CRANBERRY TWP, PA (93.7 The Fan) – As he quickly figured out when evaluating the team he inherited, new president Kyle Dubas said the stars weren't the reason the Pens didn't make the playoffs last season. It was the support players around Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Jake Guentzel. On the first day he could really do something about it, Dubas changed it significantly.
He aggressively added depth to the bottom two lines, not just with veteran players, but most that play with an attitude and purpose. He also didn't add so much to where there are not opportunities for young players-Drew O'Connor, Alex Nylander and potentially Sam Poulin (he nearly made the roster out of camp last season). However, those players will have to earn those spots, nothing will be easy and to borrow the cliché, the goal in these additions is for iron to sharpen iron.
"Trying to find the right fits for the coaching staff and what they want and what we all believe in," Dubas said. "They are competitive. They have good speed. They are defensively reliable and have defensive utility and they are able to chip in and think the game offensively and give us a little bit of offensive push in the bottom six."
Lars Eller has had more goals against the Pens than any other Eastern team while playing in Washington, now he brings that ability, intensity and willingness to play a bottom six role to Pittsburgh.
Noel Acciari
"We know what he brings," Dubas said. "He's going to be extremely physical every night, able to kill penalties, able to chip in and score. In terms of the toughness he brings, it's undisputed. The way he will put any part of his body on the line to block shots will be very welcome here."
Matt Nieto
"He brings great speed, defensively responsible, able to kill penalties, able to chip in offensively as well," Dubas said admitting he tried to acquire Nieto in the past.
Plus 6'6" Radim Zohorna, Valtteri Puustinen, Filip Hallander, Jonathan Gruden, Joona Koppanen, Marc Johnstone players who have professional experience who can not only push the young guys and provide injury depth, but give Mike Sullivan the opportunity to sit a Jeff Carter or Mikael Granlund if needed.
They aren't the names that move the needle on social media, but it's the Eller, Acciari and Nieto signings that provide an example to the youth and give the Pens the opportunity for a quick return to the playoffs.
