Penguins/NHL
FORWARDS
1st: Guentzel – Crosby – Hornqvist
2nd: Hagelin – Malkin – Kessel
3rd: Simon – Brassard – Rust
4th: Cullen – Sheahan – Sprong
5th: Aston-Reese – Grant – Dea
Defensemen
DuMoulin – Letang
Oleksiak – Schultz
Maatta – Johnson
Riikola – Ruhwedel/Trotman
What to make of the Penguins practice lines/groupings on Tuesday?
It’s starting to trend more towards what we’ll see on opening night.
The Daniel Sprong experiment on the top-line looks over for now. As expected, Patric Hornqvist is back on the top line with Crosby and Guentzel. Unless the staff decides to flip Bryan Rust and Hornqvist, expect Guentzel-Crosby-Hornqvist to be together opening night.
The Hagelin – Malkin – Kessel line is pretty much locked in. Hard to see anything changing, barring injury.
The coaches have been encouraged with the chemistry developing between Derick Brassard and Bryan Rust. We’re starting to trend where that pairing is likely to start the season together. For now, Dominik Simon continues to get a long look as the 3rd line left winger. What the staff is said to like from Simon in that spot is the ability to drive possession on zone entries and the creativity Simon can bring next to Sprong. The coaches feel Brassard will benefit from playing with wingers who are more give-and-go players To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
