"Maybe there is another configuration for the Pittsburgh Penguins defense that we have not seriously considered before. Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan paired NHL-ready prospect P.O. Joseph with Kris Letang in training camp, and at first glance, it may seem like a learning experience for Joseph."
But what if it is a tryout?
"And what if it allows the Penguins to create three defensive pairings with six NHL defensemen? It may be a crazy thought, and Joseph may be relegated to the AHL’s WBS Penguins to build a little more hate, but it’s a thought worth considering. Any possible way to get Joseph on NHL ice is worth considering."
"Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan didn’t dismiss the possibility, either."
“He’s knocking on the door…I love his attitude, enthusiasm for the game… He loves hockey, and I think that energy is contagious. And I love those types of guys,” Sullivan said. “His footspeed has improved, his strength on the puck, the use of his stick…"
“He’s not just a defender. He can make an outward pass. He can join the rush. He’s got some offensive instincts. We’re excited by his development.”
"Sullivan hinted the camp pairing could stick. Joseph would stick on his natural side, and perhaps a veteran defenseman would make the switch if necessary."
“It’s hard enough to try to play in this league when you’re in the spots you’re comfortable with,” Sullivan said. “If we have to move some veteran guys around to try to support that, then we’ll do that. P.O. is an intriguing player because he can skate, and he’s got pretty good hands.”
"Penguins top pair defenseman Brian Dumoulin springs to mind. He has played on the right side with some success as injuries decimated the Penguins defense corps over the past few years."
"Stay tuned."
P.O. Joseph & Kris Letang:
"And no, Joseph has never played on the right, his off side–not on purpose, anyway."
“…I don’t think I’ve ever played on the right side. I mean, I play my off side from time to time when Kris goes all over the place,” Joseph laughed as he took one of a few good-natured pokes at his mentor."
"Joseph, 21, and Letang have been building a relationship on the ice surfaces in the Montreal area for a few years. It doesn’t sound like Letang takes it easy on the rook or that Joseph would have it any other way."
“Every time he had the chance to push me a little harder, he was doing it, even if it was the first time we were on the ice or the last time,” Joseph said. “So, I’m really lucky he’s pushing me, and I’m pushing him a little bit as well.”
"Letang can’t let the young lion take the pride, of course. A little youthful push can’t hurt Letang, either."
This is from another article I read...
"The 6-foot-6 Czech Republic native Radim Zohorna, who is in his second North American season, is getting a hard look at center in the Pittsburgh Penguins training camp. Zohorna has been gifted with Evgeni Malkin linemates Kasperi Kapanen and Jason Zucker."
"Zohorna, 25, electrified the Penguins bench in a few games last season, including his first NHL goal. He scored four points (2-2-4) in eight games before being sent back to the WBS Penguins for further seasoning and North American adjustment."
"In training camp, Zohorna has displayed his skating ability. The big man can move. And his finishing ability, too."
“He can move. He’s a big guy, but he also loves passing the puck,” Kasperi Kapanen said. “He makes great plays. And, once he gets a chance to shoot, he puts it in the net.”
"The Pittsburgh Penguins lineup will be without top center Sidney Crosby for a handful of regular seasons games as he recovers from wrist surgery. The lineup will also be without Evgeni Malkin for two months or more. Malkin’s absence (and ugly knee scars) creates a gigantic hole in the middle of the Penguins lineup, and maybe, just maybe, the 25-year-old Czech can fill the void for a couple of months."
“…We have some options. ‘Big Z’ is one guy that potentially could play that type of a role for us,” Sullivan said."
"Zohorna signed with the Penguins as a Euro free agent before last season. In addition to the four NHL points, he scored 11 points (3-8-11) with the WBS Penguins in 12 games. While many wondered if the tall forward, who weighs 220 pounds, would be a power forward, he showed more finesse than strength. The Penguins org gave him marching orders to learn to play between the dots and harder in battle areas."
"So far, so good."
"But Sullivan hedged his bet in the following sentence, too."
“You know, Evan Rodrigues, I think, has real good offensive instincts. He can play center. He can play wing. He’s another guy that that that we could play in, you know, in our top nine at of center position if if if we needed him to. So there’s a number of different guys that have the ability to play those roles and fill those roles.”
"Not exactly a vote of confidence."
"In classic Sullivan fashion, he put the onus on the players to win the job in the coming preseason, which the Penguins begin on Monday vs. the Columbus Blue Jackets at PPG Paints Arena."
“And we’ll just see how it goes. You know, we’re just going to watch the camp and watch players develop and evolve here,” the coach said. “And I think the exhibition games will tell us a lot when we have an opportunity to play in those.”
"Rodrigues has become Sullivan’s Swiss Army Knife. He’s played both wings and center during his brief 42-game Penguins career. After trading his rights to the Toronto Maple Leafs as part of the Kasperi Kapanen deal, the Penguins re-signed Rodrigues as a UFA when Toronto did not tender a $2 million qualifying offer."
"Rodrigues is listed at 5-foot-11, 184 pounds though he might be a little less on both. The job is within his reach, even if Zohorna has a much longer wingspan."
“I think it’s still early to make any sort of assessments at this point. I’m trying to, quite honestly, to reserve any judgment here until we watch more of a complete body of work,” Sullivan concluded."
"In camp, Rodrigues has been centering would-be rookie, Nathan Legare and Dominik Simon. Both Simon and Legare are more likely to begin the season with the WBS Penguins than the Pittsburgh Penguins, but the preseason games will matter for them, too."
"After a few years of stability and nearly pointless training camps, the Penguins now have work to do, positions to fill, and Sullivan is dangling that figurative carrot above Zohorna and Rodrigues."
"It’s been a long time since the Penguins leaned on a big Czech in the lineup."
It it works great. That’s 3 solid pairings on the backend.
Honestly moving Pettersson for a RD or trading him for a C with less caphit makes sense. Then if we do that we have a little bit of cap space to sign a RD in FA
I’d imagine Dumo would get paired with Matheson if they choose to play someone on their off side. Probably would be the best partner for Matheson tbh to let Matheson shine. I just think Petty and Marino work too well together to split up unless it’s to put POJ there.
i think pairing dumo and marino could free up marino's offensive game and give him more freedom out there. at this point anything can fly and maybe it reignites this team
McDavid, Connor
250 000 $)
Imagine875948 a aimé ceci.
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