Penguins
Penguins Practice: Dewar Promoted; Letang Shifted; Injured Guys Skate
After a day off, the Pittsburgh Penguins returned to practice Thursday at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. All expected players participated.
The Penguins shuffled some of their personnel, with Joona Koppanen moving onto the “energy line,” Connor Dewar moving onto Evgeni Malkin’s like, and Conor Timmons moving onto the top defensive pairing with Kris Letang — and Letang moving to the left side.
Letang doesn’t often play on his off side, but he noted that it often worked that way with previous long-time defense partner Brian Domoulin.
“When I played with ‘Dumo,’ because I always taking the first guy on the ice, I was always taking the left side,” Letang said. Th0se two often then would cross. “It’s going to be an adjustment, but it’s not like I’ve not been in that position before.”
Letang noted that Timmons, who has played just five games since he was acquired in a trade with Toronto, helps provide offense. He has a goal and three assists in those five games.
“Offensively, he’s got good instincts,” Letang said. “He’s got a really good shot. Defensively, he’s really solid, good skater.”
Before practice, the team’s three injured players — forward Tommy Novak and defensemen Ryan Shea and P.O Joseph — had an on-ice workout.
Novak, who got hurt after playing two games following his trade from Nashville, is listed as day-to-day, while the two defensemen are out on a week-to-week basis. It’s believed this could be the first time Novak has skated since he got hurt.
Penguins Lines
Rickard Rakell-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust
Connor Dewar-Evgeni Malkin-Philip Tomasino
Joona Koppanen-Blake Lizotte-Noel Acciari
Danton Heinen-Kevin Hayes-Boko Imama
Defense
Conor Timmons-Kris Letang
Matt Grzelcyk-Erik Karlsson
Ryan Graves-Vladislv Kolyachonok
This lineup has “top 5 pick” written all over it, and I’m here for it. Dewar getting a promotion? Alright, that scenario is the best of the worst offensive options. The guy will give effort.
Tip two lines in WBS are better than the bottom 6 here. So that’s cool.
Wait… So they actually broke the 3rd line for good? The early returns Dewar – Malkin – Tomasino did not warrant that…Why not just keep the working lines intact and give Koppanen the opportunity next to Geno?
If you absolutely have to mess with a winning team.Even though the 2nd line wasn’t exactly great.
Unless wins aren’t what the coaches are after.
Why not Malkin – Lizotte – Tomasino
3rd can be Dewar – Koppanen – Acciari or whatever…
Dan, I’m curious what type of assessment you would give Geno for this year? It seems like all the nostalgia buffs still think he’s a Hall of Fame player. However, only has 13 goals for the year. It’s not physical and can’t create space or separate opposing players from pucks.
He is a year from retirement. Doing the best he can. Should be moved to wing for sure! He should be given a fond thank you for everything he has given to the team in his career. That is pretty much the gist of what is going on with Geno imo. The penguins are rebuilding. That includes looking to fill the 2c position.
He plans on playing next year, right? Should hang them up this year.
I could understand if he retires this season. However, he is still the teams 4th best forward at this point. Also, if he retires before his contract is up, his cap hit still counts (thanks, Hextall). So, what would be the point of that? Sorry that you hate Malkin, but there are clearly forwards on the team way worse than him. Just let him hobble off into the sunset after next season on a team that should be even closer to the bottom of the standings.
He literally gets shit wingers, Crosby gets the good ones. He tries hard but has zero help so points will be way down. His wings would be fourth liners on a good team.
Bunch of guys who don’t watch the games, eh? Geno has been a beast this year. He’s played with borderline NHL guys again, but he still dominates shifts.
You were kidding with that post weren’t you. 13 goals and Geno is a beast. That’s funny, he has been not good all year. He plays hard for about 10 seconds every shift, then he skakes around like an ice dancer. I love Geno but he is a shell of his former self.
The disrespect here is just… embarrassing. Geno is playing at a 50 point pace with mostly bottom 6 caliber wingers and no first team powerplay time while being 38. He should finish in the top 20 for all time age 38 seasons in nhl history. Still an absolute bargain at 6 million.
These moves are pure genius. 2 RHD paired together and 2 LHD paired together. Ya can’t make this sh*t up!
Sully is so smart. I hope they keep him forever. I mean, who wants playoff hockey when you can watch Sully’s stupid system of soft No D hockey???
Sully will be here 10 years after the Trio are gone. No need to replace him – he is a genius like Tomlin. All 3 Pitt. sports teams have a bright future with
many, many, many playoff wins and multiple Chsmpionships on the way.
Yay !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No need to lump the Steelers/Pens in with the Pirates.
Bucs fans would kill for a whiff of the success of the other two. Heck, they would kill for 0.500 or any relevant free agent spending.
Graves was playing his best hockey paired with Timmons. Not sure what direction they’re going. Are they seeing if Timmons is top 2 material? Or, if Graves will collapse without him?
Graves doesn’t play well with anyone.
Aaaaaaaaand here we go again. The “third” line of Dewar-Lizotte-Acciari was playing well together. Good puck pursuit, possession times, etc. etc. Sulkagain’s response? “Let’s break them up.”