Pair at the Point: A Pittsburgh Penguins Podcast

1. The Penguins have acquired Rickard Rakell from the Ducks for Aston-Reese, Simon, a 2022 2nd Rounder, and Calle Clang.Scorer in, defensive forward out2. Trades around the leagueFleury

Giroux

Chiarot

Giordano 

3. Metropolitan DivisionContinues to get better

Challenging path ahead for all teams in the Metro, East

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1. Secondary scoring2. Trade Deadline rumors3. Mark Friedman v. Marcus Petterson 4. WBS call-ups and what that means for players like Kapanen and SimonFollow us on Twitter: @PairAtThePointPair at the Point Website: pairatthepoint.transistor.fm/Follow The FHN: @theFHNThe FHN Website: thefhn.net

Crosby's 500th Goal

Play of the Penguins top line

Secondary scoring troubles and trade deadline rumors

Follow us on Twitter: @PairAtThePointPair at the Point Website: pairatthepoint.transistor.fm/Follow The FHN: @theFHNThe FHN Website: thefhn.net

1. Jake Guentzel turns it around2. Marcus Petterson's play3. Scoring needs from Kapanen and Zucker4. Jarry/DeSmith play so farFollow us on Twitter: @PairAtThePointPair at the Point Website: pairatthepoint.transistor.fm/Follow The FHN: @theFHNThe FHN Website: thefhn.net

1. Analysis from the last four games.Panthers

Blackhawks

Stars

Maple Leafs

2. Standouts3. Players who have more to give.Follow us on Twitter: @PairAtThePointPair at the Point Website: pairatthepoint.transistor.fm/Follow The FHN: @theFHNThe FHN Website: thefhn.net

Pre-season Wrapped UpDrew O'Connor not making the 23 man roster.

Brian Boyle contract

First Game TakeawaysNo Crosby, Malkin, Guentzel, ZAR

Defensive play

Heinen's debut

Training Camp cuts

PracticeDrills

Dump-in, puck retrieval, two-on-ones

Interesting Practice CombosZAR-Blueger-McGinn

Letang-Joseph

Interesting playersDrozg

ScrimmageTeam Black vs. Team White

LinesZucker-Zohorna-Kapanen

Zucker-Rodrigues-Kapanen

Guentzal-Carter-Heinen

Boyle practicing with Rust

DefenseMarino

Matheson 

Other players to mentionPoulin

Legare

Riikola

Lindberg

Bjorkqvist

Preseason Game 1 - September 27 - Columbus Roster Released

1. Development Camp RosterOffenseJustin Almeida (LW)

Raivis Ansons (LW)

Shaw Boomhower (LW)

Jonathan Gruden (C) 

Filip Hallander (LW)

Sam Houde (C) 

Nathan Legare (RW)

Kyle Olson (RW)

Sam Poulin (LW)

Valtteri Puustinen (RW)

Felix Robert (LW)

Lukas Svejkovsky (RW)

Josh Williams (RW)

DefenseNiclas Almari

Isaac Belliveau

Cam Lee

Dylan MacPherson

Josh Maniscalco

Chris Merisier-Ortiz

Ryan McCleary

Will Reilly

GoaltendersBrett Brochu

Alex D'Orio

Filip Lindberg

Tommy Nappier

2. Pre-Camp ThoughtsCenter depth is lacking

Excitement for Poulin and Legare development

Filip Lindberg should light it up at camp

Filip Hallander - excited see how he’s developed and changed since getting traded

3. Post-Mortem of Development Camp - 9/18/21Stand Outs

Need More Time

PLAY STYLEFast, agile, and surprisingly physical

Aggressive pinches and cross-ice passing decisions

Limited shooting ability.

PAST TO PRESENTCareer overview, improvements defensively in last few seasons

Performance trajectory for next season?

Beyond?

EXPECTATIONSPairing stability with Dumoulin

Injury factor

Point projections? Defensive performance?

Season Statistics - Then and Now2017-18: 64 points in 82 games played - .78 points per game

2018-19: 42 points in 81 games played - .52 points per game

2019-20: 41 points in 60 games played - .68 points per game

2020-21: 18 points in 38 games played - .47 points per game

Playoff Performances2017-18: 0 points in 5 games played - 0 points per game

2018-19: No playoffs

2019-20: 2 points in 4 games played - .5 points per game

2020-21: 3 points in 6 games played - .5 points per game

Heavy price to pay for Zucker in returnCalen Addison - Iowa Wild 2020-21: 22 points in 31 games

1st round draft pick - Carson Lambos, D from WHL

5.5M through 2023

Can he turn it around?What line should he be on?

Can he get the point production of 2017-18?

What else can he bring to the team if it isn’t point production?

Biggest wild card on the roster.

Can possibly make or break a playoff spot this year.

Need a big performance (especially while Geno is out).