FLPensFan Pre-Camp Roster Breakdown

[FLPensFan]

A few different gyrations and variations floating around in the threads, but heading into camp in about 3 weeks, thought I would take a look at where the roster stands, who is fighting for a job, and who may be the odd men out. Of course, this is all subject to all of these players being here come camp, and I have a strong feeling that one of the veterans (*cough, Acciari*) might/should be shipped out.

No battles here (14): Crosby, Malkin, Rust, Rakell, Bunting, DOC, Letang, Pettersson, Karlsson, Graves, Grzelcyk, St. Ivany, Nedeljkovic, Jarry

Not much argument here. The "unsafest" member I've put in this group is St. Ivany, but, I don't think he did anything last year to hurt his chances, and the Penguins don't have another true right handed defenseman available for that 3rd pairing. Aho, Shea, Ludvig, Knyzhov, and Kral are all lefty d-men. We know Sullivan trusted St. Ivany at the end of last year, and we also know Sullivan trusts Shea and Ludvig playing their off-side...but he prefers lefty-righty combos, which puts St. Ivany in a good spot.

Solid, but not guaranteed (5): Eller, Acciari, Hayes, Lizotte, Glass

If no trades were to be made, I think all 5 of these players make the roster, and that's a bit tough to swallow because that's 5 of 7 bottom 6/extra forward spots going to at least 3 veterans. At first I did not have Glass in this group, but, he holds a big advantage in that he is a RH C/W. If Acciari is dealt, and, I think it's quite obvious he's my favorite to be dealt, Glass gains some footing in the lineup being RH and having that versatility to play C or W. While not RH, Lizotte also goes into this category, as he has the flexibility as well to play C or W, and flexibility to play multiple positions and roles is key on a Sullivan coached team.


On the battlefield, under the microscope(10): McGroarty, Beauvillier, Puustinen, Puljujarvi, Poulin, Ludvig, Shea, Aho, Knyzhov, Kral

If everyone in the first 2 categories is still here and healthy at the end of camp, that leaves likely a 7th d-man spot, a 12th forward, and likely a 13th and 14th forward spot. 4 total spots up for grabs from this group of 8. The big battle here on defense is Ludvig vs Aho. Is Ludvig completely healthy before the end of camp is one question. If he is, do we need another "big" defenseman on the roster with already having Graves-St. Ivany as the likely bottom pair? I think Aho has the edge here, and Shea is almost guaranteed to WBS. Kral has a contract and would seem more like a Shea/Ludvig first callup type of guy unless he really impresses, and Knyzhov is likely looking to just earn a contract. Either of Kral or Knyzhov making the team would be a bit of a shock.

And then there is the forward group...potentially 3 spots for McGroarty, Beauvillier, Puustinen, Puljujarvi, and Poulin. Anthony Beauvillier has 116 NHL goals on his resume. I feel like he'd have to have a really, really bad camp for him not to make this team. So now you are down to McGroarty and the 3Ps. If you are keeping McGroarty, he has to be in the top 9. He has a well rounded enough game to not need to stew on a 4th line learning how to play defense. My gut tells me he makes the team and starts on the 3rd line, and eventually works his way onto Sid's line. He's a good passer, so, if he can be effective on the forecheck, digging pucks off the boards and feeding Rust and Crosby, I think he can be effective on that line eventually. That leads us to the 3 Ps and honestly, for how the rest of the team shakes out and the roles this team needs...I give the last spot to Puljujarvi. He's strong defensively and on the forecheck. He has size. Before his injury started to become an issue, he was putting up solid 3rd line numbers in the NHL. And he PKs...which neither Poulin nor Puustinen are going to do effectively in the NHL...Poulin because of his skating, and Puustinen because of his size. In the end, I think Poulin and Puustinen are put on waivers and sent back to the AHL, or possibly even included in a trade.


No chance for opening night (10): Nieto, Bemstrom, Gruden, Ponomarev, Koivunen, Broz, Andonovski, Pickering, Blomqvist, Murashov

Nieto is out until DEC/JAN, and likely never suits up for the Penguins again. He shouldn't. If Bemstrom and Gruden are beating out the other large collection of more talented forwards, we've got a problem. Ponomarev is a numbers game, like Poulin. He likely could push for a roster spot if there wasn't such a log jam, and, having waivers exemption is a killer for him in this situation. Koivunen I think could benefit from some more time in WBS. Broz may be ready by mid-season, Andonovski is likely a career AHLer who could get a few short callups here and there. Pickering just has numbers against him and needs a full season in the AHL. Blomqvist and Murashov are blocked, for now, but, I'd love to see these two bond and become good friends and teammates, with the potential to be the NHL level goalies in 2026-2027.

