You may see some new faces on the ice tomorrow night when the Pens head to Florida.
The Penguins called up two players from the WBS squad early today. Defenseman Ryan Lannon and center Ryan Stone will further add to the team's trademarked young talent.
In 35 games with Wilkes-Barre, Lannon 2 goals and 7 assists for 9 points. He also carries with him a plus-six rating that the Pens hope he carries over to the team. Previously, Mark Eaton had been the player with the highest plus-minus at +6.
Stone played in 34 games with WBS this season, putting up 7 goals and 12 assists for 19 points. Perhaps Stone will gel with Tyler Kennedy in place of Jordan Staal on the fourth line.
Is a demotion on the way for a current Pens player? Perhaps. If I'm not mistaken the Pens were playing under the roster after Roberts and Eaton went down with injuries anyways. However if a demotion were in the works, I'd say Jordan Staal should be a little concerned.
Staal has accumulated 3 goals and 7 assist in in 41 games this season. He's also playing at a team low minus-11. Granted, a minus rating IS something that penalty killers dance around with throughout their careers. But at minus-11, someone's just not doing a good job.
Ty Conklin was the NHL's Third Star this week. Well deserved no doubt.
On a similar note, Conklin's WBS replacement John Curry was named the AHL Rookie of the Month. Looks like the Pens are really putting a lock down on goaltending throughout the entire system. Always a good thing to see.
Max Talbot is expected back for tomorrow's game against the Panthers, while Fleury still has at least another week. In the mean time, he'll be pretty lonely up in the press box eating popcorn by himself.
Now for my at-home/work GMs out there. Jordan Staal. Do you keep him on the team, or drop him? Would you have waited this long, or done something earlier?
Factor in that although his numbers may not be flattering, the Pens are also ranked 25th on the PK, an area he is supposed to excel at.