Job Openings in Pittsburgh
by FrankD on Sep 13, 2011 9:29 AM EDT
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PrintHooks touched on this the other day in his link round up but I thought we could afford to blow this out a bit more given the time of the year and all.
It's not all that rare to see a rookie or two get a chance to make the parent club heading into camp. Three spots is what the Pens have to work with this year and, given the injury history from last season, it'd be nice to see some of the younger guys earning some face time.
Yesterday's PG article suggested Bylsma may be looking to add a few new faces. This is undoubtedly true to start the season, but let's also consider the following. Crosby is out but will likely (hopefully, God willing) return for the second half of the season. So based on no evidence at all, let's just go ahead and say that he will hypothetically be back in January. Dustin Jeffrey, similarly recovering from a knee injury, is on a two-way contract this season and a one-way for next season. Obviously there is no way to gauge his recovery and how Bylsma will use him, if at all this season, but let's also go ahead and say Jeffrey will be ready by January.
Depending on which rookies actually do crack the roster to start the season, I don't anticipate we will see all three of these new faces for the entire length of the season. Consider Kris Letang's first season when he played only a handful of games. Alex Goligoski's up-and-down travels during the early stages of his career. Mark Letestu, Jeffrey, even Ben Lovejoy to a lighter extent all took that same sort of course.
So now I suppose the pressing question is which three players will we see in camp and the season opener? Obviously the focus has to be on the forwards. Bylsma hinted that a bit yesterday as well when he suggested how he might be juggling lines with James Neal and Tyler Kennedy. But before we pencil Richard Park's name into the opening night's lineup, let's consider who could potentially make the jump.
Will the Pens choose to add a little (more) grit during the early stages of the season and give Steve Macintyre some ice time? What about a veteran guy like Jason Williams? Wilkes-Barre Scranton's captain Ryan Craig? Maybe Nick Petersen?
Your guess is as good as mine at this point, which is why I'm throwing it out there for debate. If I'm taking a guess I'd say Big Mac might skate three to five minutes a night. So there's one spot. Perhaps Williams and/or Craig could eat up some time on the fourth line, but now I'm just filling in the blanks for the sake of doing so.
So, let's open it up for discussion.
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One of the more encouraging items to me is that Bylsma has slotted Craig Adams as 4W instead of 4C. Adams didn’t really play that much center before coming to Pittsburgh, and even though he’s great positionally, he hasn’t improved much in the faceoff circle.
Richard Park won 51.5% of 1000+ draws for NYI in 09-10, and I believe Joe Vitale was also above the 50% mark. This could be a great chance for one of those two guys to be in the opening night lineup.
(Assuming Crosby can’t start the season, with Malkin-Staal-Letestu your almost certain combos for the top 3 centers).
"You come at the King, you best not miss."
Vitale at 4C is a strong possibility. Looked good in his time in Pittsburgh, and he’s got nothing more to gain from time in WBS. Turn him loose.
Williams, if he looks like he can still play in the NHL, could be a decent fill-in. I have no idea what to expect from 35-year-old Park, but I suppose that’s what training camp is for.
If I had to venture a guess at the three “new” guys making the squad out of camp, I’d go Vitale, Park, Nick Johnson.
DUE TO THE LENGTH OF NHL HOCKEY
SKATE ELECTRIC WILL NOT BE SEEN
by docciavelli on Sep 13, 2011 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah that list looks about right to me.
"You come at the King, you best not miss."
by Hooks Orpik on Sep 13, 2011 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions
Job Openings in Pittsburgh
I say, Adams at wing not a centre. We have an abundance of C in the system, and Bylsma needs to use all the resources avaiable to him to strengthen the team, including the 4th line
Kunitz – Malkin – Neal
Sullivan – Staal – Kennedy
Cooke – Letestu – Dupuis
Asham – – Adams
That’s the extent of the one way contracts assuming 87 is out at the beginning of the year. There are a number of ways that this could play out…
I think MacIntyre is 1 of your healthy scratches, the other options would be Williams and Park. I could also see Williams being the 4th line C if Jeffrey is not fully recovered yet.
The player that can really throw a wrench into things (in a good way) is Tangradi. If he can earn a spot, he’d likely put Asham on the bench….what i’m not sure is who to bump down from the top 9 to make room for Tangradi. Would it be fair to Dupuis to drop him down? or Sullivan? This is why I think it will be very difficult (not impossible) for Tangradi to make the team without an injury or complete ineffectiveness of one of the top 9.