Barring injuries or trades, my opening night forward group:

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

And defense:

Grzelcyk-Letang
Pettersson-Karlsson
Graves-St.Ivay
x-Aho

Goalies:

Jarry
Nedeljkovic

I know Sullivan often likes having 8 d-men, especially with a road-heavy October, but, I think they have too many forwards to try and sneak all of them through waivers.

Down in WBS, not sure of all of the positions, but I'd like to see WBS break down something like this:

Broz-Poulin-Puustinen
Koivunen-Ponomarev-Bemstrom
MacArthur-Gruden-Andonovski
Bokondji-Koppanen-Johnstone

Pickering-Hollowell
Kral-Clurman
Bellievau-Ludvig

Blomqvist
Murashov

[Pens4Life]

For AHL I hope we see our first rounders D to play there this season, Brunicke and Pietila..

[FLPensFan]

For AHL I hope we see our first rounders D to play there this season, Brunicke and Pietila..

Brunicke is 18 and played in the WHL, which means he is not eligible to play in the AHL due to his age.
Pietila is 20, which means he's age eligible for the AHL. He also came from college/USHL ranks, which means he is not subject to the CHL age 20 transfer rule anyways. He does not yet have a contract.

Seeing that we don't have a strong RH contingent on defense in WBS, I wouldn't mind Pietila getting a shot down there. Same actually goes for 2023 3rd rounder Emil Pieniniemi. He's 19 and LH, but because he is coming from Europe and not the CHL, he is not bound by the CHL age 20 transfer rule. I didn't include him because I know they signed him, but I hadn't heard yet if he was going to WBS or back to Europe. WBS would likely be better.

I don't know much about RH Clurman and Hollowell, but, I don't expect them to be anything more than AHL depth or emergency break glass type of 12th, 13th defensemen. Maybe they'll prove me wrong, which is great.

[Ericf]

Puustinen with 20 points in like 50 games is not going to make it past waivers. He’s a NHLer. Dubas would be stupid to waive him. Either keep him on the roster or trade him if he doesn’t make the team. He’s also cheap at $775k. Someone would likely pick him up over Beauvillier

[FLPensFan]

Puustinen with 20 points in like 50 games is not going to make it past waivers. He’s a NHLer. Dubas would be stupid to waive him. Either keep him on the roster or trade him if he doesn’t make the team. He’s also cheap at $775k. Someone would likely pick him up over Beauvillier

I agree about Puustinen. I think DET, BUF, CGY, and CBJ would all be good landing spots for him where he would get more playing time. I like Puustinen. You've seen me on here before pound my fist for him to get playing time. Same with Poulin. But if I'm looking at the roster as a whole right now, there are other guys coming to camp that quite simply, do more or do things better. Poulin deserves a crack...but his skating is an issue. There's 4 or 5 guys where skating would not be an issue, and they may be better defensively. Same thing with Puustinen.

For once, there seems to be a solid competition on this roster. Poulin, Puustinen, Puljujarvi, Lizotte, Beauvillier, Glass, and McGroarty. Beauvillier (27) and Lizotte (26) are the oldest of the 2. Puljujarvi (26) and Glass (25) are next. Then Puustinen (25) and Poulin (23), and McGroarty is 20. They can't all make the team. I'm ok if Eller and Hayes take 2 spots. I'm sort of ok if Acciari makes the roster provided that Sullivan doesn't see fit to dress him EVERY GAME.

But with so much competition, there are going to be some odd men out. Right or wrong, guys like Beauvillier, Lizotte, and Glass have that mix of more upside or have shown more (in more opportunities to date). This is also the reason I bang my head against the wall wanting these young guys to get shots in the lineup sooner. Because plans change, things happen you didn't expect. Poulin getting sick late in the season likely killed his opportunity with this team. This is one reason why I wanted the Penguins to flip Puustinen for Oliver Wahlstrom from the Islanders. Wahlstrom is similar in that he has a really good shot, but he has more size, uses that size, and is much better defensively. He's got more tools that give him that added flexibility in a Sullivan system.

