"Nothing is inevitable."
That's what Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan told his team on Day 1 of training camp when it came to competition for roster spots and playing time heading into the 2021-22 campaign.
"The reality of pro hockey is that some guys are going to play their way off the roster, other guys are going to play their way on the roster," he said. "You've got to earn your way every single day, and that's the beauty of pro hockey."
Breaking Down the Penguins Roster Heading into Opening Night
And with this year being a unique circumstance, as Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin will be sidelined to start the season for varying lengths of time, that provided even more opportunities for players to show what they had over the past couple of weeks. Now that training camp has concluded and the Penguins are set to open the regular season tonight in Tampa Bay, we took a look at each individual on the current roster
following this morning's moves
.
But before we get to that, another oft-used Sullivan phrase to keep in mind is that "nothing is etched in stone." There were difficult decisions that had to be made, particularly with some of the younger guys like Radim Zohorna and P.O Joseph, and we'll almost certainly see those players at different points throughout the year.
Now, without further ado...
PROJECTED OPENING-NIGHT LINEUP
Heinen-Carter-Rust
Zucker-Rodrigues-Kapanen
McGinn-Blueger-Simon
O'Connor-Boyle-Lafferty
Dumoulin-Letang
Pettersson-Marino
Friedman-Ruhwedel
Jarry
DeSmith
Ruled out for tonight: Crosby, Malkin, Guentzel, Aston-Reese, Matheson
FORWARDS
Anthony Angello
A phrase the 25-year-old used more than once during training camp was that he had to play "Anthony Angello hockey" in order to see more playing time in Pittsburgh. What exactly does that entail? "Playing physical, winning my battles, being strong on the puck, getting under (opponents') skin, winning the net-front, winning the walls, being smart with the puck and playing 200 feet, making sure I'm reliable on the offensive and defensive side of the puck," he explained. Sullivan said that the biggest thing for Angello is that he brings that type of game consistently.
Zach Aston-Reese
Confirming positive for COVID on Sep. 27 set the winger back. But he returned to team practice on Oct. 8, and the Penguins are monitoring him every day as he progresses towards a return-to play point. Aston-Reese had a career-high nine goals in 45 games last season, and said individually, he'd like to add even more offense this season. "Instead of rimming pucks around the net or trying to give an extra pass, maybe being a little bit more of a shooter, trying to get to the net a little bit more," he said. Once everyone is healthy, he'll be competing for a role in the bottom-six.
Brian Boyle
The Penguins signed the veteran of 12 NHL seasons to a professional tryout contract before camp, and after a solid showing, he earned a one-year contract with the team. They believe he can contribute in a few different areas. Boyle adds to their center depth, which is valuable considering Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are both sidelined to start the season, and can be a leadership presence in their absences. Boyle can help with faceoffs and on the penalty kill, two areas the Penguins struggled in last season. And lastly, the big forward - who measures 6-foot-6 and 245 pounds - can bring some of that size and toughness that Hextall has been looking for. He's quite an amazing story, and hopefully this turns out to be another great chapter.
FEATURE: Penguins Feel Boyle Can Bring a Lot to the Team
Teddy Blueger
Penguins assistant general manager Patrik Allvin said this summer that he thinks that Blueger - who signed a two-year contract extension this summer - still has another step to climb. Sullivan agrees, especially considering how underrated his two-way game is. "I think his offensive game has really grown in the time that he's played here in the NHL, and we think it's only going to get better," Sullivan said. "So we're real happy with the traction he's made on the offensive side, and I think everybody's well aware how solid he is defensively." Blueger essentially has the third-line center spot locked down.
Jeff Carter
All this man has done is score goals since the Penguins acquired him from Los Angeles at the trade deadline last season. He recorded 13 goals in 20 regular-season and playoff games combined, and seems poised to pick up right where he left off, as the 36-year-old looked really strong in his threepreseason appearances. The Penguins are fortunate to have a veteran like Carter there to help fill the void both on and off the ice in Crosby and Malkin's absences.
READ: Counting on Carter
Sidney Crosby
The Penguins captain joined team practice on Saturday (Oct. 8) for the first time since undergoing a successful wrist procedure on Sep. 8. He was given a recovery timeline of a minimum of six weeks, which would take him to Oct. 20, right before Pittsburgh's fifth game of the season. And Sullivan said that Crosby is right on schedule. "He's in terrific shape, and he's making real encouraging progress." As of now, Crosby is designated as injured non-roster.
Jake Guentzel
The winger, who turned 27 on Oct. 6, returned to team practice on Monday (Oct. 11) after confirming positive for COVID-19 on Oct. 3. He will not play in the season opener, but like Aston-Reese, Sullivan said they will be monitoring his progress from there. Guentzel finished second on the team with 23 goals in 56 games last year, but wasn't happy with his performance in Round 1, which was an uncharacteristic showing from the noted playoff performer. "I changed some things in the weight room, just trying to get bigger and stronger, but also trying to get a lot faster," he said. "So I think for me, it was pretty much just getting back to what helped me have success in the past and make sure I'm stronger, but also quicker at the same time."
