With training camp for the Pittsburgh Penguins in full swing, the team has been able to get a close-up view of their upcoming roster decisions. Some players have used the added opportunities to their advantage while others have seen their stock within the organization sink. The remainder of training camp and the preseason provides the players a shot to prove their worth moving forward.
Perhaps the biggest disappointments for the club early on has been the lack of younger players stepping up. Some of their highly regarded prospects just haven't made as much of a positive impact as you'd prefer to see at this point in training camp. Pittsburgh is hoping to usher in a new age of stars, but it doesn't seem they have any when it comes to those in their developmental system.
After the Penguins announced a couple of week-to-week injuries to Ben Kindel and Blake Lizotte, plus the tragic passing of Andrei Kuzmenko's father, there are roster spots up for grabs. Maybe they won't be positions that hang around for the entire season, but they could carve a path to stick around. Opportunities only come around so often, and some are taking advantage of those more than others.
Pittsburgh Penguins training camp disappointments who could miss out on NHL roster
Rutger McGroarty
This was a big training camp for Rutger McGroarty, and he just hasn't stood out as much as you'd like to see.
He remains one of the higher rated prospects in the Penguins system, but he has yet to prove he can take the next step in his development. You'd prefer to see him gain a roster spot and see significant playing time until players return to the lineup, but McGroarty will have a tough time making the team.
Arturs Silovs
Maybe his chances of falling off the Penguins team are slim, but it's not something to rule out. His preseason was a disaster thus far, and Arturs Silovs could be in trouble pretty soon. He is a veteran goalie who showed a lot of promise last season. Since then, things have started to go south. Pittsburgh might have to count on Sergei Murashov early because of Silovs' follies.
Ville Koivunen
The contract extension of Ville Koivunen continues to age like spoiled milk with each passing day. He might've bulked up for this year, but he hasn't done enough at training camp to show he has promise to live up to his current deal. The Penguins continue to look insane for signing that contract, and the fact that Koivunen probably won't make the NHL roster only makes them seem like inadequate fools.
Justin Brazeau
He might have a ton of NHL experience and coming off one of his best statistical seasons of his career, but the writing has been on the wall for Justin Brazeau.
Maybe he will make the team out of training camp, even though others might be more deserving. The Penguins could hang onto Brazeau as a proven commodity in the league and someone who can be plugged in and out of the lineup when necessary.
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