Nick Robertson has wasted little time making his case in Penguins training camp.
Through the first three practices of the week, before today’s mandated off day, Robertson has been parked on Sidney Crosby’s wing every time out. That’s the kind of early camp alignment that gets attention, and so far he appears to be making the most of it.
The appeal is easy to see. Robertson brings a level of finishing touch that Crosby has not always had on his flank, at least not outside of Jake Guentzel. It would be a major leap to put Robertson in Guentzel’s class overall, but the youngster does have back-to-back seasons of 15-plus goals in a limited role with Toronto.
If that fit sticks, the ripple effects could be real for Pittsburgh. Rickard Rakell could slide into a center role at times, something the team has done before when it needs to spark other lines. And in the way camp has unfolded so far, Bryan Rust could be freed up to bring his skill to the Ben Kindel line, giving the Penguins a more balanced look and stretching the offense across three strong units.
Robertson also fits into a broader pattern for Kyle Dubas, who has repeatedly found value in players brought over from Toronto. Pittsburgh helped the Maple Leafs clear cap space and ended up with Connor Dewar and Conor Timmins for a fifth-round pick; Dewar has been a very useful player, and Timmins was later turned into a second-round pick, Peyton Kettles. Robertson cost the Penguins only a fourth-rounder after Toronto finally moved on from trying to find the right role for him.
It’s the kind of slow, methodical team-building Dubas has described as “brick by brick,” and the returns have started to add up. For the combined cost of a fourth- and fifth-round pick, Pittsburgh has landed Robertson and Dewar, along with Kettles as a prospect. That’s not flashy work, but it’s value accumulation, and those pieces matter.
Of course, the biggest swing here depends on what Robertson actually becomes this season. Three practices are only three practices, and there’s no reason to overreact yet. But if he holds that spot with Crosby and turns into a productive top-line fit, the payoff for the Penguins could be significant.
In Other News...
Penguins Suddenly Have A Worrying Injury Question At Center
Ben Kindel gave the Penguins a promising look in Mondays preseason game against the Sabres, skating on a line with Bryan Rust and Andrei Kuzmenko before the night took an unwelcome turn. Pittsburgh said the center left after the first period because of a lower-body injury, cutting short what had been a strong start to the evening.
The immediate concern for the Penguins is less about one preseason game than what Kindels absence could mean for a spot that is already worth watching closely. There was no update on the severity of the injury, leaving the team and the player in a familiar early-season holding pattern while they wait to learn whether this is a brief setback or something more disruptive. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Camp Battle Already Took An Early Turn Fans Wont Like
The first night of Penguins preseason hockey offered the usual early-camp mix of promise and uncertainty, with Pittsburgh handling the Sabres while a few players made strong first impressions. It was the sort of opener that can help shape how a roster battle looks in late September, especially when coaches are sorting through young players, depth pieces and the first few signs of who is ready to push for a spot.
But the game also brought an immediate setback, with Ben Kindel exiting the picture after an injury report surfaced. For a camp that was already set to be defined by competition, that development adds a layer of frustration before the battle really settles in, and it leaves the Penguins watching closely to see how quickly the situation changes and what it means for the rest of the lineup race. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jackets Suddenly Have A Dante Fabbro Concern To Watch
Preseason has already started to test Pittsburghs depth, with forward Benjamin Kindel leaving Mondays game early because of a lower-body injury after the team announced his exit. The Penguins have also had to manage winger Ville Koivunen, who was hurt in practice when he took a puck to the face and then missed the next preseason game, underscoring how quickly training camp can get messy before the games even count.
Around the division, the injury pileup has not been limited to Pittsburgh, either. New York Rangers forward Adam Sykora also left his preseason game with an injury, and Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Dante Fabbro suffered one of his own during preseason action, adding another layer of concern for a team that would much rather be sorting out lineup decisions than watching the injury report this early. [Read more 🡒]