is saying it’s ok to send him to the AHL. What happened? I know it’s early, things can change.

Very overhyped.

But Yager is still further out than RMG.

I think this is the biggest thing. Even if he doesn't make the NHL out of camp, he should see NHL time this season. If the Penguins aren't in a playoff spot come the trade deadline and we sell off some players, McGroarty, Pomomarev, and maybe even Broz should all join the lineup.

Yager still cannot play in the AHL until next year, and if you look at Winnipeg's lineup, at best he comes in and replaces UFA Namestnikov as the 3C...but I think he'll need a year in the AHL, too.

[Pens4Life]

Looks like we have our starting lineup.



Guess Puljujarvi and Puustinen as the extra forwards maybe? Poulin no where to be found there. Start trimming the fat on this roster.

Would really like to get rid of a vet or two to get Pono in the lineup, but he will have to wait.

Puljujarvi still being treated like AHLer
He deserves RW spot alongside Hayes and Eller or at least 4th line spot

[Ericf]

Yep, Puusty and Puljujarvi should be tried in the top 12 at minimum. They’ve earned a tryout and not to be playing with likely AHL players. It’s unfortunate that Sullivan is stubborn and clings to his predetermined ideas like dried poop on my dog’s butt hole.

[Antonio]

You guys cannot seriously be surprised.

And your comparison between Sullivan and dried dog feces is certainly appropriate although I think you have it just a little wrong. He's not "like" anything. He just is.

[KG]

I don't get the Hayes on Eller's wing thing. Hayes is best as a center in Sully's system. Sully wants speed wings.

Beauvillier-Hayes-Glass
Lizotte-Eller-Acciari

Makes more sense to me, if that is the group of players we have to pick from.

This is better than Harkins, Nieto, Carter, Zohorna combo we saw last season at least. Still hoping we move out a vet sooner than later.

[FLPensFan]

For those worrying about the lines from practice, it's worth noting that Getzoff failed to mention those are the lines across 2 DIFFERENT TEAMS.

DOC-Crosby-Rust
Hayes-Eller-Glass
...these 6 are on one team

Bunting-Malkin-Rakell
McGroarty-Ponomarev-Puljujarvi
Beauvillier-Lizotte-Acciari
...these 9 are on another team.

My guess at this point

DOC-Crosby-Rust
Bunting-Malkin-Rakell
Hayes-Eller-Puljujarvi/Glass/Beauvillier
Beauvillier-Lizotte-Acciari/Glass
x-Glass, Puustinen

Something along these lines is how I'm starting to see things work out.

[largegarlic]

Looks like we have our starting lineup.



Guess Puljujarvi and Puustinen as the extra forwards maybe? Poulin no where to be found there. Start trimming the fat on this roster.

That seems likely to me. Puljujarvi and Puustinen as 13th and 14th forwards to start, maybe swapping with Lizotte, Acciari, or Glass, if they don't look good. Probably McGroarty, Ponomarev, and Broz as the first forward call-ups from WBS (maybe Gruden too if they need a plugger).

And then Aho as the 7th D once Karlsson is healthy with Shea and Ludvig sent to WBS and Graves and St. Ivany as the 3rd pair. Pickering probably next man up from WBS after Shea and Ludvig.

[KG]

From Taylor:

Mike Sullivan really likes Avery Hayes, just compared him to Mats Zuccarello. He’s only on an AHL deal so can’t be recalled but worth keeping an eye on as someone who could earn an NHL deal. Sullivan said he earned these preseason games by playing well in the Prospects Challenge. He could keep earning more.

[KG]

[Puck-Lurker]

From Taylor:

Mike Sullivan really likes Avery Hayes, just compared him to Mats Zuccarello. He’s only on an AHL deal so can’t be recalled but worth keeping an eye on as someone who could earn an NHL deal. Sullivan said he earned these preseason games by playing well in the Prospects Challenge. He could keep earning more.

He's had a great camp, relatively speaking. I doubt anyone was expecting much if anything from him. Undrafted pickup for WBS, 29 games, 6 goals, 9 points. But he's had good numbers in the OHL, at >1PPG in his last seasons up in Canada.

21 years old, listed as 5'10". I still like to think he'll earn an NHL contract at some point and see time with the big club. Not this year, but there's just too much to like and he's got time to grow.

[Pens4Life]

Hayes - Eller - Puljujarvi = thats the 3rd line I would like..
Beauvillier - Ponomarev - Acciari as 4th wouldnt be bad..
x - Glass, Puustinen (available thru trade)
Lizotte waived... A.Hayes to start in AHL

[Puck-Lurker]

I don't see them waiving Lizotte for Ponomarev.

Asset management would dictate Lizotte gets a chance to show it at the NHL level. Pono is waivers exempt. If Pono is slightly preferable (if it's heavily so he makes it out of camp), he starts in the AHL until Lizotte runs out of rope.

Avery Hayes doesn't have an NHL contract yet, so he starts in Wilkes regardless. DK mentioned he had a good prospect camp last year too, then fizzled out. He's kept form longer this time, but I suspect next year at the earliest when he might have a shot at NHL time. And that's fine, he's young.

[KG]

https://www.dkpittsburghsports.com/team ... s/feed/p/1

They're divided into a clear NHL group and a depth group. The only change in the groups from yesterday is Vasily Ponomarev is down with the depth group now.

Here's how the NHL guys lined up:

Drew O'Connor - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust
Michael Bunting - Evgeni Malkin - Rickard Rakell
Anthony Beauvillier - Lars Eller - Jesse Puljujarvi/Cody Glass
Kevin Hayes - Blake Lizotte - Noel Acciari

Matt Grzelcyk - Kris Letang
Marcus Pettersson - Jack St. Ivany
Ryan Graves - Ryan Shea
John Ludvig - Sebastian Aho

Tristan Jarry
Alex Nedeljkovic


Seems like Eller is firmly engrained at 3C. If they want to make the 3rd line more offensive, Hayes at C makes more sense to me.

[KG]

EK not skating still. When are we going to hear the injury is now week to week instead of day to day?

Too bad he's out. He's going to play a key role in this PP hopeful turn around.

[100565]

I bet 8d, 13F, 2g. They might lose a f on waivers but would still have others clear waivers and others fs in AHL that are NHL ready. Other than those 9d, no one is NHL ready with maybe exception of Pickering. Especially true with EK out.

They keep 8d.

This the team for game 1. Adding EK and waiving Shea or Lugdvig.
Drew O'Connor - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust
Michael Bunting - Evgeni Malkin - Rickard Rakell
Anthony Beauvillier - Lars Eller - Jesse Puljujarvi/Cody Glass
Kevin Hayes - Blake Lizotte - Noel Acciari

Matt Grzelcyk - Kris Letang
Marcus Pettersson - Jack St. Ivany
Ryan Graves - Ryan Shea
John Ludvig - Sebastian Aho

Tristan Jarry
Alex Nedeljkovic

[Pens4Life]

Hayes wont play 4th line minutes with that contract, trust me.. He will be back on 3rd line soon

[KG]

Really would like to see McGroarty get a shift or two with Sid and Rust in a scrimmage or god forbid a game!. Sully is so engrained in his ways. Kids can only play bottom 6 minutes in his mind these days.

Really hope KD steps up and acts like the boss this season.

[FLPensFan]

Really would like to see McGroarty get a shift or two with Sid and Rust in a scrimmage or god forbid a game!. Sully is so engrained in his ways. Kids can only play bottom 6 minutes in his mind these days.

Really hope KD steps up and acts like the boss this season.

Unfortunately, the only kids that really stepped up are the ones that were considered "further away," being Broz, Ponomarev, and Koivunen. Poulin crapped the bed. Nothing much from Puustinen. McGroarty...with his skating issue, I don't know if he'd work on a top line right now. Too many minutes and would likely get exposed. I wanted him to make the team, but I see the issue. He needs to improve those first few strides from a full stop. Let's hope he can do that this season.

[KG]

Puustinen with the AHL group in practice.