Yesterday, the Pittsburgh Penguins streamlined their NHL roster by removing six players, including defensemen Owen Pickering, Caleb Jones, and Jake Livanavage. With the upcoming deadline for opening day rosters tomorrow, players need to clear waivers today to be reassigned, which means the Penguins still have nine more players to cut or place on injured reserve from their current list.
Currently, their roster includes 20 forwards, nine defensemen, and three goaltenders. Some players are injured or away for personal reasons, which influences their availability. Based on recent moves, it’s anticipated that McGroarty, Zonnon, Brunicke, and Blomqvist can be reassigned to the AHL without passing through waivers. The team likely plans to put Lizotte and Kindel on injured reserve, and possibly Brazeau, Rust, and Graves as well, completing most of the necessary roster adjustments for opening night.
Furthermore, the team might designate Kuzmenko as a non-roster player while he’s in Russia dealing with a personal loss, which would temporarily remove him from their roster count but still count against the salary cap. They may also waive Gustafsson if he’s not placed on IR. Although some uncertainties remain—especially around player health—the roster is starting to shape up for the season, likely featuring lines such as Robertson-Crosby-Rakell and Chinakhov-Novak-Malkin, among others. The defense pairing could include Carlile or Karlsson alongside Girard or Korczak, with veterans like Van Riemsdyk and Letang in the mix. The goaltender duo is expected to be Silovs and Murashov.
While these roster moves suggest some players may be just temporarily unavailable, the Penguins are working toward assembling a full and competitive lineup. As the season approaches, uncertainties around injuries and roster adjustments remain, but overall, the team’s composition is beginning to take clearer shape.
Fan Take: These roster decisions are crucial for fans because they directly impact the team’s competitiveness and chemistry heading into the season. Watching how these cuts and adjustments play out could give us early clues about the Penguins’ strategic direction and chances for a successful campaign.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
