Penguins Training Camp Update: Smith, Four Others Waived

The NHL waiver wire is open for business and the Penguins wasted little time in taking advantage, placing five players on waivers today.

Talk about separating the wheat from the chaff!

Included in those ranks? A recent Kyle Dubas add and one of Ron Hextall’s high-profile acquisitions (and apparent biggest blunders).

The Dubas pickup? Forward Rem Pitlick, acquired a mere seven weeks ago in the Erik Karlsson blockbuster.

The Hextall addition? Defenseman Ty Smith, acquired straight-up in the summer of 2022 for John Marino. A trade that appears to be well on its way to carving out a place of dishonor among the pantheon of black-and-gold clunkers. Not as bad as, say, Alek Stojanov-for-Markus Naslund, but fast approaching the same biosphere.

Expected to compete for one of the open bottom-six slots, Pitlick quickly played himself out of contention for a job. That’s saying something, considering how poorly some of the other candidates have performed (cough…Andreas Johnsson). It didn’t help Pitlick’s cause that he’s pricier ($1.1 million) than most of our other Filene’s Basement adds.

By most accounts Smith, expected to compete for a third-pairing slot on defense, gave a checkered performance in camp and in two exhibition games while skating on his off (right) side. Apparently, his d-zone coverage and awareness left something to be desired.

As for the others? Forward Jonathan Gruden’s showing has to be termed a disappointment as well, especially considering the fact that he appeared to take a step forward last season with the Baby Pens (16 goals). Defensemen Taylor Fedun and Xavier Ouellet are pretty much dyed-in-the-wool AHLers at this stage of their careers, solid citizens fit mainly for emergency recall duty.

If any or all are not claimed within a 24-hour window, they can be assigned to the Baby Pens.

JUST IN

The Pens followed up by sending nine players to the Baby Pens. They include forwards Corey Andonovski, Avery Hayes (who showed well in camp), Marc Johnstone and Austin Rueschhoff, defensemen Isaac Belliveau, Justin Lee, Dmitri Samorukov and Jack St. Ivany and goaltender Joel Blomqvist.

First-round pick Brayden Yager was returned to his junior team (Moose Jaw) yesterday.

We now have 32 healthy players in camp and six additional players on the injured list.