PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Beyond the 'Big 3' here are some other storylines as the Pens open their season Thursday night against the Coyotes.
Lines
As per Head Coach Mike Sullivan's tenure, these lines will change during the season. Teddy Blueger should return from injury soon and likely center the fourth line. Bryan Rust could move back to the top line if Rickard Rakell doesn't work. Defenseman PO Joseph's status is tenuous. Here were the combinations for the last full practice before the opener:
Jake Guentzel-Sidney Crosby-Rickard Rakell
Jason Zucker-Evgeni Malkin-Bryan Rust
Danton Heinen-Jeff Carter-Kasperi Kapanen
Brock McGinn-Ryan Poehling-Josh Archibald
Brian Dumoulin-Kris Letang
Marcus Pettersson-Jeff Petry
It will be the 29-year-old Rakell on the top line. He scored four goals in 19 games after being acquried from Anaheim at the trade deadline.
"It's been a lot of fun," Rakell told 93.7 The Fan. "You want to build off some of the things we did last season.
Stay confident, but at the same time bring it to the next level. It doesn't really change, we feed off each other really well."
New Defensive group
During offseason talks, when management got together to discuss how to improve. One of the first solutions was adding diversity to the defensive group. They basically exchanged John Marino and Mike Matheson for Jan Rutta and Jeff Petry.
"We got a little bit bigger, a little bit stronger," Sullivan said on the Cook and Joe Show on 93.7 The Fan. "We didn't compromise our puck-moving ability, our transition ability, our speed ability through that process."
"We got a player in Jeff Petry that we think is a legitimate top two defenseman that can play on the power play but is also a very good penalty killer. He's going to help us five-on-five. He will drive some offense for us, but makes us harder at our net front."
"We have a guy in Jan Rutta that is hard to play against. He's a really good defenseman. He's going to help us on our penalty kill. He's going to help us on our net front."
"They bring different core competencies to the table that I think make us a better group as a whole. Last year we had a lot of guys that were similar in the types of games that they played. In this group, we got different types of defensemen that we can deploy in different circumstances that are going to make us a better group as a whole."
PO in the Show
All camp Sullivan discussed having nine NHL quality defensemen and that they would have to make tough choices.
They waived Mark Friedman, who played 26 games for the Pens last year and sent the newly acquired Ty Smith to the minors, as much because he had an option left. That meant the steady Chad Ruhwedel and PO Joseph, the big get in the Phil Kessel trade, remained. The 2017 first-round pick, Joseph will likely be paired with Rutta.
"I'm just going to go and enjoy it, have some fun with it," Joseph said. "Try and just play my game and just build from there. Of course, I want to show that they made a good choice. I want to prove that I can play in this league, to the other players too."
"I think the fact that he went back to Wilkes and played different situations (power play, PK)," said defenseman Kris Letang about Joseph playing a lot in the AHL last year. "He gets put in all kinds of situations. I think you see a much calmer PO than we used to. All the tools are there, he's a really good skater, rangy with good vision."
Dumoulin resurgence
While he would never use them as an excuse, injuries seemed to hamper Brian Dumoulin's game last year. He would play in 76 games with 18 points and while a plus 24, there just seemed to be something missing.
"We think so highly of Dumo, his body of work here in Pittsburgh speaks for itself," Sullivan told 93.7 The Fan. "I think Dumo would be the first to admit that he has higher expectations of himself than his year last year and we do as well. We know he's a real good player. We believe he will have a great year. He's had a real strong training camp. He's excited about rebounding and proving doubters wrong."
"I'm just excited to play. I always am anxious at the beginning of the season and get going a little bit."
Goalie
Last year it was hard to find a bigger issue on Pens' fans minds than what Tristan Jarry would do after a miserable playoff series. Now after finishing top 10 in the NHL in most goalie categories, it's easy to conclude if they have him in their first round series against the Rangers. They advance.
"Consistency," Jarry told 93.7 The Fan of the step forward last year. "Just being able to be consistent and be a rock back there. Being someone they can depend on, someone they know can help.
Being able to stay healthy and stay strong during the season is the biggest thing."
"Just the poise I think, he carried himself like the all-star he was," Pettersson said of Jarry last year. "Having him in net gave a calm feeling all over the ice. He took the next step."
Pens kept Casey DeSmith and even added NHL veteran Dustin Tokarski just in case they would have another scenario like last year's postseason.
Forward return
It wasn't a splash move signing for $900,000, but the Pens did bring back their 2011 sixth-round pick Josh Archibald. A veteran of 243 games with the Pens and two other teams, he could be a sneaky add in terms of grit and help on the penalty kill.
"I was really excited to come back," Archibald said. "I think a lot of things are still the same. I want to be able to help on the penalty kill, bring some speed, some tenacity, a little bit of energy when we need it. Just be able to help change the momentum of games when it needs to be done too."