Danton Heinen
Sullivan singled out Heinen as someone who's stood out during training camp. The Penguins had some familiarity with his game when they inked him to a one-year deal this summer, but after watching the 26-year-old on a daily basis, they've been quite impressed with what they've seen. Heinen has the offensive instincts to play on the top line with Jeff Carter and Bryan Rust like he's doing now, but is also capable of filling a bottom-six role. "The point is, we have versatility there," Sullivan said. "He's another guy that can play both sides. He can play off wing, he can play the strong side." They're also trying to get him experience on the penalty kill, since he'll likely see time there when the team is healthy.
READ: Heinen Off to a Great Start
Kasperi Kapanen
This kid really does seem poised for a breakout year. It feels like arriving on time after being delayed last year and just starting off on the right foot has made a world of difference for Kapanen, who put in the work during the offseason and throughout training camp to position himself to have success. The 24-year-old said on Monday that this is probably the best shape he's ever been in heading into a season, and his confidence is at a high right now. "I think he has an elite game, and I think there's untapped potential and so much room for growth," Sullivan said. "There isn't any aspect of the game that Kappy can't excel at, in my opinion. He's got explosive speed. He's got good size, he's strong, he can make plays. My hope is that I can push him to get to another level. We're going to push him hard, because we think he's capable."
Sam Lafferty
In order to make more of an impact in his third season with the Penguins, Sullivan said that Lafferty has to understand how to play to his strengths, something they've had a lot of conversations about over the past couple of years. The Penguins would like him to emulate a player like departed winger Brandon Tanev. "Sam has great size, he's really strong, he's a tremendous skater, he brings a ton of speed, and he has the ability to bring a physical dimension to our team," Sullivan said. "So he can create a lot of opportunity just by his energy and his speed and forcing our opponents to have to do things under pressure. I think if he does that consistently, I really think Sam could help our team." Sullivan added that if Lafferty can add penalty killing to his game and gain the trust of the coaching staff in that capacity, he will challenge for a consistent roster spot.
Evgeni Malkin
The Penguins center, who has been placed on long-term injured reserve, will miss at least the first two months of the season as he continues to rehab from offseason knee surgery. He posted a photo to his Instagram account on Sep. 24 of him flexing while riding an exercise bike with the caption, "I will be back soon". The Penguins certainly can't wait for that day to come.
Brock McGinn
The Penguins had McGinn at the top of their list during free agency, signing the 27-year-old forward to a four-year contract. General manager Ron Hextall called him an "inside player" who scores goals around the net, blocks shots and does all the little things necessary to win games. He'll be a solid addition to the bottom-six. "He's done a really good job, and it's been a lot of fun playing with him," Aston-Reese said. "I know there's that thing he's Brandon Tanev's replacement, but at the end of the day, he brings a different style, and that's not a bad thing at all. I think Tans might be one of the fastest guys in the league, so when it comes to that department, it's hard to replace it. But where he might give up a little speed, Brock has a little more touch and things like that. Away from the rink, he's a great guy as well."
Drew O'Connor
The 23-year-old forward has been the breakout star of training camp. After appearing in 10 games for Pittsburgh last season, he went home and worked hard to get stronger and faster, and it has showed. "Drew deserves a lot of credit for the work that he's put in to give himself the best chance to be successful," Sullivan said. "He's taken advantage of the opportunity that he's been given throughout the course of training camp to try and show all of us why he's as good as he is, and why he is deserving of being in the lineup or being on the Pittsburgh Penguins roster." He's got good size (6-foot-3, 200 pounds), skating ability and can really shoot the puck. While he's a natural wing, the Penguins have been trying him at center as well so he can continue adding more dimension to his game. He will fill a bottom-six role, with Sullivan saying he needs to work on being conscientious defensively.
READ: O'Connor Impressing with His Confidence and Conviction
Evan Rodrigues
The ever-versatile forward is such a reliable player for the Penguins who can plug in wherever the team needs him. Right now, that's as the second-line center between two skilled wingers in Kasperi Kapanen and Jason Zucker. Rodrigues has some pretty good offensive instincts himself, as he set up Kapanen with a beautiful feed and is seeing time on the second PP unit. But regardless of the role he plays, Rodrigues really is just such a pro who quietly goes about his business and does what he can to contribute.
Bryan Rust
The 29-year-old winger has joked on numerous occasions throughout training camp that he's one of the old guys now, but his game just keeps getting better with each passing year. And he's gone from being one of the guys who moves around the lineup to a fixture in the top-six, with Sullivan saying he's never seen a player develop his game as much as Rust has. After scoring a career-high 27 goals in 55 games in 2019-20, he followed that up with 22 goals in 56 games last year. We'll see what he has in store for us this year.