I don't want to see Puustinen lost, but at the same time, I'm more excited about some of the other younger guys we've brought in. It's hard to call Puustinen a bust, because he was a 7th round pick, played NHL games, and scored consistently at the AHL level. I think he can be a 15 goal, 35 point player on an NHL 3rd line.

One reason I want to hear from Dubas is, I have a feeling McGroarty fell into his lap late. Maybe they called early and would only go as far as Pickering, and then finally changed their mind...but I don't think Dubas has been aggressively chasing it all summer. And that led him to make some other moves that, maybe he wouldn't have made if McGroarty was locked up early in the process rather than late.

[Ericf]

Puustinen with 20 points in like 50 games is not going to make it past waivers. He’s a NHLer. Dubas would be stupid to waive him. Either keep him on the roster or trade him if he doesn’t make the team. He’s also cheap at $775k. Someone would likely pick him up over Beauvillier

I agree about Puustinen. I think DET, BUF, CGY, and CBJ would all be good landing spots for him where he would get more playing time. I like Puustinen. You've seen me on here before pound my fist for him to get playing time. Same with Poulin. But if I'm looking at the roster as a whole right now, there are other guys coming to camp that quite simply, do more or do things better. Poulin deserves a crack...but his skating is an issue. There's 4 or 5 guys where skating would not be an issue, and they may be better defensively. Same thing with Puustinen.

For once, there seems to be a solid competition on this roster. Poulin, Puustinen, Puljujarvi, Lizotte, Beauvillier, Glass, and McGroarty. Beauvillier (27) and Lizotte (26) are the oldest of the 2. Puljujarvi (26) and Glass (25) are next. Then Puustinen (25) and Poulin (23), and McGroarty is 20. They can't all make the team. I'm ok if Eller and Hayes take 2 spots. I'm sort of ok if Acciari makes the roster provided that Sullivan doesn't see fit to dress him EVERY GAME.

But with so much competition, there are going to be some odd men out. Right or wrong, guys like Beauvillier, Lizotte, and Glass have that mix of more upside or have shown more (in more opportunities to date). This is also the reason I bang my head against the wall wanting these young guys to get shots in the lineup sooner. Because plans change, things happen you didn't expect. Poulin getting sick late in the season likely killed his opportunity with this team. This is one reason why I wanted the Penguins to flip Puustinen for Oliver Wahlstrom from the Islanders. Wahlstrom is similar in that he has a really good shot, but he has more size, uses that size, and is much better defensively. He's got more tools that give him that added flexibility in a Sullivan system.

I don't want to see Puustinen lost, but at the same time, I'm more excited about some of the other younger guys we've brought in. It's hard to call Puustinen a bust, because he was a 7th round pick, played NHL games, and scored consistently at the AHL level. I think he can be a 15 goal, 35 point player on an NHL 3rd line.

One reason I want to hear from Dubas is, I have a feeling McGroarty fell into his lap late. Maybe they called early and would only go as far as Pickering, and then finally changed their mind...but I don't think Dubas has been aggressively chasing it all summer. And that led him to make some other moves that, maybe he wouldn't have made if McGroarty was locked up early in the process rather than late.

Certainly true. I’m just saying that if Puustinen honestly doesn’t make the team and you can’t trade him for anything decent, they should stash him on the roster. Dubas would be smart to waive someone like Hayes or Glass, who teams had to give up draft picks to get rid of because their play doesn’t match their salary. Send someone else who has multiple years on the contract and a higher salary to Wilkes. It’s better asset management not to waive Puustinen but stash him as 13th forward

[dark_forces]

A few different gyrations and variations floating around in the threads, but heading into camp in about 3 weeks, thought I would take a look at where the roster stands, who is fighting for a job, and who may be the odd men out. Of course, this is all subject to all of these players being here come camp, and I have a strong feeling that one of the veterans (*cough, Acciari*) might/should be shipped out.

No battles here (14): Crosby, Malkin, Rust, Rakell, Bunting, DOC, Letang, Pettersson, Karlsson, Graves, Grzelcyk, St. Ivany, Nedeljkovic, Jarry

Not much argument here. The "unsafest" member I've put in this group is St. Ivany, but, I don't think he did anything last year to hurt his chances, and the Penguins don't have another true right handed defenseman available for that 3rd pairing. Aho, Shea, Ludvig, Knyzhov, and Kral are all lefty d-men. We know Sullivan trusted St. Ivany at the end of last year, and we also know Sullivan trusts Shea and Ludvig playing their off-side...but he prefers lefty-righty combos, which puts St. Ivany in a good spot.

