Follow me on twitter
Some quick thoughts about training camp so far:
For the first time in a long time it is interesting. Coach Bylsma had his favorites and there really wasn't ever an area of intrigue entering camp. You knew who was going to play with who and that was that.
With a new staff you just don't know what to expect.
So far there have been some hints of what Johnston is planning to do.
Per
Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Tribune:
Johnston has warned against reading too much into line combinations, except for when he pairs Beau Bennett and Steve Downie with Brandon Sutter.
“I think you can read a little bit into that one,” Johnston said.
If you assume the Kuntiz-Crosby-Dupuis trio is kept together that leaves Evgeni Malkin with newcomer Patric Hornqvist and, well I'm not really sure. On the surface it appears the options are Nick Spaling or Blake Comeau.
If Bennett is going to play on the third line that will make that line better, but the Penguins top six forward depth then leaves much to be desired (unless you think Kasperi Kapanen is going to be the savior). If this line holds true it will be a put up or shut up season for Brandon Sutter. His linemates were awful last year, this year they won't be.
Personally, I believe that the Penguins will go shopping for another impact forward at some point this year. They have too many quality players at the defense position and there just isn't enough room for all of them. Brian Dumoulin and Scott Harrington are NHL ready but both players might start in WB/S because of their waiver status, not their ability as hockey players. Eventually Rutherford will take from the Penguins strengths in order to shore up other areas on the roster.
For what it's worth Despres and Bortuzzo have consistently played together. That could potentially be a solid bottom pairing. That leaves the big four and then Scuderi for your seven defensemen. Who sits?
Will there be another team in the AHL that can boast the kind of talented defensemen that WB/S will have? Brian Dumoulin, Scott Harrington, and Derrick Pouliot as a trio is about as good as it gets in that league.
Kris Letang is very excited about the upcoming season, I don't blame him, I think the change in coaching staff is going to help him in a big way. Something I don't think will help him in a big way is playing with Rob Scuderi. The two paired up for some drills in yesterday's practice. It is way too early to get bent out of shape about defense pairings, it isn't even a meaningless preseason game, it's practice. However, I will state that I don't think Kris Letang should be anchored down by Scuderi when the games start to count. Kris Letang hasn't had a good defense partner for the majority of his career. His two most common pairings were with the overrated Brooks Orpik and Mark Eaton. Currently the Penguins have four really good defensemen in Letang, Martin, Maatta, and Ehrhoff, play them together. Let Letang hit his potential ceiling, don't anchor him with a guy who needs to be propped up to get to the ground floor.
Who knows though, perhaps it is a genius plan to raise Scuderi's value for a trade, we know the Penguins need to move somebody via trade from that position. We all have our own pipe dreams.
With Goc on the fourth line and Comeau/Spaling taking the other spot that leaves quite the competition for the final fourth line position. My understanding is that Jayson Megna looks up to the task so far in training camp.
I am not concerned with Sidney Crosby missing time. Crosby looked great in Friday's practice according to every person who was there. Evgeni Malkin however has not made an appearance yet. The Penguins claim that holding him out is precautionary but it would be nice to at least see him skating before practice with the other injured players.
As far as goaltending is concerned there isn't much to add. Until it is proven otherwise I still expect Marc- Andre Fleury to be the starter and Thomas Greiss to be his backup.
I was talking with
Mike Darnay of
Pensburgh on twitter the other day and we both have a hypothesis that Johnston's free flowing system may potentially lower the injury rate for the Penguins. Bylsma's system was very rigid and specific . When you are trying to play station to station like that it is unnatural to the human body. Perhaps Johnston's "letting the players play" philosophy could cut down on injuries. It is just a hypothesis, might not amount to anything different at all, worth checking back on at the end of the year.
Tomorrow the Penguins will take on the Detroit Red Wings in preseason action. Hockey is almost back.
Thanks for reading!
Follow me on twitter
Pittsburgh Penguins Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»