Ryan Wilson: Training camp has arrived Training camp has arrived

I agree. I should also mention I dont have much expectation of Poehling blooming into much...buy ya never know. Crazier things have happened.
- MattStrat

The guy I'd hope for Poehling to emulate is Blueger. Both fairly high draft picks who while drafted for skill worked on their defensive games. Blueger debuted at 24 and was a regular at 25. Poehling at 23 had 9 goals and 17 points in 57 games last year. He's a guy I wanted last year because he was stuck behind more talented young centers in Montreal and we needed a young center. Don't know if he can do it but hoping he at least beats out Archibald and gets the chance.

These would be my top ten Pens prospects/young players. Most will be trying to earn a spot or are fighting each other for a call-ups.

1) Ty Smith- Could be a bust based on last year. Or could be a star if it was a rough sophomore year and they can fix him. Big gamble trade but easily biggest upside Pens have

2) POJ- the guys behind him have higher ceilings, but I'd be surprised if he isn't playing large minutes as a #4 if not a #2 soon.

3) Owen Pickering- offensive upside seems limited but potential big, shutdown defenseman with enough skating and skill to play a big role that everyone wants.

4) Samuel Poulin- Big second half in WBS after move to center. May not be leagues next big power-forward, but has enough tools to carve out a role as a middle six forward soon if he has a good start and an opportunity.

5) Joel Blomqvist- coming off a big year with starting goalie potential but has a long way to prove it

6) Drew O'Connor- late bloomer after a growth spurt has been a point a game player in WBS, played well when given a chance in Pittsburgh, and has the blend of size, skill, and skating you want in the NHL. But when will he get his chance with a crowded roster and no cap space for a 14th forward

7) Ryan Poehling- former first looking for a fresh start has potential as a bottom 6 forward and should get a better chance than he had in Montreal

8) Valtteri Puustinen- former top scorer in Europe and coming off a rookie season where he led WBS in scoring has succeeded at every level so far and isn't allergic to traffic. But does he have enough talent and skating ability to make it as a top 6? If not, does he profile as a bottom 6? Tough to see when Poulin, DOC, and Poehling seem to fit better

9) Alex Nylander- did well after coming over in a mid-season trade forming a strong duo with Poulin. But former top pick has struggled to carve out an NHL role and is in danger of being labeled a tweener who adds little besides scoring and maybe not enough scoring to stick on an NHL roster.

10) Filip Lindberg- undrafted goalie impressed early in WBS after a strong finish to college career, but injuries made it a mostly lost year and will now have to battle in a crowded crease

Honorable mentions:
Filip Hallander- always gets talked up as a prospect but the scoring has never showed up at any level. Will need to carve out a 4th line role at this point and become a defensive specialist

Nathan Legare- has just slid backwards since drafted as skating is still a problem and also lacks hockey sense which is a bad combination. Has some obvious great tools, but needs to really turn things around as he was a frequent healthy scratch and if not a 4th liner the second half in WBS

Tristan Broz- Pens too pick last year had a disaster season where he was often a healthy scratch. Transfered hoping for a better opportunity (his team was loaded) but not a good sign.

Raivis Ansons- gets compared to countryman Blueger as a guy with decent size, speed, and skill who early on has focused on his defensive game. Will be a rookie in WBS and probably at best a shutdown 4th liner but has a high floor and good chance to at least make the NHL

Caggiula 30 seconds in and Archibald about 3 minutes later. No, I didn’t write the script! Being at the scrimmage today, I also thought Zahorna had a strong game. I could see him making the team but a trade involving McGinn or Heinen would have to be made.

Lindburg wasn’t undrafted

Caggiula 30 seconds in and Archibald about 3 minutes later. No, I didn’t write the script! Being at the scrimmage today, I also thought Zahorna had a strong game. I could see him making the team but a trade involving McGinn or Heinen would have to be made.
- sjfpp

hahha wooo... as I read the part of the blog about Cagg scoring I thought to myself what is sjfpp going to have to say about this.....and you did not disappoint.

