Penguins/NHL
Day 2 Report
The Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins went through their first on-ice session this morning at Mellon Arena. The players were split into three groups and each group went through a 60 minute session.
*With Max Talbot sidelined for the first 6 weeks of the season, there’s an opening on Evgeni Malkin’s line. It appears Tyler Kennedy will get the first shot at playing with Malkin.
Kennedy skated with Ruslan Fedotenko and Evgeni Malkin during the Penguins first session this morning.
Kennedy, 23, had a career high 15 goals in 67 games played last season. Entering his third season, Kennedy has become much more patient in the offensive zone and people in know, feel he has the ability to play a top 6 role.
Line Combinations, D-Pairings, Practice Notes & More
Group A
Fedotenko – Malkin – Kennedy
Rupp – Adams – Godard
Haddad – Pierro-Zabotel – Petersen
Bayda – Sill
Defensemen
Eaton – Letang
Lee – Engelland
D’Aversa
Goaltenders
Johnson
Parise
Practice Notes: All three sessions were very laid back. Most of the drills were just skilled drills with some emphasis on positioning in the D-Zone.
*Dan Bylsma is all about providing instruction to his players. He will often pull players to the side. Today he pulled Michael Rupp aside, who has some skill for an enforcer. He’s going to be a good fit.
*Tyler Kennedy was the shooting the puck very well. Near the end of the season he started to show patience in around the net and that has continued. He’s not rushing pucks and has his head up the entire time.
He picked a few corners against Johnson and Parise.
Look for Craig Adams to become more of a leader on the ice and in the locker room this season. He’s a player the coaching staff wants to see establish that kind of role.
Mike Yeo spent some time speaking to Casey Pierro-Zabotel throughout the session.
Group B
Cooke – Staal – Dupuis
Tangradi – Smith – Connor
Brookbank – Vitale – Veilleux
Moon
Defensemen
Orpik – Gonchar
Strait – Lovejoy
Despres – Bortuzzo
Goaltenders
Fleury
Thiessen
Practice Notes: Replacing Tyler Kennedy on the third line was Pascal Dupuis this morning. Dupuis skated with Jordan Staal and Matt Cooke.
*Staal appears to be in great shape and has bulked up I’m told. He’s one of the strongest players on the team.
*Eric Tangradi looked fine in today’s drill. His shot is still developing following his hand surgery.
A player to watch in camp will be Chris Connor. Has some skill, appeared in 38 games with Dallas last season. On the small side.
*Brooks Orpik has been nursuing a wrist injury all summer and it’s something the team will keep an eye. He was shooting the puck well today and was paired with Sergei Gonchar.
*2009 1st round pick Simon Despres got his first taste of an NHL training camp. He’s going to be a good one.
Group C
Kunitz – Crosby – Guerin
Caputi – Letestu – Nick Johnson
Bissonnette – Jeffrey – Wallace
Boogard
Defensemen
McKee – Goligoski
Caffaro – Guenin
Hunt – Grant
Goaltender
Curry