Dominik Simon
When the Penguins first brought Simon back for a second stint, there were no guarantees he would be with Pittsburgh, as Hextall said training camp would dictate whether he was here or in WBS. Credit to the 27-year-old forward for earning his spot. "He's a guy that is hungry, and it's evident," Sullivan said. "He's strong on pucks. He makes plays. He's been reliable defensively, and it's consistent. A lot of Dom's game, there's subtleties. The type of game that he brings I think is complementary and versatile, depending on where we use him in the lineup, bottom-six or top-six. He can play the offside, he can play his strong side on the wing. He's a real versatile player. I think he's had a pretty good camp."
Jason Zucker
The 29-year-old winger could be an X-factor for the Penguins if he is able to do what he does best on a consistent basis. Sullivan said one of the reasons why they acquired the five-time 20-goal scorer from Minnesota in February 2020 was because he plays a straight-ahead Game, he's got good speed, and can really shoot. Zucker said he needs to focus on getting more pucks to the net after trying to make too many plays last year. "He's a competitive guy and a proud guy who expects a lot of himself," Sullivan said. "I would expect that Zuck's going to have a good year for us. He's an important player."
READ: "I'm a Shooter and a Goal Scorer": Zucker Looks to Play to His Strengths
DEFENSEMEN
Brian Dumoulin
It's been amazing to see Dumoulin, who turned 30 (!) on Sep. 6, evolve into a leader of not just the defense, but the team in general. He'll likely be wearing an A with Crosby and Malkin both out to start the year. Hextall called Dumoulin a "tower of strength" on the blue line, which is an apt description for the stabilizing presence he provides while anchoring the top pair alongside Kris Letang.
Mark Friedman
Don't be surprised to see the Penguins use Friedman on more of a situational basis, especially versus more physical opponents. Those are the types of matchups the 25-year-old, in his first full season with Pittsburgh after being claimed off waivers from Philadelphia, thrives in. "Whenever I get the opportunity, I'm just going to play my game and play fast and hard hockey and be a pest out there," he said.
Kris Letang
Check out this feature for everything you need to know about where the 34-year-old is at both physically and mentally heading into this season.
John Marino
The 24-year-old defenseman is looking to find another level to his game entering his third NHL season after first making the team as a rookie out of training camp in 2019. Both he and the Penguins feel like there is untapped potential that could help solidify the blue line. Both Sullivan and Dumoulin lauded his 200-foot ability. "He can get up in the play, he's strong, he can skate," Dumoulin said.d "Makes really good decisions, and he can defend really well. He's got a good stick. He's deceptive. So a lot of it is just little plays he makes that make it easy on other guys."
Mike Matheson
During training camp, Zucker mentioned how having a relatively normal season would help make guys like Matheson, now in his second season with Pittsburgh, even more comfortable. It will be exciting to see how that translates on the ice with the 27-year-old blueliner, whose pure skating ability is just a sight to behold. During one of the preseason games, Matheson picked up a puck at the half wall in his own zone, circled the Penguins net, and went coast-to-coast like it was nothing before quickly getting right back into position. Sullivan said the key for Matheson is taking what the game gives him and not trying to complicate things. He will not play in the opener as he deals with a nagging lower-body injury.
Marcus Pettersson
Like Marino, the Penguins believe that Pettersson can take another step in his game, and he put in the work this summer to do so. "For me, I want to play more. To do that, you've got to be responsible on the ice and have the trust from the coach," said 25-year-old, who averaged 16:29 minutes last season. He pointed to Matheson as someone he wants to emulate more this year. "One thing for me is get a lot of pucks to the net and follow up on the play," Pettersson said. "You look at a guy like Matheson who came in here last year, first year with the team, and he did an awesome job. You see how mobile he is and follows up on the play and makes plays from there."
Chad Ruhwedel
He ended the preseason on a high note with his performance in Pittsburgh's final exhibition game. He was solid at both ends of the ice, playing solid defensively - especially on the penalty kill - and scoring a goal in their 4-3 overtime win over Columbus. He is such a professional who does an incredible job of staying in shape and staying ready when the team needs him, and it looks like he's earned the right to start the year in the Penguins' lineup. Very well-deserved.
GOALTENDERS
Tristan Jarry
The spotlight is certainly going to be on the 26-year-old netminder, but new goaltending coach Andy Chiodo told him to "be where your feet are - regardless of last year's outcome, it's a new day." And right now, Jarry is heading into this new season with plenty of confidence, especially after getting to play in two full preseason games plus half of another. "Not having any exhibition games last year, I think that played a big part in how the season started," Jarry said. "I think it's something that a lot of players missed and something that helps you prepare. It's something that gets you ready and gets you prepared in a way you can't get in the summer." Hopefully, he can round back into his All-Star form and just have more consistency.
READ: "Be Where Your Feet Are"
Casey DeSmith
DeSmith's coach and teammates often use the word "battler" to describe their goaltender, and I feel like that intensity has also gone to another level after his season ended early due to injury. "It was tough sitting at home watching the games on TV and not being able to do anything or help the guys," he said earlier in camp. "Definitely a frustrating spot, somewhere I've never been before. But hopefully that's the last time." He looked strong and athletic in his two-plus preseason appearances, and you can tell DeSmith wants to do everything he can to help the Penguins win more hockey games this year and have a better end result.
