Pittsburgh Penguins: Reducing the Training Camp Roster
The Pittsburgh Penguins have decided to opt for experience over youth for the remainder of training camp.
On September 26th, the Pittsburgh Penguins website released a list of players who are being sent to the team’s AHL affiliate, the Wilkes/ Barre – Scranton Penguins.
The most prominent names on the list were Zachary Aston-Reese and Daniel Sprong. These two, along with Teddy Blueger and Adam Johnson impressed during their time in camp. However, the Penguins chose to retain more seasoned forwards in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh Penguins
The guys listed above will get a shot to play with the big club at some point this season. They’ve got the skill, they just need the right opportunity. And injuries always happen.
Bubble players that made it to the 26 man roster include PTO-receiver Jay McClement, great-hockey-name-haver Gregg McKegg, and (former?) whipping boy Derrick Pouliot.
With McKegg and McClement proving enough to stick around on the 26 man roster, the seemingly up-for-grabs third line center spot is still interesting. We haven’t seen enough of McKegg to know if he could step into the role. Should McClement make the team, he would pull 4th line duties with some minutes on the penalty kill.
My money is on Carter Rowney to fill the role, at least to start the season. Scott Wilson has also played center, but is listed as a winger on the latest roster release.
Shifting to defense, many people speculate that this could be the final opportunity for Derrick Pouliot to prove himself in Pittsburgh. If he can continue to play well he should see some games, rotating with Matt Hunwick and Chad Ruhwedel. However, Pittsburgh could just be fattening the frog for the snake, as Pouliot could prove to be an attractive bargaining chip come deadline time.
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