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The Penguins have made some roster moves. Here they are followed by my thoughts about them
The following players have been assigned to
@WBSPenguins
(AHL) training camp: – Tristan Broz – Avery Hayes – Sergei Murashov – Owen Pickering Alexander Alexeyev, Ryan Graves, Rafael Harvey-Pinard, Boko Imama and Sam Poulin will be placed on waivers at 2:00 PM and will be assigned to WBS pending clearance. Forward Robby Fabbri has been released from his PTO.Ok, so take a deep breath. It is OK that they sent Sergei Murashov, Avery Hayes, and Tristan Broz down to WB/S. I think they “deserve” a spot in the NHL. Unfortunately, they are a victim of circumstance with their waiver status and the roster situation at the NHL level.
These players showed out at training camp and at the prospect camp. Being re-assigned to WB/S doesn’t change that. I can guarantee you the Penguins brass is really pleased with how they played.
The current issue is you have a player like Noel Acciari taking up a roster spot. I think this is a short term issue. I would be very surprised if the Penguins intention isn’t to trade Acciari as soon as they get a decent offer. Somebody will give the Penguins something for him. The catch is that he has to be actively playing NHL games, thus making it more feasible for Dubas to send down the players who don’t have to go through waivers.
A guy like Justin Brazeau was just signed in July, he’s going to get a roster spot even if I don’t feel like he deserves one over Hayes and Broz. Players like Blake Lizotte and Connor Dewar are also going to eat up roster spots at the moment, but likely not permanently.
For now, Hayes and Broz can get huge AHL minutes instead of sparse NHL ones. I think the demotion is temporary for both of them. We will see them eventually.
Ryan Graves being demoted is absolutely the right move. He stinks, the contract stinks, and it has been a disaster from the get go. He can go travel on a bus, he’s earned it.
Owen Pickering being sent down is… not great. The left side of the Penguins defense is really bad, perhaps among the worst in the league. Not being able to crack this lineup is problematic for the former first round selection. He will play big minutes in the AHL and he will have to do well in them. This is a big season for Pickering and it is time to get traction. This is a less than desirable start for that.
Sam Poulin is a bust. Let him go and find a change of scenery elsewhere. I remember being disappointed by both the Pickering and Poulin selections at a time where the Penguins were still trying to compete. The picks should have been used in a win now way. Here we are years later with nothing to show for it.
Sergei Murashov is probably the Penguins best goalie in the organization at the moment. He will get some NHL time this year at some point. It might not be the worst idea to save him from the potential workload a Penguins goaltender will have to navigate this season. He can continue developing with a huge workload on a better WB/S team for now. It’s OK
Ben Kindel and Harrison Brunicke are looking like they will get some NHL action under the nine-game allotment allowed by the CHL transfer agreement. I think Brunicke has a chance to stay for the entire year. I do not feel the same way with Kindel. I think he will be sent back to the WHL and while it is frustrating to only have the junior hockey option it is still likely the right decision. Bryan Rust’s injury provides an opportunity for him to get some NHL action and Kindel has more than earned it. It has been a great month for him. In a perfect world he would be eating up a ton of meaningful AHL minutes this year, but alas.
I understand the moves made today when paired with the bigger picture. The deserving players will eventually get their promotion (Murashov, Broz, Hayes) and the other players demoted earned it (Pickering, Graves, Poulin).
Repost
Graves is waived. Hallelujah! Muse is already a king of Pitt coaches and he hasn’t coached a game yet. That being said I like is more relentless style of play and the fact he is putting more skilled guys on the pk and not just bottom 6 players
I still hope we suck balls for a couple years but I hope they fight it out and battle to the end in every game, build an identity, and go from there.
Curious to see if Kindel and Brunicke stick past 9 games. All in all. I’m liking the way things are going. Just need a few more vets gone soon.
My 2cents.
I agree entirely with all of this. I’m glad they’re biting the bullet on Graves. He earned his demotion. Pickering, IMO, earned his demotion too. I watched a few of the preseason games and he wasn’t very good. Caleb Jones stunk last night. He was noticeably bad. I thought he was the worst player on the ice for either team. Kindel won’t get past 9 games, but he deserves the extended look. Brunicke deserves to stay all season, but I wouldn’t mind if the Pens decided to send him back to juniors. It’s going to be a wasted year. They shouldn’t start the clock on him.
I can see brunicke and kindel both getting sent down after 9 games. Rust should be back around then, and we have two more right handed bums to anchor the 3rd pair. I agree though on not burning a year on either.
Im glad to see these decisions being made. Leads to be believe dubas let’s his coach make a lot of choices and that sully is a bum. I think Sam Ventura would have been an asset under dubas. Hopefully they build an identity this year and start trading and drafting in that manner. Hopefully some shrewd trades and a couple top 5 (ahem 1st overall) pics and back on the upswing.
Good moves all around. Takes balls to burry a multi-million dollar contract but it’s absolutely the right call. Guys going down to the A will be back sooner rather than later besides Pickering who’s currently not making the most of his opportunities. Kindle and Brunicke have earned a reward and the only way to reward them is to keep them with the big club since they can’t go to the A. I think if Dumba can serviceably play on the left side, Brunicke spends the year here. Kindle isn’t physically mature yet so I’d be shocked if he stays up, but he sure looks excellent for where he should be in his development. For all the bitching and moaning about that pick, he looks like a good one
Good moves all around. Takes balls to burry a multi-million dollar contract but it’s absolutely the right call. Guys going down to the A will be back sooner rather than later besides Pickering who’s currently not making the most of his opportunities. Kindle and Brunicke have earned a reward and the only way to reward them is to keep them with the big club since they can’t go to the A. I think if Dumba can serviceably play on the left side, Brunicke spends the year here. Kindle isn’t physically mature yet so I’d be shocked if he stays up, but he sure looks excellent for where he should be in his development. For all the bitching and moaning about that pick, he looks like a good one
Gotta give credit to Dubas on Brunicke and Kindle, they look like really good NHL prospects. I saw some of the rookie tournament and Kindle was meh at best. Then he comes to camp and looks like he might only need a year or two. He’s not the fastest guy, but his skating isn’t nearly as bad as it was sold by the “experts”. Looking forward to seeing him in real games to adequately judge him.
It might not be in his skill set but I’d like brunicke to play on the left side so he’s not stuck behind minute eater 1 and 2 getting 5 minutes a night. Hopefully Pickering gets his stuff in order and punts one of these bums down to the A in the next couple months.
Jarry on the bench for the opener. Muse seems to have some real balls when it comes to lineup decisions, something we’ve lacked for years.
Guess worth remembering that Sullivan had balls with lineup when he first got here too and lost them overtime. Muse will probably go the same way just like every other coach but for now it’s refreshing
LD on this team is brutal. I couldn’t stand Graves, but was he really worse than Wotherspoon or Jones? I think they sent Graves down just to get him out of the spotlight. Dubas doesn’t want the constant reminder that he gave that stiff big money. Anyway, this could have been a fringe playoff team if the D was better. I have a feeling our goalies will be shell shocked by mid-season.
LD on this team is brutal. I couldn’t stand Graves, but was he really worse than Wotherspoon or Jones? I think they sent Graves down just to get him out of the spotlight. Dubas doesn’t want the constant reminder that he gave that stiff big money. Anyway, this could have been a fringe playoff team if the D was better. I have a feeling our goalies will be shell shocked by mid-season.
Came to say the exact same thing. Jones has been glaringly putrid….exceeding even Graves suckage.
And I didn’t realize that kids on 9 game tryouts were allowed to play regular shifts and more than 4 sheltered minutes a game…F’ Sully.
Enjoyable game from start to finish. Unlike the past few seasons, at no point was I waiting for the inevitable choke and loss. 81 More like that winning close to half and I think it would be a successful season.
Still not sold on the pick, but Kindel definitely has a high hockey IQ. If he puts in the work on his skating, we might have something there. 2nd line looked great, although they didn’t have to do much back checking.
And I almost feel bad for Rags fans…tonight they will experience their inaugural “I thought we played well, just have to get to our game” presser. Hopefully one of many lol.
Enjoyable game from start to finish. Unlike the past few seasons, at no point was I waiting for the inevitable choke and loss. 81 More like that winning close to half and I think it would be a successful season.
Still not sold on the pick, but Kindel definitely has a high hockey IQ. If he puts in the work on his skating, we might have something there. 2nd line looked great, although they didn’t have to do much back checking.
And I almost feel bad for Rags fans…tonight they will experience their inaugural “I thought we played well, just have to get to our game” presser. Hopefully one of many lol.
Pens played one of their best games in years. Every phase was just better. Puck support was amazing. I don’t even remember the last time they played like that. The breakouts were tremendous. I don’t think they gave up one odd-man break the whole game….wow. Eff Sully. He got 5 years more than he should. Looks like the Rangers caught the Sully flu…..’cause they sucked. That teams window has slammed shut.
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