3 Fun Things to Watch in Penguins Preseason Game 1

The Pittsburgh Penguins will not unveil a new and wicked power play scheme Saturday night, or at least we don’t think assistant coach David Quinn will use the patchwork of complimentary NHL players and prospects to unleash new wrinkles. Instead, there will be a few other reasons to watch the Penguins against the Buffalo Sabres at Key Bank Arena in the first preseason game for both.

None of the expected Penguins’ top six forwards will play, and none of their top four centers will suit up. So, the lineup will be typical for a preseason road game, except this time, the Penguins have enough talent to send beyond merely their core players.

3 Things to Watch in the Penguins Game

1. Rutger McGroarty

He’s been increasingly good in the intrasquad scrimmages. As his confidence has grown, his skating stride has gotten stronger, his puck movement has been quicker, and he’s looking like a player who will stick around for the regular season.

Quick–name the last Penguins rookie to make the NHL squad with a real impact. The answer might be John Marino in 2019.

McGroarty represents a fresh face and enthusiasm for the task. He’ll get a good look at NHL’ers Saturday because the Buffalo Sabres are dressing many of their regulars, including Tage Thompson.

McGroarty will play on the top line, taking the left flank with Drew O’Connor moved to center and Cody Glass on the right.

2. Tristan Broz

Pittsburgh Hockey Now rates Broz’s potential quite high. After a few years of college highlights on YouTube, we got our first look last April in the AHL playoffs, followed by Development Camp, the Prospects Challenge, and Intrasquad scrimmages. Broz has never before participated in a Penguins’ training camp.

Read More: Penguins Prospects: Scouting Blomqvist, Broz; How Close to Ready (+)

We’ve upped our projections from a bottom-six winger to a solid third-line center, with an outside shot of being a poor man’s second-line center.

He’s feisty, has some filthy mitts, and his skating is now on par with other professionals–or so we think. Saturday will be the first test against NHL players of another sweater.

Friday, he backed Marcus Pettersson off the blue line with a full-speed rush, then toe-dragged around Petterson for a clean shot. Broz wasn’t thrilled with his shot, but the confidence and ability to pull that move against a solid NHL defenseman speaks well of him.

He’ll center Jesse Puljujarvi and Valtteri Puustinen. If there’s a line to watch Saturday–this is it.

3. Joel Blomqvist

The Penguins’ top goalie prospect is close to being NHL-ready. He’s got good size (though not great) and was the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins’ best player last season.

Last April, Penguins president of hockey operations/GM Kyle Dubas stopped just short of guaranteeing him a roster spot for this season. However, Blomqvist stumbled a bit in the AHL playoffs, and the Penguins re-signed Alex Nedeljkovic.

The Penguins defensemen are also patchwork on Saturday. Ryan Graves is the only NHL regular to be in the lineup. John Ludvig and Ryan Shea will also dress, as will second-round pick Harrison Brunicke. The Penguins’ defense figures to struggle just a bit against the professional Sabres’ lineup, and Blomqvist will be tested.

Let’s see how it goes.

It won’t be the biggest Penguins game of the season, but it could be quite interesting if you enjoy an advanced look at the next chapter of the Penguins.

Penguins Lines (Courtesy of the team):

Rutger McGoarty-Drew O’Connor-Cody Glass

Jesse Puljujarvi-Tristan-Broz-Valtteri Puustinen

Ville Koivunen-Vasily Ponomarev-Emil Bemstrom

Tanner Howe-Jimmy Huntingdon-Avery Hayes

Defense

Ryan Graves-Mac Hollowell

Ryan Shea-Nate Clurman

John Ludvig-Harrison Brunicke