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Penguins Wrap: Heading West; No Fire Sale; Rust Hurt

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Kyle Dubas, Pittsburgh Penguins, Penguins trade talk
Kyle Dubas

The Pittsburgh Penguins this week headed out for the West Coast portion of their season-long road trip with, at least at first, mixed results. A win that could serve as a template for how to play. Then a loss that left the Penguins perhaps wanting to throw away the game tape.



A couple players missed a bit of time for non-injury reasons. Later in the week, the Penguins were awaiting word on the extent of an injury to top-line winger Bryan Rust.

Along the way, a report surfaced that the Penguins were headed for a fire sale (an unfortunate term given what has been happening in Los Angeles, where the Penguins were witness to an emotional pregame tribute). That report was snuffed.

That doesn’t mean the questions have gone away, though, as the NHL trade deadline inches closer. Will Buffalo be a trade partner?

Catch up on the week. Click the links below.

Sunday: In the aftermath of a loss to long-time rival Washington that is likely to sting for a while, the Penguins might have been at something of a crossroads. They want to be something like the Capitals are now. Perhaps it’s time for president of hockey operations/general manager Kyle Dubas to let rip.

Monday: In one of the surprise off-ice absences of the week, it was announced before the Penguins’ game against the Los Angeles Kings that winger Rickard Rakell had returned to Pittsburgh and would miss the game because of a family matter. Read about that and the ceremony planned by the Kings in this pregame report.

Wow. The Penguins played with desperation, got offense from various sources and chalked up a very nice win in LA.

The Penguins had all the right moves, all the good formulas and matchups against the Kings. They controlled the momentum. Read more about the Xs and Os, including some stellar grades, in the Penguins report card.

Tuesday: While the Penguins players had a day off in California, PHN explored a few things. Such as, the curious case that the team seems to play better when the schedule is busy, the way the team (still) goes as Sidney Crosby goes, and the first wave from that fire sale report. It’s in the Penguins one-timers.

Wednesday: Rickard Rakell was back with the team and on the ice for practice. That meant a demotion for Drew O’Connor in the line combinations. And why is Frank Vatrano a dirty word (OK, two words) for the Penguins? There’s a lot packed into the practice report.

Nope. Nada. Penguins president of hockey operations/general manager made it clear that any reports of the team planning to hold a fire sale are false.

From what coach Mike Sullivan wants from winger Phil Tomasino, to what Sullivan sees in Kevin Hayes’ improved game, a look at where a couple players stand.

Thursday: More interesting stuff from Dubas. He addressed the situation with goaltender Tristan Jarry, calling his demotion to the AHL a “full reset.” Dubas also gave an upbeat update on promising prospect Ville Koivunen. Read Dubas’ comments.

So much for any carryover from that strong game against the Kings. Blake Lizotte was out sick, but Rakell was back. Then Bryan Rust left because of an injury. The Penguins could not convert an early flurry of shots into a full-game effort or a win in a loss at Anaheim.

There were a lot of different emotions, none of them warm and fuzzy, in the wake of the loss. Goalie Alex Nedeljkovic was particularly forthcoming in his assessment. Check out the Penguins reaction.

Friday: The Penguins are going to make trades. It feels inevitable. They have been linked to the Buffalo Sabres in potential deals. Here are three players the Penguins might target for trades.

Lizotte was back, but Rust was not on the ice for a brisk practice before the Penguins flew to Seattle for the next stop on the long road trip. There still was not much of an update on Rust’s status. That and another move for Anthony Beauvillier in the Penguins practice report.