Penguins Update: What Do We Do When Everyone Returns?

On several occasions over the summer, I took a poke at Penguins POHO/GM Kyle Dubas for overstocking our forward ranks. In the process, leaving precious little room for developing kids such as Rutger McGroarty and Avery Hayes to advance.

Almost on cue, we got walloped by a Biblical one-two punch of injuries and misfortune in the preseason. In the process losing our entire third line of Ben Kindel, Bryan Rust and Andrei Kuzmenko, to say nothing of fourth-line linchpin Blake Lizotte.

So what’s a coach to do?

As my Aussie brother-in-law, Roger, is fond of saying, “No worries, mate.” Indeed, Dan Muse had a trio of ready-made replacements, Hendrix Lapierre, Filip Hållander (pictured) and Ville Koivunen waiting in the wings.

Chomping at the bit is more like it.

The fledging trio proceeded to produce a game for the ages. Back from a season spent in blood-clot hell, Hållander earned top-star honors with a goal and two assists while playing an incredibly solid all-around game. Ex-Cap Lapierre stood out with his speed and playmaking. He tallied a goal and a helper and by all rights should’ve been awarded a game star. Honors that instead went to Koivunen, who tallied a beauty of a breakaway goal and finished a plus-3.

As a unit, they were every bit as dominant 5v5, as evidenced by the fancy stats (an 85.71 Corsi and an xGF% of 96.83).

Of course, this begs the questions. What the heck do we do with them when the wounded, most notably the third line, return?

To be honest, I haven’t a clue. All I know is, it would be darn-near impossible to send these guys to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Hållander and Lapierre in particular. They’ve proven they belong in the NHL. Farming them out would be akin to lassoing a frisky young colt after allowing it to escape the corral. There doesn’t appear to be any turning back.

Will Dubas resort to trades to open up more permanent spots? Waivers?

Again, anybody’s guess. But it sure is a swell problem to have.

The Wild, Wild West

I’ve been loosely tracking results and following teams from around the league. Edmonton, in particular, has caught my eye. For all the wrong reasons, I might add.

The Oilers lost their home opener to the rebuilding Canucks, 6-5, on Tuesday night. This after rallying from a three-goal deficit in the third period to force overtime.

Their goalie? Yep, you guessed it. None other than Tristan Jarry. The former Pen yielded six goals on 23 shots, including the OT loser. Good (or bad as the case may be) for a .739 save percentage.

Not wishing to suffer a repeat, coach Mike Babcock turned to backup Devon Levi for last night’s return engagement in Vancouver. The ex-Sabre leaked for seven goals on 22 shots. Sheesh! Only the supreme efforts of Connor McDavid and Evan Bouchard enabled the Oil to escape with a 9-7 victory.

Babcock, who preaches accountability and play away from the puck, must be tearing his hair out by its auburn-dyed roots.

In case you were wondering, Frederik Andersen, signed as a free-agent during the summer, is out long-term with a knee injury. Which means barring a trade, the Oilers will be forced to ride Jarry and Levi.

Lotsa luck with that.