Penguins vs. Sabres: 3 Most Interesting Things to Watch

CRANBERRY, Twp — The Pittsburgh Penguins didn’t spend much time dwelling upon their 7-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres Saturday, and nor should they.

It was a preseason blowout, the Buffalo NHL regulars vs. a crop of Penguins prospects and NHL hopefuls, many of whom were taking their first skate on NHL ice. If Buffalo hadn’t nuked the Penguins, this reporter would have significantly downgraded Buffalo while exhausting the Penguins’ development system.

As it was, there were some positives to take from the game itself and a few more positives to take from the Penguins’ reaction afterward.

The Penguins’ second preseason game will be against the same Buffalo franchise, but not against most of the players who sought to rough them up even after the score was out of hand. Buffalo is sending a minor-league and prospect-heavy lineup, much like the Penguins did Saturday.

3 Interesting Storylines to Watch

1. Owen Pickering

It’s been a long road for the formerly 6-foot-3, 175-pound first-round draft pick. He’s been injured and unavailable during the last two training camps. Now he’s 6-foot-5, over 200 pounds, and going to play in his very first Penguins game Tuesday.

It’s almost silly to think a 2022 first-round pick hasn’t put on a Penguins sweater since his draft day, but that’s the scenario. Coach Mike Sullivan offered some tempered praise for him last week, which dealt with the challenges of facing professionals for the first time.

It’s been two years waiting for Sullivan to get a good look at Pickering.

“I always find it interesting with young players to be able to watch them compete against their peers because I think when they come to the big training camps, and they’re playing against grown men that have been pros for a long time–as a young player that sometimes can be overwhelming, and everybody handles that differently,” Sullivan said.

“I thought he was a guy that helped the Penguins on both sides of the puck. He joined the rush a handful of times. He was helping us drive some offense with break-out plays. I think I thought he defended well with his stick.”

Game on, kid.

2. Kevin Hayes & Cody Glass

The Penguins newbies will be on a line together Tuesday night. Hayes has shown some nifty playmaking skills in the camp scrimmages, but this will be our first look at him in real competition, albeit against the Sabres’ junior varsity roster.

Cody Glass got his first game action Saturday. He’s a hard player to categorize–thus far, he’s been noticeable against the lesser camp competition, but his lineup spot is in jeopardy with the emergency of Jesse Puljujarvi. Glass must show he’s more than “Just a guy” (JAG).

Can Hayes set up Glass and fellow linemate Rutger McGroarty, whose lineup spot is not secure either? Does he move well enough to alleviate any doubts by Penguins president of hockey operations/GM Kyle Dubas regret taking on his salary for a second and third-round pick?

Can Glass show that he is an NHL player after just two NHL seasons, neither of which were standouts?

3. The One You Didn’t See Coming

Filip Kral. We like him quite a bit, at least the camp scrimmage version. On Tuesday, we’ll get a good look at him as he’s paired with Pickering.

Kral, 24, will provide the offense on the pairing with Pickering, though he has even more to prove. Kral has just two NHL games experience but could quickly establish himself as a contender for the third pairing or seventh defenseman spot. The Penguins’ presumptive placeholder for the depth spot is Sebastian Aho, who is a competent NHL defenseman but was a lineup regular in just one of his five seasons with the Islanders.

Kral, Aho, Ryan Shea, and Mac Hollowell are battling for the depth spot or the sixth spot should Ryan Graves falter.

Opportunities for players like Kral, who is shifty and tall (6-foot-2), can be limited, so a strong performance on Tuesday is a must.