Penguins/NHL
Former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jarkko Ruutu has had a strong training camp with the Ottawa Senators. Ruutu and the Senators face-off against the Penguins Saturday afternoon in Stockholm, Sweden. What should the Penguins expect from Ruutu? Plus the Latest rumblings from Stockholm, including an update on Glen Murray.
Jarkko Ruutu got his wish this summer; a three year contract and a chance to play on the top three lines. An issue Ruutu had last season with the Penguins was the limited ice time he had. Ruutu will begin the season on the Senators third line playing with Chris Neil and Cody Bass. Neil and Ruutu are going to be a perfect match. Both players play well off of each other and they have been very effective together in the preseason. Ruutu and Neil will look to get into the Penguins head and they will not be scared to take cheap shots at the Penguins elite players. The Penguins will need to have some answers for Ruutu and Neil.
The two game series in Stockholm will be a physical series. This is why I don’t see Janne Pesonen being on the active roster. With Bissonnette making this trip it is likely a guarantee that he will be in the lineup at sometime this weekend. Bissonnette will not be scared to mix things up with Ruutu. If the Penguins were playing a skilled team like the Capitals next weekend then I could see the Penguins going with Pesonen and using a skilled 4th line.
The Penguins have seven defenseman on the trip. Who will sit? Michel Therrien will not make an official decision until Thursday or Friday. Rob Scuderi did not play in one preseason game but is ready to go. Therrien is very high on Scuderi and likes the pairing of Gill and Scuderi. Kris Letang and Brooks Orpik are locks to play together. Alex Goligoski has been paired with Mark Eaton and Daryl Sydor during training camp and the preseason. Eaton’s performance in the preseason has been suspect. The Penguins claim he is 100% but some people aren‚Äôt so sure. It will be very interesting to see who sits. More on this later in the week
Rumor Mill
Glen Murray continues to wait for the perfect situation. Prior to camp Ray Shero had brief discussions with Anton Thun the agent for Glen Murray to see what Murray’s plans were but there hasn’t been any discussions since. Pittsburgh is a team Murray is interested in according to a source. Murray turned down tryout offers from Ottawa and Phoenix. Philadelphia, StL and Van have made inquiries
Photo courtesy of Dan4thNicholas
