Pittsburgh’s defense corp. still has more questions than answers, but there are some things that are coming to light.

Heading into training camp there was a group of young defensemen trying to earn favor with the organization, namely Derrick Pouliot, Adam Clendening, and Brian Dumoulin.

Derrick Pouliot has been pressing too much and as a result is not playing to his potential. Brian Dumoulin is just kind of there and that leaves Adam Clendening who has been the best of the three players thus far.

Clendening was acquired in the Brandon Sutter trade because the Penguins brass singled him out and made sure he was part of the deal. Given how he has played so far and the fact he cannot be sent down without going through waivers I think he is close to a lock to make the team. So where does he fit?

Coach Mike Johnston very complimentary of Adam Clendening. Said he has moved ahead of some other D.

— Jonathan Bombulie (@BombulieTrib) September 30, 2015

I know a lot of people love the idea of Kris Letang and Olli Maatta making up the top pairing but is that really a feasible plan right now? I’m not so sure Pittsburgh can afford to use both of their bonafide top four defensemen on the same pairing. As a result I think the best course of action might be to try something like this:

Cole-Letang
Maatta-Clendening
Pouliot-Lovejoy
Scuderi-Dumoulin

If Pouliot improves and Clendening proves his belongs then maybe you can revisit the Maatta-Letang super pairing without leaving the other two pairs significantly diminished.


Any way you slice it this grouping remains the one with the most question marks heading into the season with no real surefire answers.

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Matt Murray continues to look like an NHL goalie and that is probably because he might be already. Marc-Andre Fleury’s four year extension is beginning this year but Murray will be the future in the Penguins net. It will just be a matter of when the Penguins want to pull that trigger.

For now it is still likely that Murray plays a ton of games in the AHL, but Zatkoff might want to watch his back as the season moves on. I could see Pittsburgh using Murray over Zatkoff if Fleury were to go down with injury.

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I'm still not totally sold on Sergei Plotnikov as a regular top six winger but to this point he is looking the part more than Chris Kunitz. If the season started tomorrow I would have Perron with Sid and Phil and Plotnikov with the Malkin unit.

Coach Johnston: "Plotnikov has really been better every night I've seen him... He protects the puck very well. Chemistry with Geno too."

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) September 30, 2015

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Malkin, Hornqvist & Plotnikov just took the ice in Hanson-inspired rims. Now let's see what happens for the anthem... pic.twitter.com/OVplczPTTy

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) September 29, 2015

This just made my night! #hockeyvilleusa #pens pic.twitter.com/NnFA44ZbHh

— Brian Metzer (@Brian_Metzer) September 29, 2015

Getting ready for hockey, Johnstown-style. All we're missing is the foil. Puck drops for #HockeyvilleUSA. GAME ON. pic.twitter.com/isRwkSGPMN

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) September 29, 2015

Thanks for reading!

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