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Penguins Forward Preparing Comeback to Earn Roster Spot This Season
Photo credit: Edit from Daily Faceoff
It hasn't gone the way Tommy Novak had planned the last little while, but he revealed he is ready for a personal comeback and wants to crack the Penguins roster.
Dan Muse and Tommy Novak date back a decade to Novak's time as a student at St. Thomas Academy in Minnesota. Muse, who is now the Penguins' head coach, was then an assistant coach at Yale.
Muse recalls Novak's play even back then impressing him as he was great for his hockey smarts, game reading, and being able to adapt, all of which combined with his point-scoring ability. This is one of the reasons GM Kyle Dubas traded for him at last year's deadline, and he even wanted to pair him with Evgeni Malkin.
"He's a player that I don't think there's any kind of a panic threshold," Muse said. "There's just great poise when he has the puck, and he can make things happen in tight spaces. He's got a great defensive stick. He puts himself in good positions there defensively and is in a position there not just on offense, but also on defense, be able to be really dangerous in transition."
Prior to arriving in Pittsburgh, Novak accumulated 49 goals, 68 assists, and 117 points in 201 NHL games with the Predators since entering the league in 2021. He was riding a career year for 2023-24 with 18 goals, 27 assists, and 45 points.
Tommy Novak was Supposed to Play With Evgeni Malkin Prior to his Injury
The plan to pair Novak with Malkin was sidetracked when Novak hurt himself just two games into his Penguins' career, depriving him of the remainder of the season. He spent the early summer on crutches and then resumed skating and working out, and he even got himself a dog to help keep his mind off of things.
"Me and my girlfriend got a new puppy," Novak said with a smile. "His name is Manny. He's a Golden Retriever puppy, he's four and a half months now. Taking care of him, got him in July. So yeah, that was the big thing this summer, for sure."
This season, Novak has been fighting his way back. In three preseason games, he has a goal and an assist, displaying flashes of the goal-scoring skill that made him such a focal point.
Novak's mindset is to establish consistency, establish his role, and look ahead as the new season unfolds. Fans are hoping that he will be able to stay healthy this time around, so that he can help the team push towards making the playoffs.
If Novak can stay healthy, and with the coaching style of Muse, fans may be in for a little in-season magic.
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 3 | 72 ANSWERS Penguins Forward Preparing Comeback to Earn Roster Spot This Season Will Tommy Novak have a bounce back year? | ||
| Yes | 47 | 65.3 % |
| No | 25 | 34.7 % |
| List of polls | ||