Penguins announce 58 player 2021 training camp roster

Practice started today on Saturday for the Penguins’ rookies. Business will be about to pick up by Wednesday when all the (healthy) big dogs are back out there. Pittsburgh announced a 58 player training camp roster.

Just about all the pieces are here in place.

As a primer what to watch:

• Chad Ruhwedel vs. Mark Friedman vs. Pierre-Olivier Joseph. One spot for playing. Two for the NHL roster. As RHD’s, it should be Ruhwedel or Friedman’s spot to lose, but Joseph is a very promising young player who probably won’t be outside of the NHL level for much longer.
• Centers, centers. Brian Boyle is only on a tryout but is a real candidate to make the opening night lineup with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin already out for the start of the season. But what happens from there? Is Teddy Blueger in a top-six role or a third line checking/matchup spot? Is Michael Chaput the least talked about serious option to make the lineup?
• Youngin’s. The Pens could use an injection of energy and youthful spirit and have a few good candidates. Can any of Sam Poulin, Filip Hallander or Nathan Legare push the issue and grab a place? One Day 1, the young Finn was not bashful about wanting it

That’s the exact attitude that a young player should have. Hallander will have to displace plenty of more experienced options from Anthony Angello to Sam Lafferty and even Radim Zohorna.

Pittsburgh will be back looking for a current league-high 16th straight NHL postseason appearance this season. The work begins next week.