Solid, but not guaranteed (5): Eller, Acciari, Hayes, Lizotte, Glass

If no trades were to be made, I think all 5 of these players make the roster, and that's a bit tough to swallow because that's 5 of 7 bottom 6/extra forward spots going to at least 3 veterans. At first I did not have Glass in this group, but, he holds a big advantage in that he is a RH C/W. If Acciari is dealt, and, I think it's quite obvious he's my favorite to be dealt, Glass gains some footing in the lineup being RH and having that versatility to play C or W. While not RH, Lizotte also goes into this category, as he has the flexibility as well to play C or W, and flexibility to play multiple positions and roles is key on a Sullivan coached team.


On the battlefield, under the microscope(10): McGroarty, Beauvillier, Puustinen, Puljujarvi, Poulin, Ludvig, Shea, Aho, Knyzhov, Kral

If everyone in the first 2 categories is still here and healthy at the end of camp, that leaves likely a 7th d-man spot, a 12th forward, and likely a 13th and 14th forward spot. 4 total spots up for grabs from this group of 8. The big battle here on defense is Ludvig vs Aho. Is Ludvig completely healthy before the end of camp is one question. If he is, do we need another "big" defenseman on the roster with already having Graves-St. Ivany as the likely bottom pair? I think Aho has the edge here, and Shea is almost guaranteed to WBS. Kral has a contract and would seem more like a Shea/Ludvig first callup type of guy unless he really impresses, and Knyzhov is likely looking to just earn a contract. Either of Kral or Knyzhov making the team would be a bit of a shock.

And then there is the forward group...potentially 3 spots for McGroarty, Beauvillier, Puustinen, Puljujarvi, and Poulin. Anthony Beauvillier has 116 NHL goals on his resume. I feel like he'd have to have a really, really bad camp for him not to make this team. So now you are down to McGroarty and the 3Ps. If you are keeping McGroarty, he has to be in the top 9. He has a well rounded enough game to not need to stew on a 4th line learning how to play defense. My gut tells me he makes the team and starts on the 3rd line, and eventually works his way onto Sid's line. He's a good passer, so, if he can be effective on the forecheck, digging pucks off the boards and feeding Rust and Crosby, I think he can be effective on that line eventually. That leads us to the 3 Ps and honestly, for how the rest of the team shakes out and the roles this team needs...I give the last spot to Puljujarvi. He's strong defensively and on the forecheck. He has size. Before his injury started to become an issue, he was putting up solid 3rd line numbers in the NHL. And he PKs...which neither Poulin nor Puustinen are going to do effectively in the NHL...Poulin because of his skating, and Puustinen because of his size. In the end, I think Poulin and Puustinen are put on waivers and sent back to the AHL, or possibly even included in a trade.


No chance for opening night (10): Nieto, Bemstrom, Gruden, Ponomarev, Koivunen, Broz, Andonovski, Pickering, Blomqvist, Murashov

Nieto is out until DEC/JAN, and likely never suits up for the Penguins again. He shouldn't. If Bemstrom and Gruden are beating out the other large collection of more talented forwards, we've got a problem. Ponomarev is a numbers game, like Poulin. He likely could push for a roster spot if there wasn't such a log jam, and, having waivers exemption is a killer for him in this situation. Koivunen I think could benefit from some more time in WBS. Broz may be ready by mid-season, Andonovski is likely a career AHLer who could get a few short callups here and there. Pickering just has numbers against him and needs a full season in the AHL. Blomqvist and Murashov are blocked, for now, but, I'd love to see these two bond and become good friends and teammates, with the potential to be the NHL level goalies in 2026-2027.

Barring injuries or trades, my opening night forward group:

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

And defense:

Grzelcyk-Letang
Pettersson-Karlsson
Graves-St.Ivay
x-Aho

Goalies:

Jarry
Nedeljkovic

I know Sullivan often likes having 8 d-men, especially with a road-heavy October, but, I think they have too many forwards to try and sneak all of them through waivers.

Down in WBS, not sure of all of the positions, but I'd like to see WBS break down something like this:

Broz-Poulin-Puustinen
Koivunen-Ponomarev-Bemstrom
MacArthur-Gruden-Andonovski
Bokondji-Koppanen-Johnstone

Pickering-Hollowell
Kral-Clurman
Bellievau-Ludvig

Blomqvist
Murashov

Great well thought post that gives just about everyone something to chew on.
I want to Puustinen make it and somehow, out of the usual group of young, on the fringe players (aside from McGroarty) I think he will.
I could see Beauvillier and Puljujarvi getting placed on waivers at the end of camp and getting claimed by another club as 4th line depth. That puts Puustinen back on the roster in his 3rd line spot. I also see Poulin being dealt for a 3rd round pick at the close of camp.

