Let The Games Begin...

Matt Bodenschatz | Pittsburgh Penguins

Sep 16, 11:55 AM | Hype this story!

The Pittsburgh Penguins today will report to camp for physicals and team photos.

The official roster has not been released, but a preliminary look can be found here. Note that there are bound to be some significant changes.

So here is what we know for sure:

  • 50 players, not including Ryan Whitney, have been invited to camp, and an official roster should be made available at some point today
  • Among those who participated in rookie camp who made the cut are forwards Luca Caputi, Dustin Jeffrey, and Casey-Pierro Zabotel; defenseman Alex Goligoski; and goalies John Curry and Dan Brown.
  • Roster cuts will begin much earlier than usual, as the team will head to Europe in 10 days with a 24-man roster (one player more than typically allowed during regular season games).
  • With just four preseason games before the trip to Europe, coach Michel Therrien said he wants the NHL players to play in at least three games each, meaning few youngsters with little chance to make the team will dress.
  • Few roster positions have been determined, though it seems likely newly-acquired forward Miroslav Satan will get the longest look on Sidney Crosby’s right side and Jordan Staal on Evgeni Malkin and Petr Sykora left side.
  • There are no plans for where Ruslan Fedotenko and Janne Pesonen will fit into the lineup, though Pesonen is expected to be used on both wings.

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Comments

  1. KG

    Sep 16, 12:15 PM

    This is the list of un-signed players (I am pretty sure it is accurate). Any of these players you think would interest the pens?

    (C) Sundin, Mats
    (C) Forsberg, Peter
    (C) Smolinski, Bryan
    (C) Smith, Mark
    (C) Chubarov, Artem
    (C) Perreault, Yanic
    (L) Shanahan, Brendan
    (L) Gelinas, Martin
    (L) Sanderson, Geoff
    (L) Rasmussen, Erik
    (L) Hlavac, Jan
    (R) Selanne, Teemu
    (R) Parrish, Mark
    (R) Glen Murray
    (R) Lapointe, Martin
    (R) Boulerice, Jesse

    (D) Hedican, Bret
    (D) Carney, Keith
    (D) Malik, Marek
    (D) Miller, Aaron
    (D) Pratt, Nolan
    (D) Ozolinsh, Sandis
    (D) Yonkman, Nolan
    (D) Norton, Brad
    (D) Semenov, Alexei

    (G) Thibault, Jocelyn
    (G) Aubin, Jean-Sebastien

  2. Matt Bodenschatz

    Sep 16, 12:31 PM

    Let me take a quick stab at this for you, KG. Nice list, by the way.

    The Penguins are comfortable in goal, so we can eliminate the former Pens backstoppers, and I think the same can be said on defense, unless intentions are to find a cheaper replacement for Sydor so the veteran can be shopped. I find this an unlikely scenario.

    At forward, there are a few players the are interesting. First, let me say that the only names I have heard connected to the Penguins are Brian Smolinski and Brendan Shanahan (very early in free agency). The rest are unknowns.

    I would say the two I would most like to see show up on a tryout contract are Shanahan and Parrish. Shanahan would be nice to have on the fourth line and on the top power play unit, while Parrish might be a nice backup plan in case two of Fedotenko, Staal and Pesonen don’t secure the left wing spots on the top two lines.

    The Penguins’ biggest need, in my opinion, is a big, physical center capable of winning draws on the fourth line. That player doesn’t seem to be available.

    I would say we can expect one invitation, two at the very most, as Shero has said he plans to trim the roster down to the bare bones as quickly as possible.

  3. KG

    Sep 16, 01:03 PM

    I would look into Smolinski. He is a RH center who can win draws. He can PK and work the 4th line.

  4. Matt Bodenschatz

    Sep 16, 01:16 PM

    Yeah, I suppose he wouldn’t be a bad fit. I would like to see more grit on the fourth line, though.

  5. Dabich

    Sep 16, 03:56 PM

    Smoke isn’t grit at all. He is a former Pen and I remember him. Decent player, but not what we need.

  6. Eric

    Sep 17, 01:00 AM

    Someone who can win faceoffs? Perreault?

  7. Matt Bodenschatz

    Sep 17, 12:01 PM

    Well, the players have reported, practices have begun, and there were no invitations.

    If anything, this team needs a bit more grit. Faceoffs will come, as Crosby and Malkin will improve and others can step in. But a middleweight fighter is definitely needed. Ryan Stone, anyone?

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