Pens recall seven players, "black aces" practice squad is set

by Hooks Orpik on Apr 28, 2010 10:01 AM EDT

As we talked about last week after the elimination of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins from the AHL Calder Cup playoffs, the Pittsburgh Penguins have now finally, officially re-called the bulk of their team. Why? Well, you have to make sure your NHL team is going to advance deeper into the playoffs, no use wasting money and people's time calling up a bunch of young guys for a few days. Also it gives everyone a chance to breakdown things in Scranton, to pack up apartments/houses and all those details.

Anyways here's the link from the team for the seven players officially recalled: forwards Dustin Jeffrey, Nick Johnson, Mark Letestu, Eric Tangradi and Tim Wallace. Defenseman Steve Wagner and goalie John Curry also get the call. WB/S regulars Chris Conner, Ben Lovejoy, Deryk Engelland and Brad Thiessen are already with the Pens in Pittsburgh.

Behind the jump a guess at what the organizational depth chart probably looks like at this point.

Kunitz	Crosby	Guerin
Talbot	Malkin	Ponikarovsky
Cooke	Staal	Kennedy*
Rupp	Adams	Dupuis
Fedotenko	Conner	Godard
Tangradi	Letestu	Johnson
Jeffrey		Wallace

Orpik	Gonchar
Eaton	Letang
McKee	Goligoski
Leopold*
Lovejoy	Engelland
	Wagner

*Things are a little wacky, as the status of Kennedy and Leopold are unknown. If Kennedy can't go, expect Dupuis to slide into the 3rd line role and either Conner or Fedotenko to take a spot in the lineup....I realize Conner isn't a center, but given the number of wingers who can play center (Talbot, TK, even Rupp) it makes sense to list Conner on the 5th line, being as he's more likely to get in a game than most others, which explains that.

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Looks like we’re loaded up and ready to party.

12 wins to go.
Let's go Pens!

by PensAreYourDaddy on Apr 28, 2010 10:11 AM EDT reply actions

where on Earth are they going to find the space to have a practice with all those players on the ice?

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

by Dr Tre on Apr 28, 2010 10:47 AM EDT reply actions

Well the days in between games, especially deep in a series pretty much only the 3rd and 4th lines of players, a few defensemen and no Fleury practice.

Pensburgh.com

"Don't matter who did what to who at this point. Fact is, we went to war and there ain't no turnin' back. I mean, s---, it's what war is, you know? Once you in it, you in it. If it's a lie, then we fight on that lie. But we gotta fight."

by Hooks Orpik on Apr 28, 2010 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Where on earth will they sit in the dressing room!

by SuMac on Apr 28, 2010 10:58 AM EDT reply actions

Heh … sometimes they end up in make-shift stalls in the middle of the dressing room. It’s always funny to see.

Leafs fan living large in the Pitt and pretending like the drought is over. Go Pens!

by PopRocks on Apr 28, 2010 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions

lovejoy

man, it’s hard not to play a nhl conditioned guy like mckee in leopolds absence, but its not he’s been blowing the doors off during his time on ice (even from a defensive or shot blocking point of view)… it’d be nice to see lovejoy get some action, break him in like they did with gogo last post seasons a bit. you gotta expect to see him in a penguins jersey next season, i’d love to see him conditioned for it

my my, hey hey rock 'n roll is here to stay...

by Jordan O.T.eopold on Apr 28, 2010 11:14 AM EDT reply actions

corrections: it’s not like he’s been blowing the doors…
…with gogo last post season a bit…

my my, hey hey rock 'n roll is here to stay...

by Jordan O.T.eopold on Apr 28, 2010 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions

That is a great username.

Pensburgh.com

by Hooks Orpik on Apr 28, 2010 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions

seconded.

like a zillion times seconded.

STAAL FOR SELKE. SIDNEY FOR EVERY OTHER ONE.

by katielynn906 on Apr 28, 2010 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions

The only complaint I have about McKee is he isn’t playing very fast. And even then, we all knew he wasn’t going to set land (or even ice) speed records. Other than that I think he’s been quite sound positionally and he doesn’t make (very many) mistakes.

Sure, it would be nice to have the luxury of getting some of the younger guys some time on the ice, but I don’t think we do that unless it is necessary, or if we have gone up in a series or game by A LOT.

Pensburgh /// BlockU
I like it. Bill Guerin’s uppercut is so awesome it wins fights he’s not even in.
- OlenWhitaker

"...as a matter of law, the house is haunted."
- Judge Rubin, New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Stambovsky v. Ackley, 572 N.Y.S. 2d 672

by Hockey Beard in SLC on Apr 28, 2010 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions

nothing wrong with lovejoy stepping in at any point in time, but only as needed. i don’t care about him getting “conditioned” for next season during this years playoffs. the simple fact is that sooner or later it will have to be his first playoff game. (of course assuming he ever is dressed for a playoff team, which is most likely going to happen next year) so when that first playoff game is for him won’t matter too much, he will still be who he is. if the he was one of 6 other d-men all making their first playoof experience at the same time, maybe then there’d be a problem. but if he waits another year to get dressed in the post season, he’ll be no less prepared for it, then if he plays a game or 2 this year.

by Bleed on Apr 28, 2010 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree. Lovejoy’s been around with the Penguins for this and last year’s playoff. He’s what like 26 years old with a couple of seasons under his belt. He may not have actually played an NHL playoff game yet, but it’s hard to imagine anyone can have any less experience than what he’s gotten lately.

Pensburgh.com

by Hooks Orpik on Apr 28, 2010 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions