Reclamation project starts for journeyman
Pitlick seeking consistency at the AHL level
Rem Pitlick has enjoyed a number of different aspects about joining the Penguins’ organization, but one in particular shows how quickly he’s acclimated.
Sure, he’s gotten up to speed with teammates and the coaching staff of the AHL’s-Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. But Pitlick, 26, has also made a point of talking shop with the team’s beloved head chef, Stephen Schappert.
“They really care about their organic nutrition,” Pitlick said. “The way they use their oils and how they cook.”
The son of Lance, an eight-year NHL defenseman, Pitlick is ever cognizant of what he puts into his body. He’s read Tom Brady’s book about fitness and nutrition, although Pitlick quickly points out he doesn’t necessarily agree with everything from the text. Pitlick has taken advice from many people during the years, including Paul Chek, who works in corrective and high-performance exercise kinesiology in Southern California.
“For me, skills and the hockey stuff are first and foremost,” Pitlick said. “But, I think the next thing that’s always on my mind when I get on the ice is how are my legs? How’s my energy feel? That’s just part of my path. I feel like nutrition has always been something that affects my energy.”
However, Pitlick’s career is not defined just by being more self-aware of his daily calorie intake than the average pro athlete in their mid-20s. Before joining the Penguins as part of the summer’s blockbuster Erik Karlsson trade, Pitlick had skated in 123 career NHL games for three different NHL organizations.
He’s enjoyed a number of memorable moments in his career. As a member of the Minnesota Wild, Pitlick recorded a natural hat trick for his first three career goals. Pitlick then found solid footing with the Montreal Canadiens, skating in 92 games and recording 41 points across two seasons.
“That was the first time where I got what I felt like was a real chance,” Pitlick said. “It made me believe that it is possible, and I can do that.”
But in his second season with the Habs, Pitlick shuffled back and forth between Montreal and the team’s AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket. His offensive output declined, and the 5-foot11, 202-pound Pitlick, who has never been known for his defense, fell out of favor.
While Pitlick prides himself on his hockey IQ and playmaking abilities, he recognizes there’s room for improvement in other areas of his game. On the defensive end, Pitlick wants to better use his speed and quickness, which is in line with the messaging from Wilkes-Barre’s coaches.
“I think I can get in on the forecheck and have a good disruptive stick,” Pitlick said. “I think my stick on puck is something that I add to some of my defensive capabilities, and I would like to continue to add more to my 200-foot game.”
Through 21 games with the Baby Pens, Pitlick’s play has been a mixed bag. He’s tied with defenseman Ty Smith for the team lead in points with 15, but the duo also finds itself in a battle for last in a less-desirable stat: plus/minus rating, each of them checking in with a cool -7.
Unsurprisingly, Pitlick described his play thus far as up-and-down. He’s looking for more production, as well as to clean up his play on the other end of the ice. Pitlick’s goals for his defense aren’t limited to just being stronger on the forecheck or more reliable on his team’s end, too.
“I would like to add more elements to my game as far as penalty-killing and different things,” Pitlick said. “I think my speed and my IQ, I think I can add value to that, so that’s something I’ve been talking with the coaching staff here in Wilkes-Barre to look to get some of those opportunities as well.”
At this stage in his career and with how the Penguins’ roster is constructed, Pitlick’s aware that to get a shot at a bottom-six role, he’ll have to advance his game. But Pitlick’s previous success at other NHL stops gives him confidence that if afforded another opportunity, he’ll be ready.
“I know I can play there, and I’m looking to get back there,” Pitlick said. “There’s kind of this backand-forth mentality that I’m very happy to be here, but at the same time, I want to get back to the NHL.”
The Penguins have rotated through a number of bottom six players who have spent time in Wilkes-Barre this season, including Radim Zohorna, Vinnie Hinostroza, Joona Koppanen, Alex Nylander and Jansen Harkins. The majority of that list is composed of players who have demonstrated better defensive skills in the NHL than Pitlick, perhaps contributing to them getting recalled instead.
Should coach Mike Sullivan want a more polished, albeit undersized, offensive player, a self-assured — and well-fed — Pitlick could be next in line.
“We’ll see how it shakes out,” Pitlick said. “But I’m not going to lose that belief.”
Three stars
Forward Jonathan Gruden has started to heat up after a bit of a rotten start to the season for Wilkes-Barre. In his past seven games, Gruden has six points on three goals and as many assists. His five goals are tied for second-most on the team. ... Defenseman Owen Pickering broke a four- game scoreless streak with a pair of points in his last two games for the Western Hockey League’s Swift Current Broncos. Through 21 games, Pickering has 14 points on three goals and 11 assists. ... Goalie Taylor Gauthier has been excellent in net for the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers. He recorded a shutout Sunday night, the first of the season for Wheeling. Gauthier has a 2.53 goals against average in 10 games and has a .917% save percentage. If that latter figure were to hold for the rest of the year, Gauthier would be the first Nailers netminder to have a save percentage above 900 since 2018-19.