There’s a small chance that this team could be deep enough even without 87 to roll 4 lines, with that 4th line being a Tangradi – Jeffrey – Adams/Asham. There really are a ton of combinations and the preseason should be fun to watch as it plays out.
On defense, I believe Orpik won’t be ready so I think that battle will be between Despres and Picard.
Hadn’t thought about Orpik. But I don’t think Despres gets anything out of playing 15 mins. a night in the ’Burgh right now, so better to leave him in WBS getting big minutes in big situations.
My money’s on Valabik, Picard or Strait.
DUE TO THE LENGTH OF NHL HOCKEY
SKATE ELECTRIC WILL NOT BE SEEN
by docciavelli on Sep 13, 2011 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions
If Orpik isn’t ready…someone can correct me if he will be….but if he’s not that opens up a top-4 spot…which is perfect for Despres, IMO. Once Orpik is healthy, depending on Despres performance you can either keep him at #5 or send him back for some top 2 minutes in the AHL. It’s really a fantastic opportunity for him, I hope he takes advantage of it. I would not want Valabik or Strait playing any sort of top 4 minutes, the same goes for Niskanen, Lovejoy and Engo. Although I do love me some Lovejoy.
That’s why I think it’s between Despres and Picard. I think both could do well.
I wouldn’t rule the SS Valabik for the grit alone.
Deryk Engelland
Kris Letang
Ben Lovejoy
Paul Martin
Zbynek Michalek
Matt Niskanen
Niskanen has to step up and earn his paycheck.
by STAALKINEAL on Sep 13, 2011 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions
On defense, I believe Orpik won’t be ready so I think that battle will be between Despres and Picard.
Orpik will be ready. He’s been training just fine.
"You come at the King, you best not miss."
by Hooks Orpik on Sep 13, 2011 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions
Brooks Orpik has undergone surgery for a sports hernia.
Orpik is expected to need six-to-eight weeks to recover, so he should be fine for the Penguins’ season opener. Orpik had a similar surgery the summer of 2010 and was still able to participate in training camp. We’ll keep you posted. Jul 20 – 12:28 PM
Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
You’re right… I’m not sure why I didn’t think he’d be ready
I talked to a family friend of Orpik’s earlier in the summer, he had a similar procedure done last summer…Both this year and last he was back in the weight room a lot quicker than the docs timetable. (Not that he rushed it, his recovery just exceeded expectations).
"You come at the King, you best not miss."
by Hooks Orpik on Sep 13, 2011 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions
Now that I’m playing beer league again, I’m sure I’ll need some sort of procedure. Can you find me the doctor that performs these miracles? While you’re at it, see if you can find out how I can learn the Orpik Gaze.
DUE TO THE LENGTH OF NHL HOCKEY
SKATE ELECTRIC WILL NOT BE SEEN
by docciavelli on Sep 13, 2011 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions
Oof. I wouldn’t wish hernia operations on anyone. As far as the glare, I don’t think that can be taught
"You come at the King, you best not miss."
by Hooks Orpik on Sep 13, 2011 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah I thought about posting it here but didn’t want to scare the kids.
(check my twitter feed from yesterday…if you dare)
"You come at the King, you best not miss."
by Hooks Orpik on Sep 13, 2011 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions
End of Malkin as LW?
Just a thought, but do Bylsma’s projected lines mean that he’s abandoned the Malkin/Staal/_ possibility? With no Crosby, it makes sense to keep Malkin as a pivot. But when Crosby, Malkin and Staal are all healthy (fingers crossed), it might be tough not to use Letestu at 3C where he looked good last season.
We all know of Sullivan’s frailty, and Chris Kunitz is no spring chicken either. If a top-2 LW goes down while all three top C’s are healthy, I know I’d be tempted to let Letestu or Jeffrey handle third-line duties while Staal centers a line with Malkin (and maybe Kennedy?). At the least, the FO% would go up a bit. =)
DUE TO THE LENGTH OF NHL HOCKEY
SKATE ELECTRIC WILL NOT BE SEEN
I think that’s definitely a possibility to use Malkin on the wing.
Take into consideration that:
``The Pens (namely Bylsma) like Letestu a lot
``The 4th line C role could be better served by a PK specialist (formerly Talbot now maybe Park, Vitale or someone of that like, etc)
It would make sense. We’ve also heard whispers that Jeffrey might get a chance 2nd/3rd line wing minutes if/when he’s ready to try and prove himself there.
And obviously if Kunitz and/or Sullivan were to go down with injury, the team could always promote Dupuis. And Tangradi’s in the hunt too.
"You come at the King, you best not miss."
by Hooks Orpik on Sep 13, 2011 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions
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