Penguins

Penguins Wrap: Could Kessel Come Back?; Don’t Doubt Dubas

Published

1 year ago

September 10, 2023

Dave Molinari

The temperature is dropping, and the anticipation for the Pittsburgh Penguins’ season ahead is rising.

We must be on the far side of Labor Day.

Informal player workouts have begun at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, and the countdown to Sept. 21, when Mike Sullivan and his staff will begin constructing — and instructing — their regular-season roster on the first day of training camp is well underway.

Until then, here’s a look back at how the past week played out for the Pittsburgh Penguins:

Sunday

Phil Kessel, an important contributor on the Penguins’ Stanley Cup-winning teams in 2016 and 2017, is an unrestricted free agent and looking for a team. Should the Penguins consider a reunion?

Monday

There are some fun NHL cities that Pittsburgh Penguins fans should try to visit if they get a chance. Here are the five best (outside of the Metropolitan Division, anyway).

Tuesday

Penguins players, including newcomers Lars Eller and Reilly Smith, begin to gather in Cranberry for informal workouts in advance of training camp.

This is the flip side of Monday’s story. These are five NHL cities that fans shouldn’t bother getting to.

Wednesday

Kyle Dubas makes a major addition to his staff, bringing in former San Jose GM Doug Wilson as a senior advisor.

Many Penguins partisans have made the trek to Buffalo for games over the years, but the Sabres’ front office has devised a plan to limit the number of fans from outside their arena who make it inside KeyBank Center.

Thursday

Although the Penguins are a better team than at the end of last season, there is still the possibility additional trades will be needed.

Friday

Although Kyle Dubas was a long shot to run the Penguins’ hockey operations when Ron Hextall was fired as GM, he ended up with the job — and has done some outstanding work during the past three-plus months.

First-round draft picks Brayden Yager and Sam Poulin will headline the Penguins’ roster for the upcoming Prospects Challenge tournament in Buffalo.

Here’s the Penguins’ promotional schedule for the coming season, including three bobblehead giveaways.

Former Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations Brian Burke is in the five-member Class of 2023 that will be inducted to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in December.