Latest Pens Buzz

*Rumblings, Musings, Opinions*

  • Heinen a sneaky signing for the Penguins?
    Hextall’s close relationship to Boyles Agent
    Penguins almost Let ZAR Walk?
    Org left little wiggle room for Poulin to earn a spot
    New Regime leaning heavily on Mike Sullivan on personnel moves?
    Devils GM Backed out of deal that would have kept MAF in Vegas

1. One Eastern Conference scout based primarily in the Northeast tells me forward Danton Heinen who the Penguins inked to a 1 year, $1.1 million contract, has a chance to be a really sneaky signing for the Penguins this season. Expecting Heinen to carry a bottom-6 line offensively will leave most disappointed.

The Eastern Conference scout, though, feels Heinen playing around more skill like he did in Boston, will help bring the most out of Heinen, who is a very smart player away from the puck in all three zones and can create individual offense primarily as a playmaker when playing with higher end talent, evaluators indicate. The scout believes Heinen could surprise and slide into the top-6 and potentially meshing well with Sidney Crosby in spots due to how well Heinen moves the puck through the neutral zone, a staple of playing with Sidney Crosby. Evaluators feel a a defensive minded winger with who can think the game at a high level could be the ticket to alleviating some of the defensive responsibilities Crosby has to endure in the Penguins system as he ages.

2. Penguins GM Ron Hextall and agent To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!The Penguins internal projection was that Aston-Reese would net around $2.35 million in arbitrationTo read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!

4. Even with the Evgeni Malkin injury to open the season, by design the Penguins did not set up their roster much wiggle room for a top forward prospect like Samuel Poulin to come in and win a regular spot with a great camp. Excluding Malkin, 11 forward roster spots are taken already with Crosby, Guentzel, Rust, Zucker, Kapanen, McGinn, Carter, Blueger, Henton, Aston-Reeze and Rodrigues. With Mike Sullivan expected to have heavy input as he did this summer in personnel moves, final roster spots To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!

5. About 10 days before Marc Andre Fleury was traded to Chicago, things were lining up for Fleury to stay in Vegas for the 2021-2022 season and beyond. The Golden Knights came awfully close to dealing Robin Lehner to the To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!