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Here are five storylines to focus on at training camp which starts today in Pittsburgh
Beau Bennett
The Penguins desperately need Beau Bennett to step up this year. Heading into the season they have limited top six options, he is one of them. Currently, the Penguins will really have no choice but to use Pascal Dupuis in a top six role, he can do it, but if you want to be a Cup champion Dupuis would be better cast on the third line.
Beau has had a history of injuries, specifically to his wrist and Josh Yohe brought up something that is a little bit troubling in his latest appearance on The Pensnation podcast the other night. He said Beau told him that his wrist injury from this past year did not come from contact, it came when he was harmlessly dumping the puck in.
To this point Beau Bennett has been more about potential, he needs to be kinetic for the Penguins to have a high ceiling this year. He can do it, he has the skill.
If he can't do it we are talking about a guy like Steve Downie playing there and I just don't think that is an ideal situation. The other option...
Kasperi Kapanen
This is a real long shot. By all accounts he has looked good since being drafted by the Penguins, but he is still really young and he is still really light. Kapanen had a finger injury which kept him from playing in the prospect tournament. I would have felt a lot more comfortable if he had played and totally dominated. I think the Penguins need to throw him into the fire during camp and see if he can keep up. Because if he can hang, that is not only a top six winger slot filled, it is filled on an ELC contract.
Jean-Sebastien Dea, Anton Zlobin, and Josh Archibald all had a positive impact at the prospect tournament, but this is Kapanen's job to lose. I think these three players would be best served at WB/S for another season where they can really find some success.
As far as Kapanen goes, my prediction is that he will not do enough to make the team out of camp. Kapanen would have to leave absolutely no doubt that he is the guy and I just think that is a tall task for him. Bright future, it's probably not right now. Then again, nobody had Olli Maatta pegged for the NHL before training camp last year. Could a young Finn crack the lineup two years in a row?
Young D
The young defensmen the Penguins have on the team are going to go a long way in deciding how this team will take shape come playoff time. If Olli Maatta, Simon Despres, Brian Dumoulin, Derrick Pouliot, and/or Scott Harrington can show signs of being competent regular NHL defensemen it will give Jim Rutherford some much needed options. One option could come in the form of trading one of them for help in other areas. Or that option could be trading Paul Martin. If enough guys step up it sure would make trading Paul Martin easier to handle.
Olli Maatta should be good to go as all signs are pointing towards a full recovery. Maatta had a very successful rookie campaign last year but he will need to improve upon it this year. Maatta received lots of praise, but it was surprising to see that his zone exits and zone entries were less than impressive. He will need to clean that area of his game up and become a regular top 4 option.
Simon Despres will finally get a decent look at playing (I think) and he will need to take advantage of his new opportunity. The old regime held him back, for whatever reason they had it out for him.
Brian Dumoulin looked excellent at the prospect tournament and he appears to be NHL ready. A strong training camp should land him a roster spot, but at who's expense? His waiver exempt status will be working against him.
Derrick Pouliot will not be ready for full contact at training camp, his shoulder injury is healing slower than Maatta's. Pouliot may not make the team out of camp but he has something going for him that no other Penguins player has, Mike Johnston was his coach last year, Mike Johnston loves him.
Scott Harrington has a bright future, but he has too many players in front of him at the present time to break through to the NHL this season.
Battle for Craig Adams spot
The Penguins needed to improve their bottom six forward depth, they have, they were in a situation where not improving it would have been impossible.
For me the improvements can't end until somebody replaces Craig Adams. The Penguins have brought in Steve Downie, Blake Comeau, Marcel Goc, Dan Carcillo, and Nick Spaling. They also have Jayson Megna and Adam Payerl that will be fighting for an NHL roster spot. All players mentioned are an upgrade on Adams.
Downie, Comeau, Goc, and Spaling are certainties, throw in Brandon Sutter and that leaves only one spot to fight for between Adams, Carcillo, Megna, and Payerl. If Kapanen somehow makes the team, the numbers shrink even more.
Last but certainly not least
Mike Johnston
Everything so far sounds great on the Mike Johnston front, training camp will be the first sample we get to see of his philosophies becoming reality.
Will we see a noticeable difference in how the Penguins approach the game of hockey in the preseason? I think it is likely considering I saw the prospects actively trying to do some of the things he has preached so far at their recent tournament.
The prospects did not rush things up the ice if nothing was available, instead they elected to maintain possession and find other options. They also did everything in their power to hit the offensive blue line with possession and speed. I expect nothing different from the NHL club.
For the first time in a long time training camp is very intriguing and should be fun to watch unfold. New regime, new players, new philosophies, exciting times.
What are you looking most forward to in training camp?
Thanks for reading!
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