Pittsburgh Penguins: Playoff schedules and roster updates
As the playoffs inch closer, the Pittsburgh Penguins had two updates that happened in the past 24 hours. First, the schedule; second, a defensive holdout.
In more recent news, the Pittsburgh Penguins defensive backfill, Zach Trotman, will not be a part of the Stanley Cup Playoff roster come next month. According to PGH Hockey Now, Trotman has pre-existing asthma, and the team had chosen not to chance it when the live-action starts.
It was extremely doubtful that he was making it into the starting lineup, more like a healthy scratch. Regardless, now that the tables have turned in this direction, things have opened up for the youngster Pierre-Olivier Joseph. It was already clear that Joseph would be getting a clear shot, now he might have just gotten the boost needed.
That boost is coming just weeks before the playoffs will commence, and that leads us right into the second part of the news that has come out since Friday night. On Friday, the NHL and the NHLPA finally finalized their “return to play” plans as well as an extension to the CBA. Meaning in simple terms, it’s a great day for hockey!
Pittsburgh Penguins playoff schedule and roster updates
https://twitter.com/penguins/status/1281736055994159105?s=20
Due to the pandemic that has swept this country and the world, all of the Eastern Conference matchups will be played in Toronto. In short, the Penguins will just have to make the quick jump across the border in the coming weeks. As you can see from above, the Penguins vs. Canadiens matchup will take place every other day starting August 1st and, if needed, play again on the 8th.
Before all of this happens, the Penguins and the rest of the playoff-bound teams will begin training camps on Monday, July 13th. They will finally get to play and practice in groups more significant than the past month or so. It’s not a lot of time to get everyone together before they must travel to their hub city and quarantine, but it’s more than what was previously granted.
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It’s still hard to see how the NHL will pull this off, but with all of this in mind, it’s exciting. As much as we try not to get overly excited, it’s hard not too. Hockey is back, or soon will be, and it gives us all something to take our minds off of during this long, hot summer.