Connect with us

Penguins

Penguins Wrap: Roster Takes Shape; Games Galore; Injury News

Published

on

Pittsburgh Penguins, Bryan Rust, Penguins power play struggles
Bryan Rust is the lastest Penguins inury.

Games. Games. Games. The final full week of Pittsburgh Penguins training camp featured five games in six days, and while that was busy, it also helped to reveal a lot about how the roster will look when the regular season opens Wednesday at home against the New York Rangers.



As expected, camp has been highly competitive. Some players on the bubble coming in, such as winger Jesse Puljujarvi, made it clear they deserved a spot on the roster. Others, including some who were players to watch, found out they will begin the season elsewhere as they were demoted.

There was also injury news, both good and concerning, and that could play a part in determining the opening-night roster, too.

Catch up on a busy, telling week. Click the links below.

Saturday: Best laid plans — or planes — eh? The Penguins’ flight to Detroit for a preseason game was delayed, forcing the game to first be delayed and then to be postponed. It was quickly rescheduled for two nights later.

Sunday: Fans gathered in a junior hockey barn in Sudbury, Ontario, for a promotional game against Ottawa, and those who came to see the Penguins were not disappointed. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin starred in a win in the Kraft Hockeyville game.

Sometimes you catch a bad break. Penguins forward Blake Lizotte did not get a shift in the game in Sudbury, but not because of any punishment. As he was sitting on the bench, he got hit in the head with a puck.

The expectations surrounding injured defenseman Erik Karlsson, which player might provide a big impact, where goaltender Sergei Murashov might open the season, and more are covered by Dan Kingerski in a Q&A.

Monday: The power play, which needs to be so much better this season, was a welcome highlight and goaltender Joel Blomqvist got an unexpected chance to play as the Penguins handled Detroit in the rescheduled game.

One thing that seemed fairly set was the goaltending tandem the Penguins will use to start the season. But that was thrown into question because of an injury during Monday’s game that forced Alex Nedeljkovic to leave early.

He was one of the big stories of development camp, and he still could have a big upside, but for now it’s back to the minor leagues for goaltender Sergei Murashov.

Concern began to grow over the injuries to Blake Lizotte and Erik Karlsson.

Tuesday: Despite a loss to the Detroit Red Wings in yet another preseason game, there was a big bright spot. That was the emergence of and solid game by 18-year-old defenseman Harrison Brunicke.

In the first real optimistic update, Penguins coach Mike Sullivan expressed hope that the opening-night lineup will feature a player who has been injured for all of camp, Erik Karlsson.

With the Penguins’ game Monday — and Friday — coming against Columbus, it was appropriate to note that players will wear a sticker on their helmets early in the season to honor the late Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau.

Wednesday: The news wasn’t good as the Penguins offered some injury updates on a day without a preseason game. At the top of the list, goalie Alex Nedeljkovic, who left Monday’s game, will be out for weeks.

With Nedeljkovic expected to be out for an unknown number of games to start the season, Tristan Jarry will have a new backup for a while. Is Joel Blomqvist ready?

In more positive news, Brunicke’s stock rose so much that he joined the main group, with veterans and returning regulars, for practice. Afterward, Sullivan opened the door for Brunicke to open the season with the NHL club.

Thursday: In another preseason game, this one a win over Columbus, among several players competing for spots there was a clear set of winners and not winners.

Concern rose when Erik Karlsson, out all of camp because of injury, was off the ice for a few days. But that dissipated when, in a non-contact capacity, he joined the non-game group and practiced.

What if prospects Harrison Brunicke and Owen Pickering have earned spots on the team to start the season? Here are three ways the Penguins could clear space for them.

His name has been mentioned among Penguins prospects for a few years now. There have been opportunities and setbacks, and for this season, Thursday’s game might have been a last stand for Sam Poulin.

Friday: In the Penguins’ final preseason game, a win over Columbus that was close to a dress rehearsal, PHN looked at veterans and a couple others and came up with seven things we learned.

He sat out Wednesday’s practice because of a maintenance day and then was not in the lineup for either of the Penguins’ final two preseason games Thursday and Friday. So it was not good news, but not surprising that top-line winger Bryan Rust is injured.

It’s been a long comeback, and he had to beat some odds, but it sure looks like a roster spot has been claimed by Jesse Puljujarvi.

Defenseman Owen Pickering, who came to camp beefed up and confident, lost the numbers game for now. He was among four players cut and sent the AHL.

The rest of the NHL will have a crack at Sam Poulin and John Ludvig after they were placed on waivers.