There’s nothin’ like the excitement of a new hockey season just getting underway.
The Pittsburgh Penguins held day two of the team’s training camp at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry, PA today.
In total, 58 players have been invited in Pittsburgh’s training camp sessions, including 33 forwards, 18 defensemen, and 7 goaltenders. A full roster with all invitees can be found here.
There was lots to see and lots to take notes on as fans and media alike watched several drills and a scrimmage game on Friday. The full itinerary went as follows:
9:00-9:45 AM – Team 2 Practice (FedEx Rink – Rink 1)
9:00-9:45 AM – Team 3 Practice (Covestro Rink – Rink 2)
10:00-11:00 AM – Team 2 vs. Team 3 Scrimmage (FedEx Rink – Rink 1)
11:30 AM – 12:15 PM – Team 1 Practice (FedEx Rink – Rink 1)
12:40-1:30 PM – Team 1 Practice (FedEx Rink – Rink 1)
The day started with a bang, when in the opening drill Matt Filipe accidentally bumped into the net and knocked it over, sending a crashing ping sound echoing through FedEx Rink.
The scrimmage between Teams 2 and 3 featured a mix of NHL locks, pure prospects, and those who are hoping to make a good impression to those watching from up above the right side of the ice.
Several players stood out to me as I watched both the drills and the scrimmage game, and there’s a few I want to point out individually.
Colin White, here in Pittsburgh on a professional try out, had a fantastic day at camp. He’s a really solid skater, he’s quick with the puck, and he’s got a great shot. He wasn’t the crispest passer, but he had a lot of really nice looks today.
White looked like a very confident player out there today, which is really important for a guy fighting for a job while on a PTO. He hasn’t had the easiest last few years, including being bought out by the Ottawa Senators, but the former first round pick is hoping to show he has a lot left in him. And at 26 years old, he definitely does.
Another player whose future is a little up in the air, Andreas Johnsson had some flashes of talent today as well. Johnsson has a wicked wrist shot, which he showcased several times. The problem with Johnsson however was his passing.
He missed multiple opportunities to connect on passes, leaving something to be desired in his game.
Radim Zohorna stood out to me too, but all he had to do was literally stand there. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Big Z in person, and he definitely still lives up to the name. Standing at 6′ 6, it’s not a big surprise that multiple teams have picked him up whenever they can.
Zohorna’s pure size and physicality will keep him in the running for a depth spot, or a top spot in the AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton roster.
Switching gears to some players who are coming in with some more roster security, Ryan Graves brings a similar aspect as well.
Brought in as a free agent, the former New Jersey defenseman stands at 6′ 5 and is equally as intimidating to look at. He’s going to be a great addition to a revamped Penguin D-core, likely replacing the departing Brian Dumoulin’s role alongside Kris Letang.
Graves also is a dark horse candidate for best flow, if we’re keeping track of such things.
Reilly Smith is somebody that we are all gonna love come October. The recent Stanley Cup Champion with the Vegas Golden Knights, Kyle Dubas was able to take advantage of a cap-strapped Vegas and acquire Smith at a reduced value.
Smith is a really talented player, and carries with him a wide skillset that is really going to benefit the Penguins’ top six, especially in the absence of Jason Zucker.
Overall, this team is going to look a lot different coming into 2023-24, which is rather exciting. And after last season, definitely needed.
There’s a lot to still be decided about this team, and with so many players up for so few spots, these next few weeks of training camp and preseason are going to be crucial.
The Penguins officially start the preseason on Sunday, when they have split squad games with the Columbus Blue Jackets. PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh will host a 1PM game, while Nationwide Arena in Columbus will host at 7PM.
(Featured photo by Alex Kiger/Fifth Avenue Sports)
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