Penguins Demote Almeida, Drozg; Camp Roster to 48

The day following the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-0 preseason loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, the team trimmed the training camp roster to 48 players, according to GM Ron Hextall.

The team sent Justin Almeida and Jan Drozg to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins’ training camp. Both players suited up in last night’s preseason tilt with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Almeida, 22, was the Penguins’ fifth-round pick in 2018 (129th overall). Last season, he played 11 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins with four points, including two goals. He split 2019-20 between Wheeling (ECHL) and WBS. That season, the center played 37 games with Wheeling but only nine with WBS.

Drozg, 22, was the Penguins fifth-round pick in 2017. He split last season between his native Slovenian team and the WBS Penguins. In 30 AHL games, he scored seven points (5-2-7).

The Penguins play again on Friday, Oct. 1. They are on the road against the Buffalo Sabres. The uck drop is set for 7:00 PM. Fans can hear the game on the Penguins’ official flagship radio station, 105.9 ‘The X.’