[Daniel]

A few different gyrations and variations floating around in the threads, but heading into camp in about 3 weeks, thought I would take a look at where the roster stands, who is fighting for a job, and who may be the odd men out. Of course, this is all subject to all of these players being here come camp, and I have a strong feeling that one of the veterans (*cough, Acciari*) might/should be shipped out.

No battles here (14): Crosby, Malkin, Rust, Rakell, Bunting, DOC, Letang, Pettersson, Karlsson, Graves, Grzelcyk, St. Ivany, Nedeljkovic, Jarry

Not much argument here. The "unsafest" member I've put in this group is St. Ivany, but, I don't think he did anything last year to hurt his chances, and the Penguins don't have another true right handed defenseman available for that 3rd pairing. Aho, Shea, Ludvig, Knyzhov, and Kral are all lefty d-men. We know Sullivan trusted St. Ivany at the end of last year, and we also know Sullivan trusts Shea and Ludvig playing their off-side...but he prefers lefty-righty combos, which puts St. Ivany in a good spot.

Solid, but not guaranteed (5): Eller, Acciari, Hayes, Lizotte, Glass

If no trades were to be made, I think all 5 of these players make the roster, and that's a bit tough to swallow because that's 5 of 7 bottom 6/extra forward spots going to at least 3 veterans. At first I did not have Glass in this group, but, he holds a big advantage in that he is a RH C/W. If Acciari is dealt, and, I think it's quite obvious he's my favorite to be dealt, Glass gains some footing in the lineup being RH and having that versatility to play C or W. While not RH, Lizotte also goes into this category, as he has the flexibility as well to play C or W, and flexibility to play multiple positions and roles is key on a Sullivan coached team.


On the battlefield, under the microscope(10): McGroarty, Beauvillier, Puustinen, Puljujarvi, Poulin, Ludvig, Shea, Aho, Knyzhov, Kral

If everyone in the first 2 categories is still here and healthy at the end of camp, that leaves likely a 7th d-man spot, a 12th forward, and likely a 13th and 14th forward spot. 4 total spots up for grabs from this group of 8. The big battle here on defense is Ludvig vs Aho. Is Ludvig completely healthy before the end of camp is one question. If he is, do we need another "big" defenseman on the roster with already having Graves-St. Ivany as the likely bottom pair? I think Aho has the edge here, and Shea is almost guaranteed to WBS. Kral has a contract and would seem more like a Shea/Ludvig first callup type of guy unless he really impresses, and Knyzhov is likely looking to just earn a contract. Either of Kral or Knyzhov making the team would be a bit of a shock.

And then there is the forward group...potentially 3 spots for McGroarty, Beauvillier, Puustinen, Puljujarvi, and Poulin. Anthony Beauvillier has 116 NHL goals on his resume. I feel like he'd have to have a really, really bad camp for him not to make this team. So now you are down to McGroarty and the 3Ps. If you are keeping McGroarty, he has to be in the top 9. He has a well rounded enough game to not need to stew on a 4th line learning how to play defense. My gut tells me he makes the team and starts on the 3rd line, and eventually works his way onto Sid's line. He's a good passer, so, if he can be effective on the forecheck, digging pucks off the boards and feeding Rust and Crosby, I think he can be effective on that line eventually. That leads us to the 3 Ps and honestly, for how the rest of the team shakes out and the roles this team needs...I give the last spot to Puljujarvi. He's strong defensively and on the forecheck. He has size. Before his injury started to become an issue, he was putting up solid 3rd line numbers in the NHL. And he PKs...which neither Poulin nor Puustinen are going to do effectively in the NHL...Poulin because of his skating, and Puustinen because of his size. In the end, I think Poulin and Puustinen are put on waivers and sent back to the AHL, or possibly even included in a trade.


