Penguins
Penguins Practice: Shea Skates But Limited; Slight Line Changes
Defenseman Ryan Shea, whose upper-body injury has him listed as being out week-to-week, skated before Pittsburgh Penguins practice Wednesday at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, but in limited fashion — he used only his right hand on his stick.
Shea has missed one game. Before he got hurt, he had been elevated to the top pairing with Kris Letang.
Defenseman P.O Joseph, who is also out week-to-week because of an upper-body injury, apparently did not skate. He has missed five games.
Forward Tommy Novak, who is listed as day-to-day because of a lower-body injury, also did not skate or practice. He has missed one game.
All healthy players participated in practice.
They made some changes to the lines from their overtime win Tuesday against Vegas. Winger Danton Heinen moved up to the second line, and winger Boko Imama moved up to the third line.
Penguins lines, pairs
Rickard Rakell-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust
Danton Heinen-Evgeni Malkin-Philip Tomasino
Boko Imama-Kevin Hayes-Emil Bemstrom
Connor Dewar-Blake Lizotte-Noel Acciari
Vladislav Koyachonok-Kris Letang
Matt Grzelcyk-Erik Karlsson
Ryan Graves-Conor Timmons
Dave Molinari contributed to this report.
Boy, looking at this lineup is ROUGH! Hopefully in the offseason Kyle can add a few meaningful pieces to help this team improve. I like the strategy of subtracting players in order to add draft picks and cap space, but subtract any more and this team will be unwatchable! Kyle, it’s time to add!!! 🤞🏻
Boko played less than five minutes yesterday and now he is on the third line!!
Yep, pretty soon Nieto on the 1st line? 😱
I know the Crosby line with Rakell and Rust has been the only line contributing any consistent offense but why not move Rust down to Malkin’s line to try to get a spark out of 2nd line and (hopefully maybe?) more balanced scoring?
At this point who cares…
For me it’s all about Sid getting a point per game for the year and hopefully seeing Geno score some more. I do hope they add good young NHL ready talent in the offseason. We have plenty of picks, let’s use some in trades!
Looking ahead what are odds that Dubas can land Marner this summer? We need at least one mld-age premium star to help this offense. Others?