Penguins Rookie Earns Major Praise From Sidney Crosby Ahead of Line Debut
Photo credit: DK Pittsburgh Sports
Penguins teenage rookie Ben Kindel is set to make his debut on the top line next game alongside Sidney Crosby, who had nothing but praise for the youngster.
The Pittsburgh Penguins provided some much-needed clarity regarding their injury situation on Wednesday, announcing that all three players placed on injured reserve are expected to miss at least three weeks.
Justin Brazeau is out for a minimum of four weeks with an upper-body injury, while Noel Acciari and Tristan Jarry will miss at least three weeks.
The Penguins got back to work with a tweaked lineup in advance of an arduous three games in four nights, then a trip to Stockholm for a pair of games against Nashville next week.
The most noticeable change came atop the lineup, where rookie Ben Kindel skated beside Sidney Crosby. Both Kindel and Crosby spoke of the opportunity to play alongside each other.
"Just a lot of speed. Skates really well and competes hard on pucks. So, yeah, just we'll try to work off each other."
- Sidney Crosby
- Sidney Crosby
"I'm very honored and grateful."
- Ben Kindel
- Ben Kindel
That bumps Filip Hallander, who has yet to find the back of the net at even strength through 13 games despite chances set up by Crosby and Bryan Rust.
The mix of speed and two-way play by Kindel could provide a spark while adding a boost on defense after the first line struggled of late.
Tommy Novak is also receiving a promotion due to all of the injuries the Penguins are facing
The promotion of Tommy Novak to Evgeni Malkin's line was a key opportunity to showcase his offensive instincts.
Yet another notable shift saw Danton Heinen working at center, a position he's played effectively in Wilkes-Barre this season after primarily being used as a winger in the NHL.
Kevin Hayes again practiced in full and continues trending toward making his Penguins debut soon. On defense, Ryan Graves returned to the NHL lineup alongside Connor Clifton, who last appeared in an NHL game on October 25.
The upcoming week will be crucial to determining just how resilient this Penguins group can be amidst early-season adversity, testing new combinations up front and depth throughout the lineup.
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