No chance for opening night (10): Nieto, Bemstrom, Gruden, Ponomarev, Koivunen, Broz, Andonovski, Pickering, Blomqvist, Murashov

Nieto is out until DEC/JAN, and likely never suits up for the Penguins again. He shouldn't. If Bemstrom and Gruden are beating out the other large collection of more talented forwards, we've got a problem. Ponomarev is a numbers game, like Poulin. He likely could push for a roster spot if there wasn't such a log jam, and, having waivers exemption is a killer for him in this situation. Koivunen I think could benefit from some more time in WBS. Broz may be ready by mid-season, Andonovski is likely a career AHLer who could get a few short callups here and there. Pickering just has numbers against him and needs a full season in the AHL. Blomqvist and Murashov are blocked, for now, but, I'd love to see these two bond and become good friends and teammates, with the potential to be the NHL level goalies in 2026-2027.

Barring injuries or trades, my opening night forward group:

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

And defense:

Grzelcyk-Letang
Pettersson-Karlsson
Graves-St.Ivay
x-Aho

Goalies:

Jarry
Nedeljkovic

I know Sullivan often likes having 8 d-men, especially with a road-heavy October, but, I think they have too many forwards to try and sneak all of them through waivers.

Down in WBS, not sure of all of the positions, but I'd like to see WBS break down something like this:

Broz-Poulin-Puustinen
Koivunen-Ponomarev-Bemstrom
MacArthur-Gruden-Andonovski
Bokondji-Koppanen-Johnstone

Pickering-Hollowell
Kral-Clurman
Bellievau-Ludvig

Blomqvist
Murashov

Great well thought post that gives just about everyone something to chew on.
I want to Puustinen make it and somehow, out of the usual group of young, on the fringe players (aside from McGroarty) I think he will.
I could see Beauvillier and Puljujarvi getting placed on waivers at the end of camp and getting claimed by another club as 4th line depth. That puts Puustinen back on the roster in his 3rd line spot. I also see Poulin being dealt for a 3rd round pick at the close of camp.

I think that lineup shows yet another failure of this franchise to develop any kind of NHL talent. While the drafting isn't good, it's nowhere near as inept as the development. If the development was even good, just by accident a drafted player would have 100 NHL games since Dominic Simon, drafted almost 10 years ago. I understand they've drafted low and traded away picks, but other top teams (ie TB) are able to draft and develop players. Since 2014, the Penguins have drafted and developed 11 players have made the NHL while Tampa Bay has drafted and developed 26 players while having a better playoff record and about the same draft picks and spots.

[cojac]

McGroarty-Crosby-Rust
Bunting-Malkin-Rakell
DOC-Hayes-Glass
Lizotte-Eller-Acciari
Puustinen-Beauvillier

Graves-Letang
Pettersson-Karlsson
Grazelcyk-St Ivany
Aho

Jarry
Ned

Ludvig (LTIR)

[FLPensFan]

A few different gyrations and variations floating around in the threads, but heading into camp in about 3 weeks, thought I would take a look at where the roster stands, who is fighting for a job, and who may be the odd men out. Of course, this is all subject to all of these players being here come camp, and I have a strong feeling that one of the veterans (*cough, Acciari*) might/should be shipped out.

No battles here (14): Crosby, Malkin, Rust, Rakell, Bunting, DOC, Letang, Pettersson, Karlsson, Graves, Grzelcyk, St. Ivany, Nedeljkovic, Jarry

Not much argument here. The "unsafest" member I've put in this group is St. Ivany, but, I don't think he did anything last year to hurt his chances, and the Penguins don't have another true right handed defenseman available for that 3rd pairing. Aho, Shea, Ludvig, Knyzhov, and Kral are all lefty d-men. We know Sullivan trusted St. Ivany at the end of last year, and we also know Sullivan trusts Shea and Ludvig playing their off-side...but he prefers lefty-righty combos, which puts St. Ivany in a good spot.

Solid, but not guaranteed (5): Eller, Acciari, Hayes, Lizotte, Glass

If no trades were to be made, I think all 5 of these players make the roster, and that's a bit tough to swallow because that's 5 of 7 bottom 6/extra forward spots going to at least 3 veterans. At first I did not have Glass in this group, but, he holds a big advantage in that he is a RH C/W. If Acciari is dealt, and, I think it's quite obvious he's my favorite to be dealt, Glass gains some footing in the lineup being RH and having that versatility to play C or W. While not RH, Lizotte also goes into this category, as he has the flexibility as well to play C or W, and flexibility to play multiple positions and roles is key on a Sullivan coached team.


