Faceoff Factor

Job In Limbo For One Of The Top-13 Forwards?

Matt Bodenschatz | Pittsburgh Penguins

Sep 16, 11:08 AM | Hype this story!

After camp yesterday, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins beat writer Jonathan Bombulie had the following to say on his blog:

“I was also talking to a member of the Penguins’ staff about the roster situation at forward. I showed him the 13 forwards that are generally accepted as the favorites to earn spots, and he cryptically told me that one of them was not a sure thing. He didn’t say which one. Mysterious.”

So, let’s assume the top 13 he mentioned are, in camp line order:

Mark Recchi, Sidney Crosby, Petr Sykora, Gary Roberts, Evgeni Malkin, Erik Christensen, Ryan Malone, Jordan Staal, Colby Armstrong, Jarkko Ruutu, Tim Brent, Georges Laraque, and Max Talbot

There would seem to be several players on the brink…

1. Malone – management has made some remarks in the past that they are disappointed in his play and that he has more than what he brings to the ice. If he doesn’t give it his all, he could again fall into that category and fall out of management’s favor.

2. Ruutu – last year, most expected him to come in and be the unthinkable pest that every team would fear. Instead, we got a watered down version, who saw little icetime. He rarely got a chance to prove himself, but when he did get the opportunities, he blew them. Then again, he has a reputation and was adjusting to a new conference with new players. Maybe he needed to educate himself on how to agitate the new players? Again, I would think that, unless he returns to the traditional Ruutu, he could be in danger of losing his spot.

3. Brent – sure, he was brought in to solidify the center position. But, with moving Staal to center and already having Talbot, the team has four capable centers (and several others in Christensen and Malone, who can fill in when needed). Brent has spent little time in the NHL and was acquired by giving up a WBS player who, by most accounts, has little future in the NHL. It’s not like the status of his trade would force management to keep him here.

4. Laraque – he was brought in to Pittsburgh to do one thing: enforce. Many suggest he should fight at every chance. That’s not his job. His job is to patrol, to threaten and, when needed, to fight. He also was considered to be a capable forward, tallying 20+ points last season. He really didn’t show much of that scoring potential or enforcing mentality while in Pittsburgh. In order for him to stay, I would think he would have to show an improvement in his hockey skills (so as to not bog down his line as he often did last year) and a willingness to stand up for teammates, both in a fighting and non-fighting way.

And several players knocking on the door…

1. Hall – he has looked good so far in camp, skating hard, creating offense and playing physical. He is a veteran of 300+ NHL games and has all the tools to be a solid fourth liner and, at worst, an excellent player as an extra forward. That’s not even considering that his salary is likely to be less than Malone’s, Ruutu’s, and Laraque’s, though I would hope management is beyond the point of making decisions in camp based on finances.

2. Tyler Kennedy – he has come into camp dazzling. I’ll admit I believed him to be a long shot prior to seeing him in person yesterday. But if he keeps up his high-tempo style of game, he certainly could be effective on one of the bottom two lines. And that’s not even mentioning the possibility he could have to play on one of the top two-lines. Bombulie had this to say: “...I spoke to a veteran member of the Pittsburgh media who thinks Kennedy is ready to play on Malkin’s right wing right now.”

3. Esposito – he flew around yesterday as if he had been to multiple NHL training camps. He’s very small, but more than willing to play in high traffic areas, taking and dishing out hits. He has the skills to play in the NHL, but only as a scoring forward. For him to make the team, he would have to play on one of the top-two lines (or a scoring third line) in order for his development to continue and for his skills to be utilized most. A Jordan Staal he is not, meaning he wouldn’t be effective as a defensive forward on the fourth line.

4. Jonathan Filewich/Ryan Stone – both seemed rather invisible yesterday, though when I watched for them, both made nice plays. Both provide that power forward potential to the team, but also have the tools to play a defensively-responsible game. I think Filewich might have more of a chance at a top-line role, but both seem to be equal in terms of their chances of making the team.

Lastly, several players likely are safe, despite indications to the contrary…

1. Christensen – he hasn’t lived up to his potential in the past two years. He has all the skill in the world to be a top-line sniper, but his head seems to prevent him from acheiving that success. The show of confidence in camp by putting him with Malkin indicated that management is far from giving up on this player.

2. Talbot – despite forming a line with non-roster players Angelo Esposito and Adam Hall, Talbot has done everything management has asked of him. He forechecks ferociously, he defends relentlessly, and he agitates with the best of them. That’s not even mentioning his slight scoring touch and his skills as a penalty killer. His roster spot is secure.

3. Armstrong – rumors surfaced during the summer that this locker room favorite could be on the trading block. Obviously they were proven wrong, as he is still here. Regardless, what isn’t there to like about this guy? He has an uncanny sense for making unbelievably huge hits, he plays a solid defensive and penalty-killing game, and he has an offensive upside. And, again, he is one of the most well-liked players in the locker room. Don’t underestimate the importance of someone who can keep things light before an intense game.

So there you have it — my take on who might be that unexpected cut, and who might be the one to force that cut.