One month out: Questions for training camp
While one training camp wraps up this weekend, another begins next month.
The Penguins hit the ice in Cranberry one month from Tuesday, a harsh reminder that our ice coffees will get swapped for pumpkin beers before we know it. But, hey, we’ll trade these steamy summer evenings for a hockey night in Pittsburgh.
Before the real games start, the Penguins, still sour after an early- as- it- gets playoff exit, have a lot of stuff to sort out in training camp and preseason games and practices. They have new additions to integrate, important lineup decisions to make and need to get a certain Russian superstar back on track.
A month out — and with maybe one more significant roster move to make — here are seven things we plan to watch closely when the Penguins open camp:
1. Who will be Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel’s third wheel? There is no sense in splitting up Crosby and Guentzel after Guentzel
scored the bulk of his teamleading 40 goals last season next to Crosby at 5- on- 5. So we’ll assume they will stick together. Who then will be on Crosby’s right wing? Last year, Daniel Sprong got the first shot. He didn’t remain there long, but the Penguins didn’t throw Sprong out there for no reason at all. They hoped it would click. This year, Bryan Rust, Jared McCann and newcomer Dominik Kahun are the likeliest candidates to open camp on the top line. Rust and McCann both had their moments last season alongside those two, and Kahun intrigues with his skating, versatility and skill. Maybe, just maybe, one of those speedy wingers will take the opportunity and never look back.
2. What will we see from Evgeni Malkin? Malkin’s worst season in a while, maybe ever, was the top problem during the uninspiring 2018- 19 campaign. The Penguins need Malkin to bounce back in a big way to re- emerge as contenders. That, of course, will have to happen when the games start. But it will be interesting to see what kind of shape Malkin arrives in, both physically and mentally.
3. Who is Marcus Pettersson going to partner with? Pettersson, assuming these next few weeks bring a resolution to his contract situation, is the most fascinating Penguins defenseman, at least among the NHL guys. He appears ready for a topfour role after playing so steadily following his arrival
from Anaheim. But how might the Penguins get him more minutes without creating a worrisome third pairing of Jack Johnson and Erik Gudbranson? Pettersson was not a regular penaltykiller last season and gets only a little extra action on the second power- play unit. Will they put him with Justin Schultz to open camp or spread their talent — and keep a puck- mover on each pair — by reuniting him with Gudbranson, his playoff partner?
4. What’s the plan for Brandon Tanev? The Penguins raised eyebrows by signing the former Winnipeg winger to a six- year contract, one of the longest deals handed out in free agency. Clearly, they feel the fast and feisty roleplayer will make an impact. Do they believe he can do that on the fourth line and the penalty kill? Or do they see Tanev as a possible winger for Malkin or Nick Bjugstad, assuming the latter is not the odd man out who gets the Penguins under the salary- cap ceiling? Malkin in particular has in the past thrived with similarly selfless two- way wingers.
5. Will Casey DeSmith or Tristan Jarry back up Matt Murray? The two goalies duked it out last year, and DeSmith ran away with that camp battle, arguably
looking the sharpest among all the puck- stoppers ( even Murray). DeSmith rode that wave into the season, buoying the Penguins in the first half when Murray was up and down or out of the lineup. The team re- signed him this past winter and sees him as a good fit behind Murray for the above reasons. But Jarry is a few years younger, cheaper and still might have untapped potential, in addition to being subject to waivers for the first time. Will he show up in Cranberry with more consistent form and focus and force the Penguins to keep him here?
6. What’s the power play going to look like? By now you know Phil Kessel got traded. He and Malkin were a mess at 5- on- 5 last season, but Kessel was still dangerous on the power play, producing 12 goals and 24 assists for the NHL’s fifth- ranked unit. With Kessel now in Arizona, Guentzel will presumably get more powerplay minutes. But the Penguins might be tempted to stick Alex Galchenyuk, the main guy who came back in the Kessel deal, and his big shot in Kessel’s old spot in the left circle. And Patric Hornqvist will be looking to build on a strong showing in the world championship and re- establish himself as one of the peskiest net- front presences in the NHL. In addition to which bodies will be out there on the top unit in camp, there will also be intrigue as to what those bodies are doing. With Kessel parked in the left circle and Hornqvist in the paint, there was not a lot of movement or mystery on the man advantage, though the goals still came in bunches at times. A Phil- less but more frenetic fivesome could be more fun to watch — unless your job is to chase around Crosby, Malkin, Kris Letang and Co.
7. Which youngsters will make a move during camp and the preseason? This last one is twofold. The additions of wingers Galchenyuk, Tanev and Kahun threaten to bump young veterans Zach Aston- Reese and Dominik Simon down or maybe even out of the regular lineup. It’s prove- it time for those two, who have flashed but not consistently produced in top- nine roles. Then, there are the prospects. Will anyone among the next wave make a push for a roster spot? Forwards Kasper Bjorkqvist, Adam Johnson, Sam Lafferty and Jordy Bellerive and defenseman John Marino are ticketed for Wilkes- Barre/ Scranton but will try to alter plans. The organization’s top prospects, led by slick 19year- old defenseman Calen Addison, are considered to be further down the pipeline. But crazier things have happened.