On the battlefield, under the microscope(10): McGroarty, Beauvillier, Puustinen, Puljujarvi, Poulin, Ludvig, Shea, Aho, Knyzhov, Kral

If everyone in the first 2 categories is still here and healthy at the end of camp, that leaves likely a 7th d-man spot, a 12th forward, and likely a 13th and 14th forward spot. 4 total spots up for grabs from this group of 8. The big battle here on defense is Ludvig vs Aho. Is Ludvig completely healthy before the end of camp is one question. If he is, do we need another "big" defenseman on the roster with already having Graves-St. Ivany as the likely bottom pair? I think Aho has the edge here, and Shea is almost guaranteed to WBS. Kral has a contract and would seem more like a Shea/Ludvig first callup type of guy unless he really impresses, and Knyzhov is likely looking to just earn a contract. Either of Kral or Knyzhov making the team would be a bit of a shock.

And then there is the forward group...potentially 3 spots for McGroarty, Beauvillier, Puustinen, Puljujarvi, and Poulin. Anthony Beauvillier has 116 NHL goals on his resume. I feel like he'd have to have a really, really bad camp for him not to make this team. So now you are down to McGroarty and the 3Ps. If you are keeping McGroarty, he has to be in the top 9. He has a well rounded enough game to not need to stew on a 4th line learning how to play defense. My gut tells me he makes the team and starts on the 3rd line, and eventually works his way onto Sid's line. He's a good passer, so, if he can be effective on the forecheck, digging pucks off the boards and feeding Rust and Crosby, I think he can be effective on that line eventually. That leads us to the 3 Ps and honestly, for how the rest of the team shakes out and the roles this team needs...I give the last spot to Puljujarvi. He's strong defensively and on the forecheck. He has size. Before his injury started to become an issue, he was putting up solid 3rd line numbers in the NHL. And he PKs...which neither Poulin nor Puustinen are going to do effectively in the NHL...Poulin because of his skating, and Puustinen because of his size. In the end, I think Poulin and Puustinen are put on waivers and sent back to the AHL, or possibly even included in a trade.


No chance for opening night (10): Nieto, Bemstrom, Gruden, Ponomarev, Koivunen, Broz, Andonovski, Pickering, Blomqvist, Murashov

Nieto is out until DEC/JAN, and likely never suits up for the Penguins again. He shouldn't. If Bemstrom and Gruden are beating out the other large collection of more talented forwards, we've got a problem. Ponomarev is a numbers game, like Poulin. He likely could push for a roster spot if there wasn't such a log jam, and, having waivers exemption is a killer for him in this situation. Koivunen I think could benefit from some more time in WBS. Broz may be ready by mid-season, Andonovski is likely a career AHLer who could get a few short callups here and there. Pickering just has numbers against him and needs a full season in the AHL. Blomqvist and Murashov are blocked, for now, but, I'd love to see these two bond and become good friends and teammates, with the potential to be the NHL level goalies in 2026-2027.

Barring injuries or trades, my opening night forward group:

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

And defense:

Grzelcyk-Letang
Pettersson-Karlsson
Graves-St.Ivay
x-Aho

Goalies:

Jarry
Nedeljkovic

I know Sullivan often likes having 8 d-men, especially with a road-heavy October, but, I think they have too many forwards to try and sneak all of them through waivers.

Down in WBS, not sure of all of the positions, but I'd like to see WBS break down something like this:

Broz-Poulin-Puustinen
Koivunen-Ponomarev-Bemstrom
MacArthur-Gruden-Andonovski
Bokondji-Koppanen-Johnstone

Pickering-Hollowell
Kral-Clurman
Bellievau-Ludvig

Blomqvist
Murashov

Great well thought post that gives just about everyone something to chew on.
I want to Puustinen make it and somehow, out of the usual group of young, on the fringe players (aside from McGroarty) I think he will.
I could see Beauvillier and Puljujarvi getting placed on waivers at the end of camp and getting claimed by another club as 4th line depth. That puts Puustinen back on the roster in his 3rd line spot. I also see Poulin being dealt for a 3rd round pick at the close of camp.

I think that lineup shows yet another failure of this franchise to develop any kind of NHL talent. While the drafting isn't good, it's nowhere near as inept as the development. If the development was even good, just by accident a drafted player would have 100 NHL games since Dominic Simon, drafted almost 10 years ago. I understand they've drafted low and traded away picks, but other top teams (ie TB) are able to draft and develop players. Since 2014, the Penguins have drafted and developed 11 players have made the NHL while Tampa Bay has drafted and developed 26 players while having a better playoff record and about the same draft picks and spots.

