Pittsburgh Trims Active Roster to 23

by TonyAndrock on Oct 3, 2011 12:49 PM EDT

Did Joe Vitale slide under the radar? Sorry, I had to!

Pittsburgh announced moments ago the last round of cuts before their season starts Thursday night in Vancouver. This from the team's release:

Forward Jason Williams and defensemen Alexandre Picard and Brian Strait were re-assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL). Defenseman Joseph Morrow was returned to his junior team, the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League (WHL).

Jason Williams and Alexandre Picard will have to clear waivers before coming to the WBS Penguins.

A look at the roster after the jump.

Injured Reserve (5): Sidney Crosby, Dustin Jeffrey, Nick Petersen, Robert Bortuzzo and Boris Valabik

Nick Petersen, Robert Bortuzzo and Boris Valabik should be sent to the AHL Penguins as soon as they are healthy.

Forwards (14): Evgeni Malkin, James Neal, Steve Sullivan, Jordan Staal, Tyler Kennedy, Chris Kunitz, Pascal Dupuis, Arron Asham, Matt Cooke, Mark Letestu, Craig Adams, Joe Vitale, Richard Park, Steve McIntyre

Once Dustin Jeffrey and Sidney Crosby return to the lineup, it looks like Joe Vitale and Richard Park could be on their way to Wilkes-Barre.

Defensemen (7): Kris Letang, Brooks Orpik, Paul Martin, Zbynek Michalek, Ben Lovejoy, Matt Niskanen and Deryk Engelland

Same seven defensemen as the end of last season. No surprises here.

Goalies (2): Marc-Andre Fleury and Brent Johnson

A look at how these moves affect the AHL's Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins and what their roster look like along with breaking news, practice updates and live in-game updates over at Highland Park Hockey

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No real surprises here.

by Jay32600 on Oct 3, 2011 12:52 PM EDT reply actions

I’m starting to wonder whether you and Hooks had a mind-meld today…

DUE TO THE LENGTH OF NHL HOCKEY
SKATE ELECTRIC WILL NOT BE SEEN

by docciavelli on Oct 3, 2011 2:28 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Vitale

I don’t think he heads back to WBS when Jeffrey/Crosby come back. There’s bound to be more injuries (Kunitz and Sullivan aren’t going to escape IR all season). Also, he’s a good PK/Faceoff man.

The four regular PK forwards should be Adams/Cooke/Dupuis/Vitale. Park’s decent as well, but I think those four are the best on the squad. So I’d bet that Park is sent down before Vitale.

As long as the Pens can keep two of Crosby/Malkin/Staal healthy this season, they’ll fare better than last year.

DUE TO THE LENGTH OF NHL HOCKEY
SKATE ELECTRIC WILL NOT BE SEEN

by docciavelli on Oct 3, 2011 2:44 PM EDT reply actions

I do believe yuo forgot to list Staal as one of the regular PK forwards… Unless you think they are going to stop using him on the PK.

Dupuis is hardly a good PK, lot of speed, but id much rather want Vitale and/or Park over Dupuis on the PK.

by Strikers09 on Oct 3, 2011 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, I meant to keep Staal out of the equation. I’m sure he’ll be used in big situations (particularly when the Pens are playing from behind and shorthanded opportunities are needed), but I don’t see him getting many PK minutes until Crosby’s back—he’s too valuable logging big minutes on the 2nd line.

DUE TO THE LENGTH OF NHL HOCKEY
SKATE ELECTRIC WILL NOT BE SEEN

by docciavelli on Oct 3, 2011 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Hm. I kind of expect that he’ll still be used on the PK quite a bit. Last year he continued to log those sorts of minutes, although his average short-handed TOI was reduced from about 3:30 the two previous years to 2:30 last year. So maybe he won’t be out there quite as much, but I think he’ll still be relied on in that sort of situation.

A PK without J-Staal makes me a little teary-eyed.

Jagr? I don't even know 'er.

by PopRocks on Oct 4, 2011 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions

sweet

since last year, technically we had our second best regular season ever, I’d be okay with doing better than that!

by NoVAPensFan on Oct 3, 2011 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Looks like Sid’s debut is against the Craps at the earliest.Hopefully.

Is Sid ready yet?

by Lindas1st on Oct 3, 2011 2:52 PM EDT reply actions

How does getting sent back to Juniors work?

As in Morrow’s case? Do they still get paid? Just wondering how that whole situation works, never knew

by TJM5054 on Oct 3, 2011 3:09 PM EDT reply actions

I’m almost 100% sure he doesn’t get paid his contract will be counted as a slide risk meaning it won’t count against the 50 man roster. If he was here for any NHL games then he’d get paid.

by Geno McFleury on Oct 3, 2011 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Exactly. Money changes hands during training camp, but that’s mostly in the form of per diems, etcetera. He also would’ve received a nice signing bonus, though, so he probably has a fancy new car.

Jagr? I don't even know 'er.

by PopRocks on Oct 3, 2011 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions