The Players Most Likely to Crack the Penguins' Opening Lineup, According to NHL Insider
Photo credit: NHL.com
NHL insider Matt Vensel revealed the top 35 players he believes will be most likely to be on the Penguins' opening night roster when the season starts next week.
Following a pair of nostalgic days embracing Marc-Andre Fleury's return to Pittsburgh, the Penguins returned to work Sunday with a crisp practice and scrimmage. The attention is firmly fixed on next Tuesday's season opener now.
General manager Kyle Dubas has already started trimming the roster, yet there are still plenty of tough choices to be made. Several roster spots remain in question, with nearly three dozen players vying to secure a spot.
Key Roster Cuts are Expected to Take Place This Week
Over the course of the next week, the Penguins' front office will need to sort through a deep field of forwards, defensemen, and goaltenders in order to finalize their roster.
Among the forwards who remain in the mix and are expected to make the roster, per NHL insider Matt Vensel, are veterans such as Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Bryan Rust, and Rickard Rakell, backed up by newcomers and depth players such as Connor Dewar, Danton Heinen, Anthony Mantha, and Philip Tomasino.
Dark horses include younger players such as Ville Koivunen and Tristan Broz.
There is a combination of veteran presence and youth on the blue line. Kris Letang, Erik Karlsson, and Matt Dumba are the headliners, while younger players with names like Owen Pickering and Harrison Brunicke are trying to prove they belong.
Depth defensemen like Ryan Shea, Jack St. Ivany, and Parker Wotherspoon are also trying to remain in the mix.
Between the pipes, Tristan Jarry is the big cheese, with Sergei Murashov and Arturs Silovs supplying competition and developmental depth.
Note that we will not include Joel Blomqvist, Kevin Hayes and Rutger McGroarty in this conversation because all three are out longer term and being held off the ice.
FORWARDS Noel Acciari, Justin Brazeau, Tristan Broz, Sidney Crosby, Connor Dewar, Robby Fabbri, Filip Hallander, Rafael Harvey-Pinard, Avery Hayes, Danton Heinen, Boko Imama, Ben Kindel, Ville Koivunen, Blake Lizotte, Evgeni Malkin, Anthony Mantha, Tommy Novak, Rickard Rakell, Bryan Rust, Philip Tomasino.
DEFENSEMEN Alexander Alexeyev, Harrison Brunicke, Connor Clifton, Matt Dumba, Ryan Graves, Caleb Jones, Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang, Owen Pickering, Ryan Shea, Jack St. Ivany, Parker Wotherspoon
GOALTENDERS Tristan Jarry, Sergei Murashov, Arturs Silovs
FORWARDS Noel Acciari, Justin Brazeau, Tristan Broz, Sidney Crosby, Connor Dewar, Robby Fabbri, Filip Hallander, Rafael Harvey-Pinard, Avery Hayes, Danton Heinen, Boko Imama, Ben Kindel, Ville Koivunen, Blake Lizotte, Evgeni Malkin, Anthony Mantha, Tommy Novak, Rickard Rakell, Bryan Rust, Philip Tomasino.
DEFENSEMEN Alexander Alexeyev, Harrison Brunicke, Connor Clifton, Matt Dumba, Ryan Graves, Caleb Jones, Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang, Owen Pickering, Ryan Shea, Jack St. Ivany, Parker Wotherspoon
GOALTENDERS Tristan Jarry, Sergei Murashov, Arturs Silovs
With only a week left to make calls, every rep is important. The Penguins' brass must balance veteran players with bodies of work, role players, and young players forcing their way into the picture.
The countdown to opening night is underway, and the roster moves the Penguins will make in the next several days will go a long way in determining the early-season identity of the club.
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