Penguins/NHL
PENGUINS CUT ROSTER DOWN TO 28
The Pittsburgh Penguins prior to this morning’s practice, assigned defenseman Brian Dumoulin and forward Bobby Farnham to Wilkes Barre/Scranton and placed goaltender Jeff Zatkoff on waivers.
Zatkoff is considered likely to clear waivers. Teams have until 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday to have their official rosters in and be cap compliant. Penguins GM Jim Rutherford told the Post-Gazette last week the Penguins anticipate only starting the season with 21 players to leave room for callups during the season.
An excellent camp from Scott Harrington has pushed Dumoulin down to the minors to start the season. Harrington has immediately earned the trust of the coaching staff and team officials regard him as an ideal long-term replacement to Paul Martin down the road, who the Penguins anticipate leaving as a free agent this summer.
If the Penguins decide to keep Harrington, expectations are it would to play on a regular basis, meaning Simon Despres would be the No. 7 defenseman to start the season, were Olli Maatta be cleared to play Thursday night.
Harrington, though, surviving today’s cuts doesn’t mean he’s a lock to start season in Pittsburgh just yet.
Farnham grabbed some attention in camp but the forward position remains a tough spot to land a roster spot, even with injuries to Beau Bennett and Evgeni Malkin.
WHO REMAINS IN THE MIX
FORWARDS (16)
Chris Kunitz, Sidney Crosby, Patric Hornqvist, Pascal Dupuis, Evgeni Malkin (injured, status unknown), Beau Bennett (injured, will miss first month of season), Steve Downie, Brandon Sutter, Nick Spaling, Blake Comeau, Marcel Goc, Craig Adams, Andrew Ebbett, Kasperi Kapanen, Zach Sill, Oskar Sundvist
Defensemen (10)
Christian Ehrhoff, Kris Letang, Paul Martin, Olli Maatta, Rob Scuderi, Scott Harrington, Taylor Chorney, Robert Bortuzzo (injured, 3-4 week injury), Derrick Pouliot (At least 4-6 weeks away from being cleared to play)
Goaltenders (2):
Marc Andre Fleury, Thomas Greiss
