Training camp is still approaching for the Pittsburgh Penguins, but one early lineup projection already points to a roster fight that could get messy fast.
Taylor Haase of DK Pittsburgh Sports put out her first opening night projection, and while some of the choices were easy enough to follow, she also made a couple of eye-openers. The biggest one centers on Ville Koivunen, who Haase believes may not be as secure as his contract would suggest. She said she wouldn’t be surprised if the new $32 million man doesn’t keep a spot.
“Dubas didn't give him that deal because he expects to hand Koivunen a roster spot along with it -- he made clear that Koivunen is still going to have to earn his spot,” Haase claimed.
That matters because the Penguins don’t appear to have many openings up front. At most, there may be one or two forward jobs truly up for grabs, which means the margin for error is slim for players trying to force their way in. If Koivunen slips in camp, it would only add more scrutiny to a deal that already comes with plenty of attention.
Haase’s projection also points to a possible shake-up on the blue line. One of her more surprising calls leaves Declan Carlile out of the lineup entirely, with Ryan Graves instead getting the nod.
Haase suggested the Penguins may be better served getting Graves into NHL games, noting, “He wasn't terrible last season before he [Graves] was injured. If he's going to turn things around, he needs to be playing at the NHL level,” Haase conjectured.
That would be a pretty bold move for Kyle Dubas if it plays out that way. Holding Carlile out just to give Graves a chance to get right would be a major gamble. In practical terms, if Graves makes the opening night roster, it will have to be because he earned it over Carlile.
The forward group, though, looks relatively settled outside those few spots. The top nine is essentially locked in unless someone has a rough camp or injuries change the picture. That leaves the defense as the area most likely to produce some real competition as preseason unfolds.
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