Ryan Wilson: Early returns from preseason hockey Early returns from preseason hockey

Spittin Chiclets had some more details on Babcock... apparently he invited a young player to his house for lunch, told the player at his house to unlock his phone for Babcock to look at his pictures, and then the young player had to leave without any lunch.

Also told an older player who was trying to make the NHL roster for the first time to soak in sitting on the bench during the preseason because he'll never be on an NHL bench again.

What a complete nutcase.

I thought Dubas said he wasn't worried about contract status and all of that, whoever plays best makes the team?

Spittin Chiclets had some more details on Babcock... apparently he invited a young player to his house for lunch, told the player at his house to unlock his phone for Babcock to look at his pictures, and then the young player had to leave without any lunch.

Also told an older player who was trying to make the NHL roster for the first time to soak in sitting on the bench during the preseason because he'll never be on an NHL bench again.

What a complete nutcase.
- SuperHenderson13

Yea he's a complete POS

I thought Dubas said he wasn't worried about contract status and all of that, whoever plays best makes the team?
- 668710

He did. He also said you might lose guys to waivers because of that, but that's the game. It will be interesting to see what happens.

He did. He also said you might lose guys to waivers because of that, but that's the game. It will be interesting to see what happens.
- burgh4life87

I think that if things are close between a waiver exempt and a non waiver exempt guy the tie will still go to the guy you might lose. I took that comment as “it a guy has definitely won a spot then so be it”

Agreed. Also, for a young player like Poulin they will also have to factor in what's best for his development. Is it better to be 4C in the NHL or 1C in the AHL for a few months?

Given he missed so much time last year, I would be surprised if he didn't start in the AHL and then move up after getting in enough playing time down there.

Forwards Matt Filipe, Dillon Hamaliuk, Sam Houde, Jagger Joshua and Evan Vierling, as well as goaltender Taylor Gauthier have been assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s training camp in the American Hockey League.

Defenseman Andre Anania has been assigned to the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), forward Matthew Soto has been assigned to the Kingston Frontenacs of the OHL and goaltender Michael Simpson has been assigned to the Peterborough Petes of the OHL.

Forward Peter Abbandonato has been released from his professional tryout agreement.

Defenseman Mark Pysyk has been moved to the injured list at Pittsburgh’s training camp.

I thought this may be the strategy to keep Pysyk...

Forwards Matt Filipe, Dillon Hamaliuk, Sam Houde, Jagger Joshua and Evan Vierling, as well as goaltender Taylor Gauthier have been assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s training camp in the American Hockey League.

Defenseman Andre Anania has been assigned to the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), forward Matthew Soto has been assigned to the Kingston Frontenacs of the OHL and goaltender Michael Simpson has been assigned to the Peterborough Petes of the OHL.

Forward Peter Abbandonato has been released from his professional tryout agreement.

Defenseman Mark Pysyk has been moved to the injured list at Pittsburgh’s training camp.

I thought this may be the strategy to keep Pysyk...
- Beatnic57

Why would you need a strategy to keep Pysyk?

I was at the game at PPG yesterday. I have read where oconnor had a good game. That was not evident watching the game. I thought nylander was much more visible. but then I read that vellucci is still not happy with nyander's defense. And Mark Friedman had a tough day physically. Twice i thought he was down for the count but he finished the game. That knee twist looked bad. They stopped play to have him helped off. I wasnt impressed with the ruhwedel/POJ pairing either. They should have dominated but didnt. POJ actually went out of his way in the corners to avoid contact a few times that resulted in the other team getting a shot on goal.

Why would you need a strategy to keep Pysyk?
- Feds91Stammer

Lack of cap space

I thought Dubas said he wasn't worried about contract status and all of that, whoever plays best makes the team?
- 668710

Others said it well already. Poulin has to blow away everybody to get either the third line spot or the temporary spot for Guentzel. He's probably right in that group right now, but if it's between him and say Nylander that might be the tie breaker. No worries if he goes down and plays big minutes after missing most of last year. He can try to force his way up from there.

I think the Pens have a fourth line that may not get more minutes and a guy can get promoted straight to the third. (Unless someone like Gruden gets the call). If Poulin is up, it's fine by me if he's at least third line.

I was at the game at PPG yesterday. I have read where oconnor had a good game. That was not evident watching the game. I thought nylander was much more visible. but then I read that vellucci is still not happy with nyander's defense. And Mark Friedman had a tough day physically. Twice i thought he was down for the count but he finished the game. That knee twist looked bad. They stopped play to have him helped off. I wasnt impressed with the ruhwedel/POJ pairing either. They should have dominated but didnt. POJ actually went out of his way in the corners to avoid contact a few times that resulted in the other team getting a shot on goal.
- i'mjustafan

Nylander was definitely doing his part working in the offensive zone along the boards. But I thought a lot of that lines territorial dominance was because that lineup from CBus just wasn't able to handle DOC and Z's size. I thought all 3 played well.

