Ryan Wilson: Some thoughts on things said and done in training camp Some thoughts on things said and done in training camp

Kapanen has looked good in camp. I look for him to have a bounce back year. From a pure talent standpoint, he is in the top 5 of the team. It’s a bit much to call his cap space a waste. I bet you they get more out of him this year than Carter!

They have to trade dumo, right?

Hextall is waiting to see what he has before he makes a moves. That’s the right move. No point in jumping the gun.

Puustinen 73 games 42 points
DOC 33 games 32 points

If you want a point per game forward from the minors...

They have to trade dumo, right?
- i'mjustafan

Only if Joseph or Smith are ready to handle 20+ minutes.

Dumo is aging and with that he's lost a step.

We lost two of our four top minute eaters. Marino to Jersey, then Matheson to Montreal for Petry, who replaced Marino.

First we need to find out who is replacing Matheson. Will Pettersson take on those minutes? I'm skeptical of him becoming a second pair, let alone a top pair.

Unless Dumo plays his way out of the lineup, he is safe. The best case scenario would be all three younger guys play well enough to make Dumo expendable. That will take some time.

Only if Joseph or Smith are ready to handle 20+ minutes.

Dumo is aging and with that he's lost a step.

We lost two of our four top minute eaters. Marino to Jersey, then Matheson to Montreal for Petry, who replaced Marino.

First we need to find out who is replacing Matheson. Will Pettersson take on those minutes? I'm skeptical of him becoming a second pair, let alone a top pair.

Unless Dumo plays his way out of the lineup, he is safe. The best case scenario would be all three younger guys play well enough to make Dumo expendable. That will take some time.
- Thunderbolt

I'm not worried about Pettersson. He's handled those minutes and been fine. POJ and Smith both might be guys who can as well.

I do agree though that I'm not sure any of them could be a #2 right now. I'm also nervous that Dumoulin isn't either though. LHD is definitely one of the more interesting spots on the depth chart.

Can probably argue any of those 4 could be their best LHD by the end of the year.

Hextall traded Marino because he said he wanted to get bigger on defense. So why bring in Smith?

Was keeping an eye on the Pens game today. Didn't watch all that closely, but Poulin looked pretty good. Smith did not. Not much noticeable from some of our other prospects.

Zucker looked healthy.....and good. Great play on the game winner.

Hextall traded Marino because he said he wanted to get bigger on defense. So why bring in Smith?
- sjfpp

So they could clear cap space to get Petry.

So they could clear cap space to get Petry.
- 123Kid

You could have asked for someone different than Smith!

You could have asked for someone different than Smith!
- sjfpp

Perhaps they did...

You could have asked for someone different than Smith!
- sjfpp

Well they needed to get a young cheap defensemen from them so it's possible was the best option they had.

Was keeping an eye on the Pens game today. Didn't watch all that closely, but Poulin looked pretty good. Smith did not. Not much noticeable from some of our other prospects.

Zucker looked healthy.....and good. Great play on the game winner.
- madmike71

That's good to hear about Zucker.

Hextall traded Marino because he said he wanted to get bigger on defense. So why bring in Smith?
- sjfpp

Still need PMDs and he addressed size on the right side with Petry and Ruuta so it won't be as big a deal on the left.

Also because Hextall is a build through youth guy and he got a chance to get a good high reward player if it was just a down year and they can correct what went wrong for Smith.

That's good to hear about Zucker.
- 668710

I wish I would have watched a little closer. Zucker and Rak looked great. Poulin looks way better than last year. I doubt he makes the team, but he'll be on the short list for call up. I was trying to focus in on Puustinen, Smith and Poulin. Didn't really notice much from Puustinen, but it's possible he flashed when I wasn't looking. Smith looked rough to me at both ends of the ice. Poulin is just smoother than last year. He made a few terrific plays (NHL plays). Like beating his man to the puck and setting up a great chance. He set up the game tying goal with a nice pass.

Hopefully there's a stream tonight.

I wish I would have watched a little closer. Zucker and Rak looked great. Poulin looks way better than last year. I doubt he makes the team, but he'll be on the short list for call up. I was trying to focus in on Puustinen, Smith and Poulin. Didn't really notice much from Puustinen, but it's possible he flashed when I wasn't looking. Smith looked rough to me at both ends of the ice. Poulin is just smoother than last year. He made a few terrific plays (NHL plays). Like beating his man to the puck and setting up a great chance. He set up the game tying goal with a nice pass.

Hopefully there's a stream tonight.
- madmike71

There is on the Pens website if you're in the states 👍

There is on the Pens website if you're in the states 👍
- 668710

Seems to be only for the local area unless I'm missing something.

Edit - Sportsurge has links for anyone nowhere near Pittsburgh like me.

I'm not worried about Pettersson. He's handled those minutes and been fine. POJ and Smith both might be guys who can as well.

I do agree though that I'm not sure any of them could be a #2 right now. I'm also nervous that Dumoulin isn't either though. LHD is definitely one of the more interesting spots on the depth chart.

Can probably argue any of those 4 could be their best LHD by the end of the year.
- Tojo.

Pettersson is penciled in as the second pair with Petry. With Sullivan it's really in ink.

I think Smith will get first shot with Ruutta. What that means for Freidman, Ruhwedel, and Joseph, I don't know. Smith is the only guy who can clear waivers. So maybe he is the odd man out.

Really someone needs to step up before we trade Dumo.

Pettersson is penciled in as the second pair with Petry. With Sullivan it's really in ink.

I think Smith will get first shot with Ruutta. What that means for Freidman, Ruhwedel, and Joseph, I don't know. Smith is the only guy who can clear waivers. So maybe he is the odd man out.

Really someone needs to step up before we trade Dumo.
- Thunderbolt

Right now with Pettersson I agree. Think he's the 2nd pair and whoever wins the last spot is 3rd pair. I'm more interested in how it ends. Dump himself was once a rookie nobody was thinking about much who ended up top pair by the end of the year.

I don’t know how Pettersson can have a spot in the top 4 when it is obvious that no other team wanted him and his contract. I could even see Rutta there instead.

I don’t know how Pettersson can have a spot in the top 4 when it is obvious that no other team wanted him and his contract. I could even see Rutta there instead.
- sjfpp

Nobody wanted his contract, not necessarily him. I believe there were reports people would take him with retained salary, but at that point the Pens weren't interested in moving him. He's overpaid, but pretty solid.

I think Pettersson will look a lot better this season with a net front clearing partner in Petry. I think they will both compliment each others play well. It will be nice to have a big shot from the blueline which hopefully will open up some opportunities for the Malkin line.

Of all the forwards in the game in Columbus, I thought Svejkovsky stood out the most. He’s not mentioned much. but I could see him getting a call up at some point over some others. Defensively, Oullet played a steady game while also dropping a guy in a fight.

I think Pettersson will look a lot better this season with a net front clearing partner in Petry. I think they will both compliment each others play well. It will be nice to have a big shot from the blueline which hopefully will open up some opportunities for the Malkin line.
- 123Kid

Could see that. Pettersson struggles there and has done well in the past when paired with someone else who can handle those duties.