Penguins/NHL
TUESDAY’S CAMP BUZZ
Despite talk of open competition for the top-2 line left wing spots, there hasn’t been much experimenting from the coaching staff with the season opener nine days away.
Chris Kunitz has been firmly entrenched on Sidney Crosby’s left wing, while other than Conor Sheary getting a game on Evgeni Malkin’s left wing, it’s been Sergei Plotnikov on Evgeni Malkin’s wing for much of camp and that will be the case again tonight in Johnstown for the Hockeyville USA game vs the Tampa Bay Lightning.
With Nick Bonino seeing his first action of the season Monday night, Mike Johnston got his first look at a third line of Dupuis – Bonino – Perron, a unit the Penguins are leaning towards.
With intrigue of playing Bonino and Perron together, Sergei Plotnikov may start out as the second line left winger by default.
“We want to see the three of them play together,” Johnston said of the Dupuis-Bonino-Perron line. “Like that line overall on what they provided tonight.”
While Kunitz will start the season on Crosby’s left wing, Kunitz is playing tonight and not tomorrow night vs Detroit.
Daniel Sprong with Sidney Crosby and Phil Kessel vs Detroit would be fun to watch.
SPRONG’S CONSISTENCY TO CREATE
Johnston in last night’s loss mentioned that players who are battling for a roster spot often play too conservative and are scared to make a mistake.
“Through depth of our lineup, we didn’t have enough guys trying to make a difference,” Johnston said.
Daniel Sprong was one of the few players who didn’t fit that description.
“One thing I talked about playing safe, he didn’t play safe,” Johnston said of Sprong. “When he had the puck, he tried to make a difference. He did make a couple mistakes, but then he broke over the blueline, cut to the middle once, broke over the blueline, took it wide. When he has the puck in offensive zone he hangs on to it.”
Johnston’s comments are interesting because borderline players often play scared because coaches make them feel that way in that if they make a mistake, they won’t see another shift.
Beau Bennett is a good example of that last season. Rick Tocchet got in his head [hide] that he needed to play like Bobby Farnham, all Bennett was focused on late last season was trying to bring some grit to his game.
That said, the Penguins actually see Sprong as a top-line winger and Bennett they don’t, so that plays a part in coaches trying to make Bennett more of a 4th line type of player which is never going to happen.
POULIOT’S NIGHT
Derrick Pouliot was on the ice for three goals (1 Empty netter) against vs the Canadiens and was regarded as having a “rough night“. A consistent from observers is Pouliot was pressing too much Monday night.
Mike Johnston, though, tried to put a good spin on Pouliot’s night.
“I know he was on for a couple of goals but I thought at times both him and Kris at times, they moved the puck well, they skated the puck out of trouble well. Big thing for Derrick is loose puck retrieval’s. Gotta get back quick.”
DEA IMPRESSIVE
Other than Daniel Sprong, no prospect has gained more excitement from Penguin officials than J.S. Dea.
“He’s been impressive,” a Penguins source said. “The puck was following all game [vs Montreal] and he’s adapting well in getting to the scoring areas.”
[/hide]
“
the problem with us because of injuries etc. we dont allow our young players to develope in the minors. they start well in WBS and we think we have solid NHlers . Like Rust may be a 3rd line winger in WBS but with the pens he becomes a anchor around Crosby or malkins neck.
Argument could be made for Bennett, but I don’t think rushing players to the NHL due to injury has been one of the bigger problems for developing the prospect pool. A lot of it comes from the win-now mentality – which is appropriate given where the Pens are, but you still have to be somewhat smart/responsible about it. Minus the Pouliot pick, they’ve been almost exclusively drafting towards the bottom of the first round. Victims of their own success, but it’s hurt the prospect pool. A lot of picks have been sacrificed to bring in established players – often rentals.… Read more »
Don’t even think we’ve given up anyone meaningful via trade. Morrow looks like a 6. Esposito never even made it. Harrington a bottom pairing guy.
The only meaningful guy we gave up in a trade was Depres and that was for lovejoy the lowest return.
Kap looks like he will be a loss but still probably not more than a 20-25 goal a year guy
Forsberg would be the number one pick his draft year if redrafted and was given away for free. Depres trade times ten
Kap is only a loss if the guy we got in return for him fizzles and dies… which probably isnt happening
It sounds like all Pouliot ever has is rough nights… .
Bennett has looked good in camp, very solid……what does this kid have to do> the clean slate is bullshit.
Agreed King. Going to be interesting to see how they handle him once the season starts. I would have no issue with him being on the 3rd line with Bonino/Perron but unless Dupuis moves up to the 2nd with Malkin/Hornqvist(which I prefer) and Plotnikov goes to the 4th (not a bad move either) my guess is that he’ll be wasted on the 4th line yet again playing 8-10 minutes per game.
If it was my call the lines would be: Kunitz-Crosby-Kessel, Dupuis-Malkin-Hornqvist, Perron-Bonino-Bennett, Plotnikov-Cullen-Sprong (1st 9 games) and I would spot shift Bennett, Perron, Sprong & Plotnikov in the top 6 to keep Kunitz & Dupuis’ minutes to around 16-17 per game.
Pretty much agree with that. Especially keeping Kunitz/Dupuis minutes down. Plotnikov might be just an experiment in top 6 to see if he meshes with Malkin. The later int he season you bump Perron/Bennet/dupuis up to the second line. Perron/Bonino/Bennett could be a 3rd line with 3 guys over 40 pts. Been a long time since we saw that. Plot/Cullen/Fehr looks like a great 4th line. Could make a case for limiting all of the top 6 guys minutes during the regular season except for Kessel. Kunitz/Dupuis because their old. Crosby/Malkin because of how important they are. Horn because he… Read more »
I’m also game for Bennett on the 3rd over the 4th. Could give us a solid scoring third line. Will be interesting to see how many games plotnikov plays with malkin.
Rust was playing good last night i liked his energy
It’s a shame they traded him to Toronto for Winnik.
apparently Bruins might go after Byfuglien this seson