I'll put together a more detailed look at the Penguins compared to a few other teams, but, you aren't wrong. Even without picks, they've still done historically poor at drafting and developing, and worse, got a good number of players into their system who just up and left after lack of chances. I think some of those guys were never going to make it, but quite a few deserved more of a look than they got (if any). And in this day and age, washing out with one team before every really getting your break is typically the end of your career. Very few teams will pick up those scraps unless something think there is a sure-fire prospect that someone really goofed on letting go. Everyone has already spent their time and development cycles on their own players.

[Puck-Lurker]

Yeah.. the development of new players is putrid like the PP last year.

Last draft picks that broke through with the big club in some capacity.
Puustinen, 7th round 2019
Simon, 5th round 2015
Sprong, 2nd round 2015
Lafferty, 4th round 2014

Before that we had richer pickings.. Guentzel, Jarry, Murray, Rust, Määttä, Blueger.. (in 2013 and 2012)

It's not been much of late and we'd better hit in some of the recent picks.

[largegarlic]

I appreciate the breakdown. I just feel like I don't have a handle on many of the guys competing for bottom-6 spots up front or bottom-pairing spots in the back to make informed predictions or critiques of predictions about those areas of the roster. For instance, the Beauvilier I remember from his good days with the Islanders easily takes the 3rd line LW slot, maybe even the 1st line LW slot if O'Connor is his only competition. But I have no idea what present-day Beauvilier looks like. I hope to catch some preseason games and see who stands out.

[Daniel]

Yeah.. the development of new players is putrid like the PP last year.

Last draft picks that broke through with the big club in some capacity.
Puustinen, 7th round 2019
Simon, 5th round 2015
Sprong, 2nd round 2015
Lafferty, 4th round 2014

Before that we had richer pickings.. Guentzel, Jarry, Murray, Rust, Määttä, Blueger.. (in 2013 and 2012)

It's not been much of late and we'd better hit in some of the recent picks.

Thing is though, those players were allowed to develop and not sent back to WBS for any mistakes and replaced by scrubs. Rust and Guentzel were allowed to create their niche and allow their talents to move them up. Both made mistakes and both were allowed to grow and develop past them. Blueger didn't get as high on the depth chart, but is a very useful PK guy who was allowed to develop into a capable forward. We aren't seeing that with Poulin, Puustinen and the guys who gave up on the Penguins and went back to Europe. The developing is awful and part of the reason is the players are capped at the AHL level and go into every training camp with a roster of 14 veteran forwards. Even if they out play a scrub, the scrub still has NHL experience so it's not a level playing field. The Penguins are about to lose yet another draft pick in Poulin with only what 6 NHL games to show he could play after doing all he needed to at WBS. If Poulin were given the same chances as Blueger, Guentzel, or Rust, I think he'd be a good NHL player. Maybe not an All Star, but that's okay.

[Puck-Lurker]

I appreciate the breakdown. I just feel like I don't have a handle on many of the guys competing for bottom-6 spots up front or bottom-pairing spots in the back to make informed predictions or critiques of predictions about those areas of the roster. For instance, the Beauvilier I remember from his good days with the Islanders easily takes the 3rd line LW slot, maybe even the 1st line LW slot if O'Connor is his only competition. But I have no idea what present-day Beauvilier looks like. I hope to catch some preseason games and see who stands out.

DK had a thought exercise today trying to "put McGroarty onto the roster". In a top-6 role or you might as well not bother. You don't want to separate Bunting-Malkin yet, so that's DOC down to the 3rd. That line should have players that can hockey and so on.. I think Eller's better than Hayes. Let Hayes pick up the pieces on the bottom first.

McGroarty-Crosby-Rust
Bunting-Malkin-Rakell
DOC-Eller-Glass
Lizotte-Hayes-Beauvilier
xPuustinen-Puljujärvi

Thing is you can shuffle this around endlessly if someone's not up to speed. Say Hayes is a black hole and Glass is okay, but would be better entering the zone late. You can slide Glass to 4C, scratch Hayes and put in Puustinen. Beauvilier not looking good? Puljujärvi is itching to play in your place.

I'm thinking you give McGroarty his time to impress. If he does, leave him on the roster for his nine games. Point at O'Connor and tell him that's who he needs to beat. He's either on the top line or he's in Wilkes-Barre.


I've been looking at Beauvilier and Puljujärvi and I think I've been underestimating JP's chances to beat him out for a spot