Lafferty excited by playoff possibilities
Rookie moves up as absences rise among forwards
In the first hours after Sam Lafferty boarded a plane at Los Angeles International Airport for his second cross-country flight in as many days, the thought surely crossed his mind that he might not see his NHL teammates for a while.
It was Feb. 24, the Penguins had just acquired three veteran forwards at the trade deadline and Nick Bjugstad was about to return from injured reserve. Lafferty and fellow rookie Anthony Angello got hip-checked down the depth chart.
It looked as if Lafferty might finish his season with WilkesBarre/Scranton, where he likely would be better off playing 20plus minutes a night in the American Hockey League instead of settling for leftover practice reps in Pittsburgh.
Circumstances changed, of course. More injuries in Pittsburgh necessitated his presence. Then, the pandemic hit. In the pause, Bjugstad had surgery after yet another setback. Dominik Simon underwent a season-ending procedure, too. Patric Hornqvist remains out due to potential exposure to COVID-19.
Unexpectedly, Lafferty could end up showing off a playoff beard after all.
“I’m just super excited. That’s what you dream about as a kid, playing in the playoffs. I know it’s going to be a lot of fun,” said this Hollidaysburg, Pa., native, who turned 25 in March. “Also, I know I’m an NHL player, so I know I’m going to be ready whenever my number’s called and I’m going to help the team.”
With Hornqvist still in limbo, Lafferty skated on the third line in the first four days of training camp at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. Evan Rodrigues and he split time at right wing alongside Jared McCann and Patrick Marleau.
Mike Sullivan, at least publicly, isn’t ruling out that Lafferty could be on the ice for
Game 1 of the qualifying-round series against the Montreal Canadiens.
“It’s great. The internal push that our guys provide for one another all year long, it helps us to be at our best. It helps us to reach our potential,” the coach said Friday. “These guys are all proud guys. They all want to be in the lineup.”
Lafferty found himself in the lineup this season a lot more than expected. A 2014 fourthround draft pick who turned pro in 2018, he played 20 games for the Penguins in October and November, averaging more than 12 minutes per game and opening eyes with 4 goals, 9 points and a plus-5 rating.
But from December on, his ice time and his effectiveness dwindled. Lafferty twice got sent down to the minors so he could play more minutes there and experience critical situations. Before the season was suspended March 12 due to the pandemic, he was in Pittsburgh on an emergency loan due to injuries.
Lafferty knew that would be the deal heading into his first NHL season, getting sent up and down and being in and out the lineup when he was in Pittsburgh. Not only was he unproven, he was one guy who didn’t have to clear waivers. General manager Jim Rutherford was transparent with him about all that.
“Sam embraced that whole process,” Sullivan said. “He’s a great kid. He just wants to improve and get better. He’s a motivated kid. He wants to make the Penguins roster and he’s willing to do whatever it takes. ... He’s a treat to coach.”
During the pandemic pause, he headed back to his “home base” in Arizona, where he trains in the offseason. Lafferty, who skates well for a 6-foot-1 forward and has a respectable right-handed shot, mostly hit the gym and the golf course. He also reflected on what was, when you zoom out and look at the big picture, a fine first season, one in which he posted 13 points in 50 games.
“Definitely, we had a lot of time,” he said. “Overall, the big takeaway was [I was] familiar with what it takes at this level and familiar with the guys in the system and everything like that. It just builds your confidence, more experience.”
During the downtime, the rookie also practiced growing a playoff beard.
“I had a bit of a quarantine beard. It wasn’t the best,” the soft-spoken forward said, with a laugh. “But if you give me enough time, I think it will be all right.”
The Penguins hope to play long enough this summer to see for themselves.