The guy I'd hope for Poehling to emulate is Blueger. Both fairly high draft picks who while drafted for skill worked on their defensive games. Blueger debuted at 24 and was a regular at 25. Poehling at 23 had 9 goals and 17 points in 57 games last year. He's a guy I wanted last year because he was stuck behind more talented young centers in Montreal and we needed a young center. Don't know if he can do it but hoping he at least beats out Archibald and gets the chance.
- Tojo.

Now that you mentioned it I do recall you mentioning him last season.....ya never know...could be a sneaky pick up for us...

These would be my top ten Pens prospects/young players. Most will be trying to earn a spot or are fighting each other for a call-ups.

1) Ty Smith- Could be a bust based on last year. Or could be a star if it was a rough sophomore year and they can fix him. Big gamble trade but easily biggest upside Pens have

2) POJ- the guys behind him have higher ceilings, but I'd be surprised if he isn't playing large minutes as a #4 if not a #2 soon.

3) Owen Pickering- offensive upside seems limited but potential big, shutdown defenseman with enough skating and skill to play a big role that everyone wants.

4) Samuel Poulin- Big second half in WBS after move to center. May not be leagues next big power-forward, but has enough tools to carve out a role as a middle six forward soon if he has a good start and an opportunity.

5) Joel Blomqvist- coming off a big year with starting goalie potential but has a long way to prove it

6) Drew O'Connor- late bloomer after a growth spurt has been a point a game player in WBS, played well when given a chance in Pittsburgh, and has the blend of size, skill, and skating you want in the NHL. But when will he get his chance with a crowded roster and no cap space for a 14th forward

7) Ryan Poehling- former first looking for a fresh start has potential as a bottom 6 forward and should get a better chance than he had in Montreal

8) Valtteri Puustinen- former top scorer in Europe and coming off a rookie season where he led WBS in scoring has succeeded at every level so far and isn't allergic to traffic. But does he have enough talent and skating ability to make it as a top 6? If not, does he profile as a bottom 6? Tough to see when Poulin, DOC, and Poehling seem to fit better

9) Alex Nylander- did well after coming over in a mid-season trade forming a strong duo with Poulin. But former top pick has struggled to carve out an NHL role and is in danger of being labeled a tweener who adds little besides scoring and maybe not enough scoring to stick on an NHL roster.

10) Filip Lindberg- undrafted goalie impressed early in WBS after a strong finish to college career, but injuries made it a mostly lost year and will now have to battle in a crowded crease

Honorable mentions:
Filip Hallander- always gets talked up as a prospect but the scoring has never showed up at any level. Will need to carve out a 4th line role at this point and become a defensive specialist

Nathan Legare- has just slid backwards since drafted as skating is still a problem and also lacks hockey sense which is a bad combination. Has some obvious great tools, but needs to really turn things around as he was a frequent healthy scratch and if not a 4th liner the second half in WBS

Tristan Broz- Pens too pick last year had a disaster season where he was often a healthy scratch. Transfered hoping for a better opportunity (his team was loaded) but not a good sign.

Raivis Ansons- gets compared to countryman Blueger as a guy with decent size, speed, and skill who early on has focused on his defensive game. Will be a rookie in WBS and probably at best a shutdown 4th liner but has a high floor and good chance to at least make the NHL
- Tojo.

Nice post, bud.

Lindburg wasn’t undrafted
- ChrisMS

My bad we didn't draft him but he never signed after being a 7th round pick

Nice post, bud.
- MattStrat

Haha Thanks

Haha Thanks
- Tojo.

Great Post for sure.

I also have high hopes for Ty Smith. I'm curious to see who will get that last spot on the left after Dumo and Petterson.

Seems the Penguins have started discussing resigning Dumo. Big mistake IMO. Unless that injury was really hurting him late last year, he cant skate anymore. Cut your losses next offseaon and use the money to find a new d partner for Letang.

