PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – The only question with the Pens lines appears to be on the fourth, and there is likely only one position available. The team went through another intra-squad scrimmage on Wednesday with the familiar line combinations in the first days of camp.
Guentzel-Crosby-Rodrigues
Zucker-Malkin-Rust
McCann-Jankowski-Lafferty
Sceviour/O’Connor-Blueger-Tanev
It’s the left side of that fourth line that has not only the veteran Colton Sceviour and Dartmouth signee Drew O’Connor, but will add Rodrigues to that mix when Karperi Kapanen arrives.
Then next month its likely Zach Aston-Reese will return from off-season shoulder surgery.
“We are just trying to assemble the best group we can,” Sullivan said. “We believe in the internal competition. It keeps us at our very best.”
“I think it will be tough,” Blueger said. “I think everyone battling for a spot and for ice time. I don’t think that’s changed from previous years. I think we’ve had good depth in the past. Especially at the end of last year, there were a lot of really good players. That part doesn’t change. You have to perform.”
Don’t count O’Connor out as an option as Mike Sullivan pointed to creating a role for John Marino and Aston-Reese in the past.
“Anybody in this camp has the ability to make this final roster,” Sullivan said. “We’re looking for players that can help the Pittsburgh Penguins win. If guys perform well and their body of work suggests they deserving of being in the lineup or being part of our NHL roster-those decisions have been made. We have a pretty good track record that we believe in that.”
Now taking over that fourth line role after 69 games last year, Blueger said of that group.
“Tanev and I have played together for over a year, so we know each other very well and are familiar with our games,” Blueger said. “I think Sceviour has been great. He’s easy to play with. He reads the game well. He’s gritty. I think so far its been pretty good.”
Zucker scores on and off ice
Forward Jason Zucker is part of the Malkin-Rust line and scored once again during the scrimmage on Wednesday. Zucker also scored thanks to the young American hockey players as the US beat Canada at the World Juniors.
“Obviously, I’m a proud USA hockey guy,” Zucker said. “I’m proud to say I made a little bit of money on that. It was a lot of fun. It was good to have that locker room banter and obviously we got a lot of proud Canadians who are a little upset this morning.”