Projecting Penguins Lines & Surprise Cuts with PTOs
The Pittsburgh Penguins training camp is a week away, and despite no official announcement on dates and times, there is light at the end of a long, long off-season tunnel.
The Penguins signed seven-year veteran Colin White to a professional tryout offer on Saturday evening. He’s the second forward and fourth player to sign a PTO. He’s also the fourth player to sign a PTO who would upgrade the Penguins’ speed if he sticks in the lineup.
Penguins president of hockey operations/GM Kyle Dubas has stuffed his roster full of fast players. Where the third and fourth lines have struggled over the last couple of years, now Dubas has not only given Sullivan a potentially lightning-fast set of checking lines but a grocery bag full of choices to make it happen.
Dubas added speed and depth. And then added more. It’s created the most competitive training camp the Penguins have had, perhaps ever. There will be surprises, letdowns, and probably a few players on the waiver wire who won’t slip through unclaimed.
Projecting the Penguins Lines:
*Jake Guentzel-Sidney Crosby-Rickard Rakell
Reilly Smith-Evgeni Malkin-Bryan Rust
Drew O’Connor-Lars Eller-Rem Pitlick
Noel Acciari-Colin White-Jeff Carter
*Guentzel is expected to miss the first two weeks of the regular season.
13th Forward while Guentzel recuperates: Andreas Johnsson.
According to CapFriendly.com, the Penguins are almost $80,000 over the salary cap. Either Rem Pitlick or Matt Nieto must be stashed in the AHL in favor of a bargain contract, such as White (who signed a PTO Saturday), to get under the salary cap.
Pitlick has been a scorer at every level, from the USHL through the University of Minnesota and the AHL. He’s looking for his NHL niche and was an interesting pickup in the Jeff Petry trade.
Stashing Drew O’Connor in the AHL for a near-minimum salaried veteran would also get the Penguins under the cap. O’Connor cannot slack off in camp or the preseason. His isn’t secure enough that he’s immune from losing his roster spot.
The Penguins’ lack of offense in the bottom six could be somewhat corrected by Pitlick or Andreas Johnsson (and O’Connor). However, under the current cap constraints, the Penguins don’t have enough cap space to carry both a 13th forward and a seventh defenseman. They’ll carry a roster of 21 unless additional moves are made.
As PHN covered the first informal workouts last week, Carter struggled in one of the agility drills. Stopping at the blue line and accelerating to the red line and back to the blue line seemed more difficult than it should have been. We attributed that to off-season rustiness, but it is something to watch. Otherwise, Carter must be a part of the Penguins lineup because they cannot afford to replace him.
Penguins Defense
The blue line seems pretty easy, though P.O Joseph presents a potential for the biggest surprise, but not in a good way. He must earn his keep in camp, or PTO Libor Hajek, Ty Smith, or Will Butcher could snatch the third pairing job.
Mark Pysyk signed a PTO, and if he’s healthy after missing last season with an Achilles injury, he’s probably the best choice for third pairing right side.
Ryan Graves-Erik Karlsson
Marcus Pettersson-Kris Letang
P.O Joseph-Mark Pysyk
7th D: Hajek
Predicting Penguins Cuts
Dubas boldly claimed he’s not afraid of losing players on waivers. The Penguins will wish them well.
It seems there could be a couple or few players who don’t clear waivers and join the WBS Penguins, especially if other teams suffer injuries in training camp or preseason.
The depth of forwards could be decided as much on instant chemistry as talent and projections.
Our initial projections don’t have room for Alex Nylander, whose value is likely higher in the fanbase. Nylander must show he can bring the same offensive pop with defensive responsibility that led to his call-up last season. At the NHL level, Nylander had only two points (1-1-2) in nine games.
Without the benefit of camp and preseason, we also chose Pitlick over Nieto to get under the salary cap.
PTO Austin Wagner figures to present an interesting challenge. His speed figures to be everything the Penguins are looking for, but unless another spot opens up, he’ll have to work on his finishing ability at the lower level.
Valtteri Puustinen and Sam Poulin will also ply their craft in WBS again. With a less stacked training camp, one or both would be expected to make the team, but unless they win a job in camp, they’ll head back to the AHL not because Sullivan doesn’t like young players but because others are better options.
Joona Koppinen, Radim Zohorns, Will Butcher, Ty Smith, and Mark Friedman project as the remaining cuts.
Clarification: We also project Chad Ruhwedel and Vinnie Hinostroza as cuts.
Categorized: Penguins Penguins Training Camp Pittsburgh Penguins
You saw that Carter is a shell of himself and his skills will only decline
as the long season progresses.
Dubas should complete the clean sweep of Hack-stall’s mistakes and
trade him for draft picks….
At this point he is a liability every time
he steps on the ice.
