Penguins/NHL
DAY 1 OBSERVATIONS
The Penguins averaged under 2.4 goals per game over their final 65 games (including playoffs) and many in the organization last season tried to put the Penguins lack of goal scoring on just bad luck.
One prominent Penguin, though, was quite honest today in his assessment of the Penguins offense last year.
[hide] “We have to score more goals. We finished eighth in our conference and that can’t happen,” winger Patric Hornqvist said. “We didn’t have enough goals and that’s something we have to work on.”
Hornqvist obviously embraces the addition of Phil Kessel to improving the Penguins ability to put the puck in the net but also said the Penguins need to work harder.
“He scored 30 goals every season he played,” Hornqvist said. “Last year we didn’t score a lot of goals. He hasn’t played with any centers like Sid or Geno so it’s going to be a good season for him. He’s a great player.”
MIXING LINES
Penguins head coach Mike Johnston made a priority on day one of training camp to have some of the Penguins top young forwards skate with the likes of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, which had the Penguins having a mix of an NHL player, young player and AHL vet on nearly every line.
Crosby opened camp today with Daniel Sprong and Bryan Rust on his wing, Malkin centered Josh Archibald and Scott Wilson.
The reason for mixing pretty much every line with proven vets and young players was to make the process easier to implement some things.
Johnston is also a big fan of giving a prospect who might be a key player down the road some playing time for example with Sidney Crosby for a practice or game early in camp. He did it last year with Kasperi Kapanen. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Sprong played with Crosby during one of the early pre-season games.
There wasn’t one line we saw today that might be an actual line during the season, except for the line of Beau Bennett – Nick Bonino – Sergei Plotnikov.
Plotnikov was one of the strongest players during drills, among those who stood out, including Kris Letang and Pascal Dupuis.
Bennett who added more strength during the off-season, was shooting the puck with a lot of velocity.
Today’s practice was a mix of basic skill drills and a couple evaluation drills.
“Today’s practice there was an evaluation in there,” Mike Johnston said. “We wanted to see some compete, decision making. Setup some drills to show us something. Three really good evaluation drills [today].
D-PAIRS
When it comes to the D-pairs, there were some pairings that you could read something into unlike the forward group.
In Group B you had Olli Maatta and Kris Letang, the Penguins expected No. 1 pairing starting camp together. Ian Cole and Brian Dumoulin were another pairing in the group.
While it was a very short sample, Penguins coaches were very impressed with Dumoulin during the playoffs and he’s going to get a strong look to win the No. 4 defenseman spot out of camp.
Sergei Gonchar and Adam Clendening were the third pairing in Group B.
In Group A, Derrick Pouliot and Ben Lovejoy were the top pairing.
Rob Scuderi was paired with Reid McNeil and it’s not a stretch to call that the Penguins 5th pairing today when you combine both groups.
TIDBITS
— Pascal Dupuis was told last month by Mike Johnston that the team intended for him to play left wing and that’s where Dupuis started out camp today. Penguins coaches love his straight line speed down the left side. Obviously not permanent tho.
— Sergei Plotnikov is capable to play both left wing and right wing.
— Players went through on-ice workout, video session and off-ice workout today.
— Eric Fehr and Carter Rowney went through basic skating drills today prior to practice.
— For those attending tomorrow, what you’re going to see is 45 minute of practice, flip ice surface and thirty minutes of power play/penalty kill. With openings on the penalty kill, extensive power play time is also about the group getting a look at new penalty killers, Johnston indicated.[/hide]
Canadiens have an American captain. They must realize that Americans are the best leaders.
Your right that’s why with Gionta gomez and few others Habs weren’t doing good last few years
That staal trade is looking better and better. Essentially it was clendening bonino pick pouliot and dumoulin for staal
I think Dumo will be the suprise D this year.
Dustin, do you buy that the pens were higher on Dumo than Harrington?
Not sure. I think they play a different game. I actually liked Harrington better, but Dumo is a bigger body that can play physical. You were not getting physical out of Harrington.
Here’s hoping. Hasn’t shown much in last two years but also hasn’t been given a chance.
Here’s hoping cole steps up big this year and has a niskanen like rebound. If he does I’ll be more comfortable with that top four. Interested to see how the new d we got in trades look too
So whoever down voted you hope cole regresses?
For anyone other than Sam I would probably agree mwall but since Sam is always the idiot in any conversation, someone probably gave it a thumbs down without even reading it, just assuming that if Sam posted it, it’s dumb.
You’re so mature jaydogg. Even if he is a racist prick, there’s an ignore button for a reason…
I don’t give ratings, I was just pointing out a solid rational for why that situation could happen. I haven’t read a Sam post in a long time.
Let’s hope so for Cole
Cole can certainly turn in a year like Nisky. We argued about this here before. Cole’s first year was better than Nisky’s first year is what I remember
this D core still a big question mark if letang goes down pens are done. pens rely on letang more than they can rely on sid kessel and malkin
Might wanna include maata in there too
These down votes are getting ridiculous. Whoever down voted that is an idiot if they think maata wouldn’t be a huge loss esp with this d core.
I agree it’s always same people doing it so get used to it. Npl Stan
I have been seeing it too… you make a good valid point then fatsam and his nut huggers swoop in to counter sams career -100000
Excited to see what plotnikov can do this season.
So am I. I don’t think he will get all of his bonuses but I think he will have a solid first NHL season. Should be fun to watch.
Can’t wait to see him lay someone out.