And save even more money for Matthews in 2 years when he hits FA.

Seems the Penguins have started discussing resigning Dumo. Big mistake IMO. Unless that injury was really hurting him late last year, he cant skate anymore. Cut your losses next offseaon and use the money to find a new d partner for Letang.

And save even more money for Matthews in 2 years when he hits FA.
- SuperHenderson13

That would be a horrible idea, especially with POJ and Smith right behind him. At least let the year play out.

Great Post for sure.

I also have high hopes for Ty Smith. I'm curious to see who will get that last spot on the left after Dumo and Petterson.
- Ben_66

Thanks

POJ has to clear waivers and Smith doesn't so it's probably not a fair competition. They should probably both start the year as a 3rd pair LHD.

That would be a horrible idea, especially with POJ and Smith right behind him. At least let the year play out.
- Tojo.

Dumoulin has lost a step but he his still far ahead of both POJ and Smith. If anyone goes, it has to be Pettersson. POJ would have been in the NHL by now if the coaches had faith in him and Smith had a big setback last year. Why would you gamble on those two?

Seems the Penguins have started discussing resigning Dumo. Big mistake IMO. Unless that injury was really hurting him late last year, he cant skate anymore. Cut your losses next offseaon and use the money to find a new d partner for Letang.

And save even more money for Matthews in 2 years when he hits FA.
- SuperHenderson13

Where did you read that? Haven't seen that mentioned anywhere. Hopefully that's an Ek rumor lol.

These would be my top ten Pens prospects/young players. Most will be trying to earn a spot or are fighting each other for a call-ups.

1) Ty Smith- Could be a bust based on last year. Or could be a star if it was a rough sophomore year and they can fix him. Big gamble trade but easily biggest upside Pens havehave higher ceilings, but I'd be surprised if he isn't playing large minutes as a #4 if not a #2 soon.
- Tojo.

Good summary! Gonna be pissed if DOC doesn't make the roster. Infuse some youth.

Dumoulin has lost a step but he his still far ahead of both POJ and Smith. If anyone goes, it has to be Pettersson. POJ would have been in the NHL by now if the coaches had faith in him and Smith had a big setback last year. Why would you gamble on those two?
- sjfpp

Who's gambling? I said let the year play out before signing Dumo to an extension.

POJ should have been in the NHL last year IMO and at least given a shot, but he had three 4 million dollar defensemen in front of him.

That would be a horrible idea, especially with POJ and Smith right behind him. At least let the year play out.
- Tojo.

Yea, definitely let the year play out. They waited until about the damn last hour to sign Geno and are gonna jump the gun on Dumo after day 1 of training camp lol

Dumoulin has lost a step but he his still far ahead of both POJ and Smith. If anyone goes, it has to be Pettersson. POJ would have been in the NHL by now if the coaches had faith in him and Smith had a big setback last year. Why would you gamble on those two?
- sjfpp

A gamble would have been trading Dumo this off-season and going with what we got on the left side. I would wait and see how this season goes.

Caggiula 30 seconds in and Archibald about 3 minutes later. No, I didn’t write the script! Being at the scrimmage today, I also thought Zahorna had a strong game. I could see him making the team but a trade involving McGinn or Heinen would have to be made.
- sjfpp

Nice, glad they looked good 👍. I would trade McGinn over Heinen all day. Heinen's contract is great value.

Yea, definitely let the year play out. They waited until about the damn last hour to sign Geno and are gonna jump the gun on Dumo after day 1 of training camp lol -668710

This reminds me of the carter contract.

Sorry, I attributed someone else’s quote to one you were just responding to.

Sorry, I attributed someone else’s quote to one you were just responding to.
- sjfpp

No problem. I like some of the young guys chances, but still want them to prove their way up the depth chart.

This reminds me of the carter contract.
- 10inchTerror

Reading down through the comments I was about to respond with something similar hahah....Hex jumped the gun on extending the aging declining vet Carter prematurely....not that far fetched he could do it again....