Lack of cap space
- Beatnic57

How? You would send someone down if he was worth a roster spot

How? You would send someone down if he was worth a roster spot
- Feds91Stammer

Beyond that, he's on a PTO so doesn't even have a contract past the end of camp.

Others said it well already. Poulin has to blow away everybody to get either the third line spot or the temporary spot for Guentzel. He's probably right in that group right now, but if it's between him and say Nylander that might be the tie breaker. No worries if he goes down and plays big minutes after missing most of last year. He can try to force his way up from there.

I think the Pens have a fourth line that may not get more minutes and a guy can get promoted straight to the third. (Unless someone like Gruden gets the call). If Poulin is up, it's fine by me if he's at least third line.
- Tojo.

Yea it's all good I just want the best team iced. It was refreshing to hear Dubas wasn't worried about waiver status.

Yea it's all good I just want the best team iced. It was refreshing to hear Dubas wasn't worried about waiver status.
- 668710

I mean the guys they'd have to waive aren't that big of a loss. Can still stash someone at 13th forward.

So looking at just basic possession metrics like corsi, Fenwick, and relatives for both the player with the best metrics on our fourth line last year is ... Jeff Carter. What could go wrong with those 3 together?

So looking at just basic possession metrics like corsi, Fenwick, and relatives for both the player with the best metrics on our fourth line last year is ... Jeff Carter. What could go wrong with those 3 together?
- Tojo.

What two players are you talking about playing with Carter?

What two players are you talking about playing with Carter?
- 668710

Accari and Nieto

From Haase...

Sullivan on Puustinen: "Defensively, we have to have a certain trust that we can put players over the boards in certain situations and know that they're going to be able to get the job done," Sullivan explained. "I think Puusty has work to do there. And I think he's gotten better and grown in that regard. I think he can continue to work and get better in that capacity."

Pretty much thought that's why he never got a call up last year.

“The power play is very important to Erik and Kris. So we’ll start with both of them on the top unit. And so we'll see how it goes. We've got a lot of options."

- Sullivan

Not a shocking revelation by any means but I can't help but wonder if its really for the best or if its catering to two vets. Going to have two righties on the blue line this way. So which forward comes off the top PP? Jake is obviously not going to be there to start the season but if they were al healthy?


Jake-Sid-Geno
EK-Tanger

2nd unit?

Rak-Carter-Rust
Graves-Petts/Smith?...if its Graves/Petts its two lefties....

I thought Smith was QB'n the PP pretty good the other day. When he was up for those 9 games last season, even though the PP didnt produce much, he didnt look out of place on it at all to my eyes.

“The power play is very important to Erik and Kris. So we’ll start with both of them on the top unit. And so we'll see how it goes. We've got a lot of options."

- Sullivan

Not a shocking revelation by any means but I can't help but wonder if its really for the best or if its catering to two vets. Going to have two righties on the blue line this way. So which forward comes off the top PP? Jake is obviously not going to be there to start the season but if they were al healthy?


Jake-Sid-Geno
EK-Tanger

2nd unit?

Rak-Carter-Rust
Graves-Petts/Smith?...if its Graves/Petts its two lefties....

I thought Smith was QB'n the PP pretty good the other day. When he was up for those 9 games last season, even though the PP didnt produce much, he didnt look out of place on it at all to my eyes.
- MattStrat

Who gives a poop about the 2nd unit lol they see 24 seconds of ice time per PP.

2 righties aren't "on the blue line" in the umbrella formation. One of them is going to be on the half wall where either Rust/Rakell was at and that player should be a righty anyways. My choice would be Letang. Karlsson as the QB up top.

From Haase...

Sullivan on Puustinen: "Defensively, we have to have a certain trust that we can put players over the boards in certain situations and know that they're going to be able to get the job done," Sullivan explained. "I think Puusty has work to do there. And I think he's gotten better and grown in that regard. I think he can continue to work and get better in that capacity."

Pretty much thought that's why he never got a call up last year.
- madmike71

I'd love to see him get a few games in an offensive role, despite all of this. He has to be able to at least prove he has NHL offense before I worry about anything else.

Who gives a poop about the 2nd unit lol they see 24 seconds of ice time per PP.

2 righties aren't "on the blue line" in the umbrella formation. One of them is going to be on the half wall where either Rust/Rakell was at and that player should be a righty anyways. My choice would be Letang. Karlsson as the QB up top.
- j.boyd919

Letang and Karsson are also very mobile on the power play so the chances they finish in the same spot they start is pretty low.