The Pittsburgh Penguins spent the offseason reshaping their blue line, and the three new faces all sound eager to get to work.
Kaedan Korczak, Declan Carlile and Trevor van Riemsdyk are the newcomers brought in to help fix a problem that showed up in Pittsburgh’s own end last season. The Penguins had too many issues defending around the net, and general manager/president Kyle Dubas responded by making changes on defense, trading for Korczak and signing Carlile and van Riemsdyk.
Korczak appears set to handle the right side, while Carlile and van Riemsdyk are lined up on the left.
For Korczak, the trade came as a surprise in the middle of an ordinary moment. He said Thursday that he was having coffee with his in-laws when he found out. Even with the sudden change, he made it clear he’s fired up about the move and the chance to join a Pittsburgh group he sees as being in a different place than the Vegas Golden Knights.
"Just talking with Kyle and the coaches, it's exciting to be a part of that group that's gonna hopefully bring that next step to the organization," Korczak said. "You obviously have those guys who can lead you. You've got some Hall of Famers here who can show us the way, so I'm really excited for the opportunity to be a part of this group."
Carlile has brought the same kind of energy to camp. He said he likes the idea of joining a team that’s still pushing forward and trying to build on what it did last year.
"I think it's really exciting," Carlile said. "Obviously, we're trying to build and keep pushing.
They had a good year last year, and obviously we want to push the envelope even more and get farther into the playoffs. I'm excited to come in here and do my part, and try to help the team win."
Carlile has already spent time working with Erik Karlsson at training camp, and the two have started building some chemistry. That matters because the Penguins moved Parker Wotherspoon to the Golden Knights for Korczak, and they believe Carlile can slide into that role after Wotherspoon worked so well with Karlsson last season.
Kris Letang is also looking at a different partner on the back end. He didn’t click with Girard late last season, and at camp he has been paired with van Riemsdyk.
Van Riemsdyk brings a defensive reputation and could give Letang the kind of help Brett Kulak once provided before he was sent to the Colorado Avalanche for Girard. The veteran defenseman signed a two-year deal with Pittsburgh in free agency, and he said the appeal of the Penguins is straightforward: winning comes first.
"Obviously, I was part of a Stanley Cup team my rookie year (2014-15 Chicago Blackhawks). 13 years later now, and I haven't gotten back, so you realize how hard it is, and when you get older, you realize the chances are going to be limited, so you want to go places where success is on the forefront, and here is obviously always like that," van Riemsdyk said. "Sid is always pushing guys, Geno, Karlsson, Tanger.
They've been here. They've been part of great teams, and as long as they are around, I think they're always going to be pretty damn successful."
If Korczak, Carlile and van Riemsdyk all deliver, the Penguins’ push to get back to the playoffs gets a major boost.
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For a group still trying to make an impression, this is the kind of game that can matter beyond the score. It is also the first chance for fans to see the new camp mix in a live setting, with SportsNet Pittsburgh carrying the broadcast and the Penguins official radio station providing the call, as the preseason begins to sort out who gets more runway and who is suddenly watching from the sideline. [Read more 🡒]