Line Combos: Pens 2022-2023 Training Camp thread: Its happenings

[Peat]

Yohe's 10 observations: Rickard Rakell, Sidney Crosby 'hit it off,' and more from camp

Penguins winger Rickard Rakell says he feels some serious chemistry with captain Sidney Crosby.

theathletic.com

Cliff notes

- Rakell likes playing left with right handed C's and right with left handed C's

- Kapanen looks fantastic

- POJ has started strong, Smith looks good but flawed

- Little Shoes looks good

- Double P looks good

 

[Andy99]

Yohe's 10 observations: Rickard Rakell, Sidney Crosby 'hit it off,' and more from camp

Penguins winger Rickard Rakell says he feels some serious chemistry with captain Sidney Crosby.

theathletic.com

Cliff notes
- Rakell likes playing left with right handed C's and right with left handed C's
- Kapanen looks fantastic
- POJ has started strong, Smith looks good but flawed
- Little Shoes looks good
- Double P looks good

Who’s little shoes?

 

[Empoleon8771]

Yohe's 10 observations: Rickard Rakell, Sidney Crosby 'hit it off,' and more from camp

Penguins winger Rickard Rakell says he feels some serious chemistry with captain Sidney Crosby.

theathletic.com

Cliff notes

- Rakell likes playing left with right handed C's and right with left handed C's

- Kapanen looks fantastic

- POJ has started strong, Smith looks good but flawed

- Little Shoes looks good

- Double P looks good

Uh, who are those two

But from the title, it seems like a given that Rakell and Crosby are going to be playing with each other. It's good to see, not only do those two fit really well together (IMO) but it also frees up Rust to play with Malkin. Rust with Malkin as the primary option is a much better use of him than Rust with Crosby as the secondary option.

I think this is the best situation this team has been in for a long time. You have 3 legit top-6 wingers, with Sullivan seemingly putting together a dynamic 1st line and putting the best winger for Malkin with Malkin. They're overflowing with quality depth. They have #1 RD on both the 1st and 2nd pair, and it seems like they have very good complements for both. Hard to not be optimistic right now.

 

[Peat]

Little Shoes is Caligula Caggiula, Double P is the Petting Zoo (Pettersson Petry)

 

[Gurglesons]

The Penguins will host the first game at 1 p.m., and the second game will be played at Nationwide Arena in Columbus at 7. Sullivan is planning on being present at both games. The head coach said he’ll be “jumping in a van” with Ron Hextall and Brian Burke immediately after the first game and will then make the 2 1/2-hour drive on Interstate 70 to Columbus, which should allow him the opportunity to coach both games.

lol.

 

[DearDiary]

Highest praise in the article is for Kapanen. Says he was one of the best players out there and looks like a star in camp

 

[Andy99]

And another Caggiula rave…

Penguins Camp Surprise: ‘Tenacious’ Drake Caggiula, the Dark Horse Becomes a Favorite

CRANBERRY — In every training camp, there is a surprise or a player who makes one wonder if someone new could upset the established balance and the team’s best-laid plans. It’s exciting but usually lacks a satisfying payoff. Typically, the best players come through, eventually, and what “could...

pittsburghhockeynow.com

Highest praise in the article is for Kapanen. Says he was one of the best players out there and looks like a star in camp

He looks like a star every camp…it’s only when the games matter against actual NHL talent that he looks like shit lol…

 

[Turin]

Cagguila was a legit tweeter for the Oilers years back, I’d be surprised if he got “it” back but that’d be great if he did.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Highest praise in the article is for Kapanen. Says he was one of the best players out there and looks like a star in camp

Yohe specifically noted that Kapanen always look good in camp. So, caution is warranted.

 

[Turin]

Woah guys Kap is SO GOOD

Hear that Arizona??

But for real would be great if he put it together. I’m excited for the season.

 

[Gurglesons]

Cagguila was a legit tweeter for the Oilers years back, I’d be surprised if he got “it” back but that’d be great if he did.

He was good with Chicago too. The issue has been head trauma and his neck injury.

 

[Peat]

Cagguila was a legit tweeter for the Oilers years back, I’d be surprised if he got “it” back but that’d be great if he did.

Helped out with the social media team?

