Pens re-call Chris Conner (No word about Letestu) UPDATE

Rob Rossi's twitter indicated that the Penguins called up two fowards from the minors, but only Chris Conner has left the Baby Pens (who are currently out in Western Canada) to this point.

Conner, a small but speedy winger, had a strong camp but didn't stick in the NHL after the Pens chose to pick-up Chris Bourque on waivers. Conner currently leads the WB/S Pens with 8 points (2g, 6a) in the first seven games down there.

No official word if Mark Letestu has gotten called up yet, but adding Conner only gives Pittsburgh 12 healthy forwards (which counts tough guy Eric Godard), so it would seem Pittsburgh will call up a player before their California swing next week.

3 months ago Hooks Orpik 24 comments 0 recs |

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I’m real excited to see if Letestu can do anything….He’s come from nothing — being small and undrafted — to making a niche in the AHL last year with a solid season with 61 points last season.

Unfortunately, he’s probably going to be a 3rd/4th liner and not going to get many minutes to make an impact. Hopefully he can make the most of it, though it’s always hard to standout in your first stint in the NHL in such circumstances.

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*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night

by Hooks Orpik on Oct 29, 2009 3:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wasn’t Letestu’s injury a shoulder thing too? If so, this is all getting to be a bit much.

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by FrankD on Oct 29, 2009 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Weird decision to call up Letetsu. I would’ve thought they’d go with Bayda if anyone.

by SlayerGhaleon on Oct 29, 2009 3:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think Bayda was definitely a candidate but they needed a center (Letestu fills that role) and I think Conner’s just been a little better so far than Bayda (even though Bayda does have 4 goals in 6 games).

Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*

*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night

by Hooks Orpik on Oct 29, 2009 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well one way to look at it is that if Malkin is out 3 weeks and Talbot and Gonchar are set to return on time, we can more or less have them all back in the lineup at the same time. If anyone is thinking the Pens are in trouble now (which frankly, I don’t), then wait to see what people are saying when all three come back.

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by FrankD on Oct 29, 2009 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also, no one asked, but how about these lines for the immediate future (with Tyler Kennedy still out for an unknown amount of time):

Kunitz-Crosby-Guerin
Cooke-Staal-Fedotenko
Rupp-Adams-Dupuis
Bourque-Letestu-Conner
(Godard an extra)

Matt Cooke isn’t a long-term top 6 guy, but he plays well with Staal. Rupp’s been good this year too, and I think could handle the 3rd line minutes. The 4th line would be very under-sized but does have some decent skill to go along with nice speed.

No matter how you slice it, it’s gonna be pretty patchwork for the next 2 weeks until TK and Malkin can return.

Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*

*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night

by Hooks Orpik on Oct 29, 2009 3:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I’d replace Cooke with Bourque. Move Cooke down to the third line and then move Rupp down to the fourth.

by PensFan024 on Oct 29, 2009 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That could work. I didn’t do that because personally I’m not sold on Bourque as a legit NHL player and I think the Pens are going to want and need to keep as many combinations that work together as possible. Cooke and Staal work, I wouldn’t break it apart.

Though I do agree that Bourque could offer a little more offensively than Cooke, if he’s good enough to hold his own. I suppose time will tell.

Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*

*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night

by Hooks Orpik on Oct 29, 2009 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

With your fourth line trying to make a name for themselves they could be mildly effective.

by PensFan024 on Oct 29, 2009 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Could be if the coach picks the right spots to use them.

Anaheim’s been pretty rough and tumble, I imagine Godard will be in that game for sure to counter George Parros…I’m sure Godard will get some games in the immediate future.

Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*

*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night

by Hooks Orpik on Oct 29, 2009 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kunitz-Crosby-Guerin
Bourque-Staal-Fedotenko
Cooke-Adams-Conner
Rupp-Letestu-Dupuis
(Godard an extra)

This spreads the immaturiy a little more with about the same minutes going to 3rd and 4th line (10-12 each), with Dupuis (I can’t believe I am gonna say this…) and Rupp getting the occasional double shift with any of the other lines to keep the new guys on the 8 minute border.

by Ulf Murphy on Oct 29, 2009 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Looks pretty good to me, I’m sure the “immature” guys will be limited….I expect the Pens to lean on guys like Adams, Rupp and Dupuis a lot too — they’re tested guys who’ve been around a while and know how to play the way Pittsburgh wants to play.

Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*

*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night

by Hooks Orpik on Oct 29, 2009 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Those guys may not score much but they can definitely keep the other team from scoring. We could call an Adams Rupp Dupuis line: Damage control.

by PensFan024 on Oct 29, 2009 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I dig the name, but with such an influential goal scorer like Mike Rupp on the line I find it hard to believe they don’t score much.

(Slightly sarcastic but ever grateful)

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by FrankD on Oct 29, 2009 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey, Rupp has three already and his career high in a season is six. :D

by SlayerGhaleon on Oct 29, 2009 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Now that’s what I call progress.

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by FrankD on Oct 29, 2009 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

or a “career year” :)

You have to see it for yourself...

by Bla Razor on Oct 30, 2009 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think this way the lines are quite good… the somewhat smallish Conner, Bourque and Letestu are spread across the lines. Rupp and Dupuis belong on the 4th line, that’s where they can surprise from… not put them on the 2nd line and expect a contribution every game…

You have to see it for yourself...

by Bla Razor on Oct 30, 2009 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shouldn’t the Pens have brought up Capuit or Tangradi and play them with Crosby and put Kunitz with Stall on the 2nd line? Stall and Kunitz played great together and with a 10-2 record and being down Kennedy, Talbot, Malkin, and Gonchar why not experiment a bit, at least for now?

Life is about one simple choice, get busy living or get busy dying

by Dr Tre on Oct 29, 2009 5:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs