The Penguins have a lot of question marks this year, including who will replace Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin for the first part of the season, and how will goaltender Tristan Jarry rebound from a disastrous series against the Islanders that bounced the Pens from the playoffs in the first round?
Coach Mike Sullivan got to work on answering those questions by splitting his squad into three teams, matching young prospects with veterans on the first day of training camp. And as for Jarry, Sullivan said the Penguins have great faith in his abilities in goal.
The Penguins’ forwards will be working without their two superstar centers, but they are by no means helpless. Proven scorers Bryan Rust and Jake Guentzel lead the wingers, and last season’s late-season acquisition of center Jeff Carter was a key to the Pens’ run to the top spot in the division.
Carter says no one player can replace Crosby and Malkin, but collectively, the Pens can be pretty good.
Missing from the ice yesterday was one of the Pens’ top prospects, forward Filip Hallander, who according to Sullivan was having a “maintenance day.” Young forward prospect Raivis Ansons also was out with an injury.
THE SUPERSTAR CENTERS
General Manager Ron Hextall said yesterday that Malkin will miss at least the first two months of the season after having had knee surgery in June. Hextall also said Crosby is skating on his own after having wrist surgery on September 8th, and is not handling the puck yet.
COVID-19
The GM also said the entire team is fully vaccinated, with one exception…one player who has apparently had his first shot and will get the second shot soon.
The Penguins issued a statement yesterday that they recommend face coverings for all fans at PPG Paints Arena for the preseason, but they did not say they are requiring them. They play Columbus on Monday night. The other home games in the preseason are against Detroit on October 3rd and Buffalo on October 5th.