 

[Al Smith]

The Penguins will host the first game at 1 p.m., and the second game will be played at Nationwide Arena in Columbus at 7. Sullivan is planning on being present at both games. The head coach said he’ll be “jumping in a van” with Ron Hextall and Brian Burke immediately after the first game and will then make the 2 1/2-hour drive on Interstate 70 to Columbus, which should allow him the opportunity to coach both games.

lol.

That 2.5 hours might be pushing it a bit, having done it about 1000 times. Regardless, that second game isn't much more than an AHL game.

 

[Fordy]

better hope no one calls a timeout in that 1 pm game

 

[Al Smith]

Yohe specifically noted that Kapanen always look good in camp. So, caution is warranted.

At 26, I think Kap has shown what he is. 15-20 goal scorer with some flash and a pretty low hockey IQ. I guess he could all of a sudden figure things out, but the odds are probably against it.

 

[DearDiary]

I predict the 4th line/extra to be

McGinn-Blueger-Cagguila
Zohorna

If Carter is out then we'll see DOC up

 

[SEALBound]

Highest praise in the article is for Kapanen. Says he was one of the best players out there and looks like a star in camp

That's exciting to hear. I know some don't him here and want him gone and will go on and on and on forever about giving up Hallander and a 1st for him but the reality is that coaches and FO like him and he's here for two more years at $3.2mil. What this team NEEDS is a Kapanen with a chip on his shoulder ready to show the team and league that he's a legit top 6 wing that he was built up to be. A re-energize Kapanen will only do good things for us. He he can hit 20g, it means we have a 20g 3RW at worst and a quality fill in 2RW at best.

Same thing with Zucker. Both of those guys know they underperformed but now they've had an entire off-season to rest, reboot, and rearm themselves for battle this upcoming season.

He was good with Chicago too. The issue has been head trauma and his neck injury.

Yeah, I remember watching games with him in Chicago. Looking back at that, I can see why they signed him. Like so many others, I hope the worst is behind him with regard to injuries.

 

[Turin]

Helped out with the social media team?

Bonus, Pens sucks

 

[Jacob]

Based on his injury I’m surprised Caggiula was even ready for camp.

There’s still just no room for him in the NHL though. Sucks but nice depth at least. And a nice winger for Poulin.

 

[steelcityassault]

Kapanen can look good against his buddies in camp all day long.. We know what he does against competition

 

[Jacob]

I wouldn’t be surprised if Kap had a breakout season.. an off-season with plenty of motivation to improve combined with a coach willing to admit he made some mistakes in how he handled the player, and a top 6 wing spot possibly up for grabs, or at least only written in pencil.

To his credit he’s previously silenced doubts about him. Was called a perimeter player in his draft and post-draft year so he started going to the net more and scoring uglier goals. In Toronto he wasn’t going to get a call-up unless he could play bottom 6 so he learned to PK, cycle better and and play more defensively-minded.

 

[Gurglesons]

I wouldn’t be surprised if Kap had a breakout season.. an off-season with plenty of motivation to improve combined with a coach willing to admit he made some mistakes in how he handled the player, and a top 6 wing spot possibly up for grabs, or at least only written in pencil.

To his credit he’s previously silenced doubts about him. Was called a perimeter player in his draft and post-draft year so he started going to the net more and scoring uglier goals. In Toronto he wasn’t going to get a call-up unless he could play bottom 6 so he learned to PK, cycle better and and play more defensively-minded.

Yeah, I could easily see Kapanen having a great year here.

 

[DearDiary]

I wouldn’t be surprised if Kap had a breakout season.. an off-season with plenty of motivation to improve combined with a coach willing to admit he made some mistakes in how he handled the player, and a top 6 wing spot possibly up for grabs, or at least only written in pencil.

To his credit he’s previously silenced doubts about him. Was called a perimeter player in his draft and post-draft year so he started going to the net more and scoring uglier goals. In Toronto he wasn’t going to get a call-up unless he could play bottom 6 so he learned to PK, cycle better and and play more defensively-minded.

He always looked scary to play against on the PK because of his effort in closing in on the puck carrier. Disappointed that Sullivan didn't utilize him that way, Pens are really missing a threat there.

 

[Jacob]

He always looked scary to play against on the PK because of his effort in closing in on the puck carrier. Disappointed that Sullivan didn't utilize him that way, Pens are really missing a threat there.

He’s rare in that he’s a threat to score with just a half a step on someone, like Kessel.

 

[Gurglesons]

@Zirakzigil you want me to post a GDT for tomorrow or is that not allowed?