Ryan Wilson: Players to watch in tonights preseason matchup with Buffalo Players to watch in tonights preseason matchup with Buffalo

The Pens forwards tonight arnt even close to being in the same league as the Sabres' selections. Quite a test for all those fresh faced Pens D-men.

I agree, I’m just excited to see some penguins hockey.

Wonder who Addison is paired with tonight? JJ most likely as POJ and Marino were paired throughout the rookie tournament. If he can stay afloat that's be a good showing.

Sabres definitely have the superior lineup.

I think JJ being dressed with that kind of roster in first game of preseason is a statement...and I like it.

Wonder who Addison is paired with tonight? JJ most likely as POJ and Marino were paired throughout the rookie tournament. If he can stay afloat that's be a good showing.

Sabres definitely have the superior lineup.
- Thorny87

Poor kid if he gets JJ as a partner....GMJR will probably write Addison off as a bust if JJ does the weigh weigh on him like he usually does his partners.

Apparently Riikola had a really bad first season?

Apparently Riikola had a really bad first season?
- Murphy_Dump

I dont agree. I think he had a really bad first half of his games....he was scratched a really long time but when he came back I remember thinking he played pretty decent. Most definitely superior to JJ.

Someone looked up his stats before and after that long scratch and they were improved. He was still pretty error prone though. If he could tighten up his game I'd like him on the bottom pair. If you just look at his underlying stats for the whole season combined they're not too hot but that goes for a majority of the Pens last season, not just Rikky.

I dont agree. I think he had a really bad first half of his games....he was scratched a really long time but when he came back I remember thinking he played pretty decent. Most definitely superior to JJ.

Someone looked up his stats before and after that long scratch and they were improved. He was still pretty error prone though. If he could tighten up his game I'd like him on the bottom pair. If you just look at his underlying stats for the whole season combined they're not too hot but that goes for a majority of the Pens last season, not just Rikky.
- MattStrat

Yeah i thought he did pretty well for a guy with no NA experience prior to last year.

I think JJ being dressed with that kind of roster in first game of preseason is a statement...and I like it.
- MattStrat

Absolutely. Coach is showing he's our 6th defenseman right now and could be replaced easily by Ruhwedel or Riikola. He better produce..

Apparently Riikola had a really bad first season?
- Murphy_Dump

I don't agree with that statement at all.

Wonder who Addison is paired with tonight? JJ most likely as POJ and Marino were paired throughout the rookie tournament. If he can stay afloat that's be a good showing.

Sabres definitely have the superior lineup.
- Thorny87

I thought Marino was the most impressive Pens player I saw at the prospect tournament. POJ looked good as well. As far as forwards, Lafferty and Miletic played well and I think it won't be long until they crack the NHL if needed. Legare really can snipe it !

I thought Marino was the most impressive Pens player
- sjfpp

That surname alone lets the eyes lighten up... may he become a good (PP) quarterback.

Apparently Riikola had a really bad first season?
- Murphy_Dump

He did. He should have been in WBS all year. They didn't do him any favors playing him as a 2nd pairing D on his off-side where he was way over his head. I have hope for a better showing from him.

I thought Marino was the most impressive Pens player I saw at the prospect tournament. POJ looked good as well. As far as forwards, Lafferty and Miletic played well and I think it won't be long until they crack the NHL if needed. Legare really can snipe it !
- sjfpp

How about Poulin? What sticks out the most from his game? Really loved both picks: Légaré and Poulin.

Joseph and Marino were a much needed breath of fresh air for our prospect pool.

Wonder who Addison is paired with tonight? JJ most likely as POJ and Marino were paired throughout the rookie tournament. If he can stay afloat that's be a good showing.

Sabres definitely have the superior lineup.
- Thorny87

Addison has been playing with Dump and JJ with Ruhwedel as well as POJ and Marino (possible future 3rd pair?) So I'll guess Addison and Riikola.

Outside of the prospects, I'm mostly interested in the fringe guys like Riikola, ZAR, and Johnson to see if they can push for spots. Big game for Johnson if he gets that 4th line spot tonight, which is pretty much the top line.

Also, poor Simon.

How about Poulin? What sticks out the most from his game? Really loved both picks: Légaré and Poulin.

Joseph and Marino were a much needed breath of fresh air for our prospect pool.
- Barnaby36

From what I saw of Poulin he skates fine, Is hard to knock of the puck and is pretty good a wining them back if he does. He picked a few guys pockets in the prospect tourney. All against young kids though. I can't a wait to watch tonight, this'll be a real test against that lineup.

Addison has been playing with Dump and JJ with Ruhwedel as well as POJ and Marino (possible future 3rd pair?) So I'll guess Addison and Riikola.

Outside of the prospects, I'm mostly interested in the fringe guys like Riikola, ZAR, and Johnson to see if they can push for spots. Big game for Johnson if he gets that 4th line spot tonight, which is pretty much the top line.

Also, poor Simon.
- Tojo.

I really want to see Addison with Dumo in the pre season. IF he's paired with a poor defender I think he changes his game a bit.

How about Poulin? What sticks out the most from his game? Really loved both picks: Légaré and Poulin.

Joseph and Marino were a much needed breath of fresh air for our prospect pool.
- Barnaby36

He's not going to wow you with end to end rushes but his "hockey sense" stands out and he makes a lot of little plays that sometimes go unnoticed. He's good along the boards and makes smart and accurate passes.Probably a couple of years away though.

He did. He should have been in WBS all year. They didn't do him any favors playing him as a 2nd pairing D on his off-side where he was way over his head. I have hope for a better showing from him.
- Tojo.

This exactly. Didn't send him down when it was obvious he was struggling. Even worse, had him playing his off-side where it was clear he couldn't handle it.

One of the more stupefying Sullivan decisions was letting JJ and Rikki grotesquely suck on the right side and letting Ruhwedel sit for 2 months.

Talking about setting players up for failure.

They didn't do him any favors playing him as a 2nd pairing D on his off-side where he was way over his head.
- Tojo.

Thats exactly why I don't think he did that badly last year.

I don't agree with that statement at all.
- Barnaby36

Riikola was as bad defensively as Johnson, so if we're judging on only that then yes, I agree with the statement.

Now, I'm not giving him a lot of development slack, but I'm giving him a little. Riikola can skate very well, pass very well, hits hard and is good at moving the puck. The trouble with Riikola is he simply was not able to keep up with the defensive pace of the game.

He's pretty much got this season or maybe even just the first couple of months to show whether or not he's acclimated. If he's shown he's acclimated to the speed enough to be serviceable in his own end then he should easily chase JJ out of the lineup and be a nice long-term bottom pair option for them.

Apparently Riikola had a really bad first season?
- Murphy_Dump

He did. He was terrible lol

Tonight's game is going to be fugly, but at the same time if any of the Pens players stand out it says a lot considering BUF is dressing half of their starters.

This exactly. Didn't send him down when it was obvious he was struggling. Even worse, had him playing his off-side where it was clear he couldn't handle it.

One of the more stupefying Sullivan decisions was letting JJ and Rikki grotesquely suck on the right side and letting Ruhwedel sit for 2 months.

Talking about setting players up for failure.
- madmike71

It's mind boggling Ruhwedel didn't get a shot during that stretch. They couldn't get anything after Letang from the right side.