With Pascal Dupuis out for the first month of the season and the same for Eric Fehr which the Penguins already had time to prepare for, unlike the Dupuis’ injury, the only thing settled on the third line is Nick Bonino at center.

It will likely be a revolving door at the wings with Beau Bennett, David PerronDaniel Sprong, and possibly Sergei Plotnikov if he struggles in the top-6.

The Dupuis injury is a great opportunity for Bennett who is in a make or break first half of the season as his value around the league is at an all-time low and the Penguins staff doesn’t have much confidence in him.

The Penguins don’t want to overuse Sprong and prefer at least early on for Sprong to play a 4th line role and get special teams work, then have his role increase. Bennett, though, will surely be on a short leash as was the case all last season.

Can Bennett find a way to expand his role and become a factor on the penalty kill?

“I talked to Beau today a little bit about working with Gary [hide] Agnew on the penalty kill,” Mike Johnston said.

Bit of an interesting development there, though, is it smart to have an injury prone player like Bennett going out and blocking shots?

He might break into pieces.

Another beneficiary of the Dupuis injury is Bobby Farnham who will now be a regular to start the year and Mike Johnston is counting on him to be part of the Penguins second PK pair.

“Farnham is a good penalty killer,” Johnston said. For now the staff see’s Bonino, Matt Cullen and Farnham as the top-3 on the PK. It will be a mix and match after that.

“I see Bonino being a core guy. Cullen being a core guy. Farnham,” Johnston said. “Then we’ve got Geno and Plotnikov have been killing throughout the preseason. Sid killed last year. We’re trying to use more and more players.”

You can also add Chris Kunitz to that group.

— The coaching staff would like to bring a 13th forward on the trip. The final three forwards not to make the roster out of camp were Bryan Rust, Kevin Porter, J.S. Dea. Rust didn’t have a strong camp but Rick Tocchet loves the north-south speed he brings down the wing.

— The Penguins recalled Oskar Sundqvist and sent Olli Maatta to Wilkes Barre in a paper move (Salary Cap Reasons). Sundqvist is not expected to stay with the club.

— Penguins management was confident Tim Erixon would clear waivers and he did today, giving the Penguins flexibility to send him down to the minors at any point. Johnston indicated again today he wants eight defensemen for practice purposes.[/hide]