Penguins Update: Make Way for Cousin Vinnie

I confess, when I first learned the Penguins had signed forward Vinnie Hinostroza back on July 7, my initial reaction was a bit dismissive. Not so much of the player, mind you, as his size. At 5’10” and 183 pounds, dimensions only Mike Sullivan could love.

However, Vinnie could prove to be just what the doctor ordered for our bottom six. Ergo, a hustling, high-energy speedball with a non-stop motor. One who can play all three forward positions and possessing some skill to boot, especially as a playmaker.

In yesterday’s article, I suggested Rem Pitlick might be a player who can slot up and down the lineup. Well, Hinostroza most definitely can. In fact, it isn’t a stretch to say the Windy City native closely resembles Bryan Rust circa 2015-18 in terms of style and impact.

It just so happens the Rusty Razor and Cousin Vinnie were teammates at Notre Dame in 2013-14. What’s more, they finished second and third on the Fighting Irish in scoring, separated by a single point. But while the former has gone on to establish himself as a top-sixer, the latter has remained locked in the role of a bottom-six sparkplug who can fill in on a scoring line when needed.

In terms of career path? Following a trade from his hometown Blackhawks to the Coyotes in the summer of 2018, Hinostroza enjoyed his finest season in the bigs under former Pens assistant Rick Tocchet, tallying 16 goals and 39 points (fourth-best on the team) in 72 games. However, the following season his role was reduced and his output tumbled to five goals and 22 points in 68 games.

Following a nomadic stretch that saw him bounce from the ‘Yotes to the Panthers and back to the Blackhawks, Vinnie found a home on the Niagara frontier with the Sabres in ’21-22 and re-established himself as a player with NHL chops, tallying 13 goals and 25 points in 62 games. Last season while serving as the Sabres’ spare forward, he notched a pair of goals and 11 points in 26 games and another five goals and nine points in 11 games with Rochester of the AHL.

New Pens GM Kyle Dubas took note and inked Vinnie to a one-year deal for $775,000.

Given Hinostroza’s blend of speed, spunk and versatility, I’ve gotta think he’ll be an instant hit with Sullivan.

Perhaps the black-and-gold faithful, too.