So far, Aston-Reese fits in on eye-opening new line

PENGUINS, FROM D-1 game,” assistant coach Jacques Martin said Tuesday afternoon. “He really brings a physical presence to a line, whoever he is playing with.”

Aston-Reese, who hails from Staten Island, also hustles back on defense and is reliable there. Plus, he is not afraid to throw a punch or two, which could be necessitated playing with Malkin given how often the big Russian seems to be surrounded by angry opponents.

“I think with Zach, it’s just making sure that he plays within his strengths,” Martin said.

In other words, don’t try to do too much.

Aston-Reese, a former Hobey Baker Award finalist who went undrafted, is in the second season of the two-year entry-level contract he signed in March 2017. He started the season in the AHL, got called up to Pittsburgh, made a cameo on Crosby’s wing and then was sidelined by an upper-body injury.

He impressed Mike Sullivan’s coaching staff enough to be asked to suit up for nine playoff games. But he didn’t make much of impact, tallying just one assist before an illegal hit from Washington’s Tom Wilson broke his jaw, concussed him and ended his first pro season.

Despite the painful and frustrating end to the season, Aston-Reese believes it was “a great learning experience” that showed him what he needed to improve as a player to stick in the NHL.

“One of the biggest things is skating. That’s something that can always be improved upon,” he said. “But for me, just being in good shape and being able to handle heavy minutes and play both ways.”

Despite being able to slurp down only soup and smoothies for several weeks, Aston-Reese considers himself “pretty lucky” that he didn’t lose too much weight while recovering from his broken jaw.

“I was around my family, and they were making sure I got enough sustenance,” he said, chuckling.

Aston-Reese returned to Pittsburgh feeling strong physically and mentally. And Malkin and Kessel, two of the team’s biggest characters, are making him feel at home on their line.

“I think it’s always different just when you’re acquainted with those guys,” he said. “You can talk a little bit. You don’t have to grip your stick as tight. You can joke around, things like that.”

But Aston-Reese knows he can’t get too comfortable. His two-way deal allows the Penguins to shuffle him between the NHL and AHL without subjecting him to waivers. So even if he is one of their top dozen forwards at the end of the preseason, he could still be sent back to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

His plan is to just go out there in the preseason and hit somebody, be a two-way presence and put the puck in the net whenever opportunities present themselves. If he does that, the rest will take care of itself.