Penguins Coaching Camp: Notes from Day 2

A lot is identical after the primary two days of coaching camp, however there could also be a couple of extra storylines beginning to brew.

For right this moment’s camp, Groups 2 and three took half in a scrimmage, whereas Group 1 practiced afterwards.

Some observations and notes on right this moment’s camp:

– As talked about yesterday, Sullivan likes his pairings in camp. That stated, the Malkin-Rakell pairing was buzzing in these first two days. It looks as if one in every of them is scoring or hitting a submit in a very good portion of their drills and shifts on the ice, and so they’ve been in sync.

There’s various chemistry on show right here within the earlygoing, so, hopefully, that is one thing that can carry over into the season. The Penguins are going to want each of them to seek out the again of the web often if the group goes to have a profitable season.

– Kevin Hayes was wonderful in right this moment’s scrimmage. He made a few good defensive performs, he arrange Blake Lizotte for a objective, and he even outskated his option to a breakaway objective.

He added the empty-net objective on the finish to safe the 4-2 victory for Group 3. Total, an excellent displaying from him right this moment.

– Valtteri Puustinen is one other participant that appears locked in proper now. Like Sam Poulin, who was talked about in yesterday’s piece, I believe he is effectively conscious of what is at stake for him this season.

His shot has been popping, and he is right here with an additional gear. Even when Puustinen making the NHL roster appears possible, he will need to struggle for enjoying time. At this early stage, he is received a step on another guys.

Related: Penguins Training Camp: Notes from Day 1

– Talking of “another guys” and “steps,” I used to be very excessive on McGroarty after the Prospects Problem in Buffalo, and even after yesterday’s displaying. That is nonetheless the case.

However I do assume he regarded a small step behind right this moment. He has been grouped with the “NHL” a part of Group 1, so he is getting common reps with guys like Drew O’Connor, Anthony Beauvillier, and Poulin. And there have been a couple of cases of minsfired passes, cross-ups, and misreads right this moment.

All of that stuff might simply be chalked as much as nerves. Nonetheless, I do assume he must work on his edgework a bit. His skating wants to enhance and rise up to NHL pace, and that turns into extra obvious when he performs alongside the NHL guys.

We’ll see how he progresses the remainder of camp.

– There have been a ton of scouts at camp right this moment. There’s a USHL occasion occurring, so a lot of them have been collegiate and USHL scouts. Nonetheless, I did spot Utah Hockey Membership Montreal Canadiens scouts.

Similar to the road combos, there is not an excessive amount of to learn into proper now. It’s normal to see scouts at coaching camp as a result of it’s their finest alternative to get a have a look at high prospects sharing the identical ice with NHL gamers.

However given the Penguins’ logjam at a number of positions, it is nonetheless one thing to pay attention to.

Related: New Penguins’ Forward Aims to Make Impression

– Head coach Mike Sullivan praised the work of Vasily Ponomarev in his presser right this moment. He was impressed together with his motor and his sturdy play at each ends of the ice, which is one thing I do know we have beforehand mentioned about him.

He additionally took the time to speak about Ville Koivunen and the way he was one of many standouts on the Prospects Problem final weekend.

It is protected to say that there’s some reliable younger expertise on this group, and the coaches are undoubtedly taking discover of those guys.

– Sadly for Jesse Puljujarvi, I simply do not see a approach he breaks camp this season.

His deployment has nearly strictly been alongside the AHL gamers on the camp roster. There was an occasion the place he tousled a drill throughout Group 1 observe right this moment, and Sullivan known as him out. He is typically regarded a bit underwhelming up to now.

There are going to be some robust choices for administration and the teaching employees going ahead, however, as Sullivan identified in his presser, there are going to be some guys who struggle for a spot and a few guys who play their approach out of 1.

We’ll see how the remainder of coaching camp goes, however at this juncture, Puljujarvi appears to be a part of the latter group.

– Beauvillier caught alongside Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust right this moment. Once more, it is nonetheless early, however there seems to be some intrigue with that line mixture.

Related: NHL Prospects Challenge: Penguins’ Prospect Stands Out in Game 2 Win