7 players head for world championship
The Penguins, following their stunning exit from the NHL playoffs just six days after they started, will be well represented at the IIHF ice hockey world championship when the puck drops on that tournament next month.
Seven Penguins have accepted invitations to represent their respective countries in the tournament — Sidney Crosby is not among them because he wanted the rest — and each of those players to varying degrees has something to prove in Slovakia:
Evgeni Malkin: The Russian is the highest-profile Penguin playing in the tournament and will get an opportunity to remind the hockey world that he can still be an elite player after a disappointing 2018-19 season that has the Penguins organization no longer viewing the three-time Cup winner and former MVP as an untouchable. Perhaps more important, Malkin will get an opportunity to remind himself of that, too. It’s also worth noting Malkin opted to play instead of resting like Crosby, which suggests his late-season upper-body injury must not have hampered him too much against the New York Islanders. He had three points in the sweep.
Matt Murray: Murray, who carried the Penguins into the playoffs with his strong play in March, is the presumptive starter for the Canadians. Their other goalies are fellow Thunder Bay, Ontario, native Mackenzie
Blackwood and Carter Hart. Murray was solid against the Islanders, but Robin Lehner outshined him at the other end. So now he will look to add to his big-game resume playing for Canada. The Penguins no doubt will want Murray to thrive, but given his injury history, they’ll probably be satisfied if he makes it out of the tournament unscathed.
Patric Hornqvist: The feisty Swede had just three goals and nine assists in the final 40 games of the season, including four pointless
playoff games. Will Hornqvist be productive in international play, helping him rediscover some confidence? He didn’t appear to be the same player after suffering his second concussion of the season.
Marcus Pettersson: Joining Hornqvist on Team Sweden is the rookie defenseman who was so steady after the Penguins acquired him for Daniel Sprong. Getting this invitation to play at the world championship is a nice reward for Pettersson, who will look to show his country that it can count on him in the future.
Jared McCann: McCann, like Pettersson, is looking to build on a promising debut in Pittsburgh. Apparently OK now after suffering a shoulder injury during the playoffs that sidelined him for one game, McCann could get a chance to skate alongside top-line NHL talents like John Tavares, Mark Stone and Jonathan Marchessault. He fared pretty well next to that Crosby guy when given the chance in March.
Dominik Simon: How do you say Corsi in Czech? The young winger was a popular topic among fans and talk radio yakkers because his advanced metrics didn’t match his box score stats. The criticism of him was a bit much given the coach, not Simon, was the one who put him on the top line in the playoffs. This is a great opportunity for Simon, who could again find himself playing in a topsix role.
Teddy Blueger: The Latvian had a promising rookie season after the Penguins finally called him up in January. His responsible twoway play and surprising scoring touch should get him penciled in for a bottomsix role entering training camp. Latvia likely will be overmatched at the world championship. But it will be another measuring stick for Blueger as he looks to carve out his NHL future.
Group play begins May 10, and the world championship tournament wraps up 16 days later. The games will be televised on NHL Network.