Unfortunately he’s on a 35+ contract which automatically carries a no movement clause. I’m sure Dubas would move him if he could. Stuck with one more season
If he doesn’t agree to a trade or being demoted to the AHL so another team can claim him (either of which he HAS t agree to), then they are stuck with him. Buying him out does nothing for the team. So you bench him until he realizes his playing days in Pittsburgh are over. Pure and simple. And if Sullivan doesn’t have the stones to bench him, then it’s time to get a new HC. Sully’s job is to put the best team on the ice on any given night. Not cater to veteran egos.
He has to play games because limited roster spots. 4th line gets like 5-8 minutes a game. He can’t do much damage in that little bit of time vs last season when he was forced to play big minutes with lack of depth.
Unfortunately NMC is just. I’m sure Dubas would like to move on from Carter, unfortunately Carter has to approve any move that happens to him. The only good thing is with all the signings Dubas made this year, Carter’s ice time is drastically cut. Really, this is probably his final season.
Two players that must stay on the roster is Ty Smith and Nylander until the Pens understand whaT they can offer at this level. Hajek and Johnsson must be sent to WBS at least for half the season. There is next to no risk of losing them and close to 100% risk of losing Smith and Nylander.
What body of evidence supports your statement on Ty Smith? I think it would be more appropriate to say he deserves a shot to see what he can offer?
Really? What an uneducated statement. How many 21 year old defenseman even gets to play in the NHL. Only ones with talent do.
“To see what they can do” is the worst argument for keeping a player. I feel like I’ve written that too many times–the team will assess what they can do then keep them or not based on that. The NHL regular season isn’t a tryout, unless a team is in bad shape.
Outside of Joseph and O’Conner there is no one in the 3rd pair or bottom six is worth protecting. Those two have upside. We know what the rest offer. Nothing special. Thank goodness your writing and not coaching.
BTW, it is what happened last year with Joseph. Smith had a better preseason and was sent down because he didn’t have to clear waivers.
I think Smith fans thought he had a better preseason. If you refer back to our preseason game analysis, you might be reminded why he was sent down. The D-zone coverage was not NHL quality.
Regardless…it’s the reality and why the older UFA’s are having trouble finding spots and getting PTOs…teams want to see what they are developing or have developed in their 20-23 year olds…
Carter was exposed last year by the lack of depth. A fourth line/ specialist role is better suited for his age and skills at this point in his career.
Thankfully someone in the Pittsburgh media has given Nylander his proper place. (IN WBS!!!)
This is it for Drew O’Connor. He either wins a spot or is gone next year.
I am still hoping for 1 more deal to move some salary out. If PO is for real it will be Pettersson for a third line wing.
Hey Dan, You and the general media or continuously concerned with the lack of scoring on the bottom six. Personally think with the increase speed and tenacity we will get our scoring chances on the bottom two lines. If they played well defensively when they’re face-offs and chip in with 8 to 10 goals I think we do very good!
We have noted the increase in speed, but a bottom six does have to contribute offense and there is little historical evidence to suggest the players in the Penguins bottom six will do so to an appropriate level. 8-10 goals per player? That would be quite low for an average third line
Nieto will be in the lineup over Pitlick. I still don’t understand the constant criticism of POJ. He was a +8 last season and didn’t always play sheltered minutes. He’s improved each season. He’s a solid and affordable 3rd pair guy and possibly higher in the future. You forgot about Chad Ruhwedal too. Sully loves the guy so I’m sure he’ll carry him again this year. Lol. Bottom line is it’s now up to Sully to find the right recipe. Dubas went above and beyond to give him options on the bottom 6 and elsewhere. If this team stumbles again… Read more »
Above and beyond is so accurate.
The former manage duo was such a contrast. It’s HCMS’s turn now.
It’s not a perfect roster but time will tell, and it’s a hell of a lot easier to get excited about the start of the season than prior years.
Will they cut shippers?
Bold predicting that 3 pto’s will make the team.
The Carter contract is the gift that keeps on giving. The MNC means Carter can veto any move even if Dubas found someone willing to take him.
Isn’t there a reason no NHL team offered these guys a contract and they are only in on a PTO? Brian Boyle was an exception, not the rule. I figure Pysyk to have the only real shot IF he shows he has recovered from the Achilles injury.
Hard to make a generalization there. Pysyk was an obvious PTO to see if he’s healed. Austin Wagner and Hajek fit your statement, but I also see some real potential with those guy to fit the Penguins scheme. Colin White is definitely a player who is probably better in the 4c role than anyone else the Penguins have…
Pitlick’s problems began when he started playing with much bigger guys who can skate as well as he can…he’s very soft…
Something about how you configured the bottom 2 lines seems unlikely. Everyone on thw 3rd line is a lefty and the 4th line is all righties
Good point. I didn’t even consider that.
There are a bunch of guys all over Canada playing beer league hockey who can skate like the wind…