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

[OmNomNom]

He was okay in the scrimmage. Probably has the third LD role locked down IMO.

Marino doesn’t stink, I’m just being a facetious hot taker. His biggest issue here was his cap hit which shouldn’t be an issue with Hughes and Nemec coming up and Siegs on a sweet heart deal.

Honestly the reality was we wanted better fits for the roles. Letang, Petry, Rutta makes way more sense than Letang, Marino, Ruhwedel especially with our LD player types.

Mixed reports from journos watching practice, mixed showing in the first game but he got better throughout.

I thought he was fine in his game but he wasn't good enough to justify waiving another defenseman, if that makes sense. I think he needs to be better to not be sent to the AHL, but that's because of how many waiver eligible defensemen the Penguins have. He's NHL ready, just not good enough to risk losing someone like POJ (Joseph) or Friedman.

yeah most of us had high hopes on him, and i think the trouble is our system (or lack of one) wasn't really conducive to training someone up. hopefully some structure can help him and will allow this trade to be good for both our teams

happy new season!

 

[Gurglesons]

yeah most of us had high hopes on him, and i think the trouble is our system (or lack of one) wasn't really conducive to training someone up. hopefully some structure can help him and will allow this trade to be good for both our teams

happy new season!

Yeah, I think a lot of the issues with Smith are ..

Confidence
System
And urgency

Think that’s something our staff is very good at training.

 

[Peat]

I liked what I saw from Belliveau, curious to see how he progresses this year.

Agreed.

I'm also a bit surprised that they've seemingly thrown Archibald to the side for Caggiula, but at the same point, I don't know why I am. Sullivan already didn't use him when he was here in the past and I don't think Hextall is the type of guy to shoot himself in the foot to double down on a move he made. The team is solely focused on putting the best team out there, I don't think they'd keep someone up solely because they thought he was better when they signed him.

I think the interesting question to ask with Archibald is that was the team just completely wrong with him when they signed him or did they intend on bringing him in more like a Caggiula type of "prove it" deal and let him earn a spot? If they brought him in thinking he was a NHLer, I'd be concerned about their pro scouting.

Handing a guy 900k one a one way deal as a prove it deal is unlikely, and concerning in itself if that's what happened.

My personal guess was that the team did not anticipate having this many forwards at this point, and that it did not anticipate what Caggiula is doing, and Archibald has made it easy for him to be a sacrificial lamb.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Handing a guy 900k one a one way deal as a prove it deal is unlikely, and concerning in itself if that's what happened.

That's valid but I don't think a 2-way deal for guys like Archibald will look much different. Even with Caggiula's 2-way deal, he's still making $450k a year in the AHL. It wouldn't surprise me if a 1-way deal was a demand from Archibald and the Penguins would rather pay him the extra ~$400k than not have him. It's not like it effects the cap at all.

It's kinda hard to justify that the Penguins thought Archibald was a step above Caggiula when Archibald missed even more time and did even worse in his limited time in the NHL last year, unless they just didn't scout him last year.

My personal guess was that the team did not anticipate having this many forwards at this point, and that it did not anticipate what Caggiula is doing, and Archibald has made it easy for him to be a sacrificial lamb.

It's just weird to me to think that they thought of Archibald above Caggiula. The only justification I can think of is that Caggiula didn't come back healthy at the end of last year while Archibald did, but Archibald was allegedly horrendous last year and he had a very serious health issue that could ruin his career.

 

[Fordy]

Maybe a glimpse at opening night?

this is really bizarre lol, we've never done this

 

[Empoleon8771]

It would be kinda hilarious if the Penguins ended up waiving all of Archibald, Caggiula and Poehling and just had O'Connor on the 4th line and Zohorna as the extra, after all of the complaining I was doing about them signing these guys when you already had O'Connor and Zohorna.

 

[Gurglesons]

Agreed.



Handing a guy 900k one a one way deal as a prove it deal is unlikely, and concerning in itself if that's what happened.

My personal guess was that the team did not anticipate having this many forwards at this point, and that it did not anticipate what Caggiula is doing, and Archibald has made it easy for him to be a sacrificial lamb.

Why do you feel it’s concerning?

If he is waived it’s all covered. Who cares?

 

[Andy99]

Heinen isn't making the roster?

I think he’s not playing bc he played Sunday night and is the only one of the “secure” forwards who did so

 

[Zirakzigil]

this is really bizarre lol, we've never done this

Next 2 games are on the road and the core group wont travel for that, except maybe the goalies.

 

[Malkinstheman]

I think he’s not playing bc he played Sunday night and is the only one of the “secure” forwards who did so

Yeah and I'm guessing the coaches want to see what the fringe guys look like playing with the actual line up

 

[Andy99]

Yeah and I'm guessing the coaches want to see what the fringe guys look like playing with the actual line up

Yes, all of DOC, Caggiula, Zohorna and Poehling are playing and fighting for probably one roster spot…

 

[DesertedPenguin]

That's valid but I don't think a 2-way deal for guys like Archibald will look much different. Even with Caggiula's 2-way deal, he's still making $450k a year in the AHL. It wouldn't surprise me if a 1-way deal was a demand from Archibald and the Penguins would rather pay him the extra ~$400k than not have him. It's not like it effects the cap at all.

It's kinda hard to justify that the Penguins thought Archibald was a step above Caggiula when Archibald missed even more time and did even worse in his limited time in the NHL last year, unless they just didn't scout him last year.

I'm not even sure vets like Archibald typically get 2-way deals. Usually guys who have NHL experience to his extent get 1-way deals, even if they're only competing for roster sports.

 

[Malkinstheman]

Yes, all of DOC, Caggiula, Zohorna and Poehling are playing and fighting for probably one roster spot…

2 spots if Carters is out for a bit

 

[Empoleon8771]

I could see the argument for Archibald being "secured" and the Penguins wanting to see how the other fringe guys do, because Heinen is also out of the lineup so you can extend that same logic to him.

But at the same point, I'm highly questioning the Penguins pro scouting and coaching if they think Archibald is "secured" for a roster spot with how he has looked in the last year+ and with how other depth players have looked so far.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

Again, I'm not going to infer anything from lineups or coaches talking up a player.

 

[Peat]

Why do you feel it’s concerning?

If he is waived it’s all covered. Who cares?

Fair point the money doesn't matter, but I'd rather not see the GM develop a habit of generosity to guys he doesn't even rate.

It is more likely he does rate him though.

It's kinda hard to justify that the Penguins thought Archibald was a step above Caggiula when Archibald missed even more time and did even worse in his limited time in the NHL last year, unless they just didn't scout him last year.

It's just weird to me to think that they thought of Archibald above Caggiula. The only justification I can think of is that Caggiula didn't come back healthy at the end of last year while Archibald did, but Archibald was allegedly horrendous last year and he had a very serious health issue that could ruin his career.

Yeah, I don't really have any answers here. They are clearly willing to bet on players bouncing back, so that's there.

 

[HandshakeLine]

Archibald hasn’t gotten any more situationally aware than he did in his first stint here. He looked Lafferty-esque yesterday.

 

[SEALBound]

I think they were truly hoping for Archibald to be a step above the kids competing for the spot and for Cagguila to be in WBS as a vet/extra. Just didn't turn out that way.

Didn't love the signing when it happened and I am firmly in the "rotate the kids" camp right now - Zohorna, DOC, Poehling, Poulin, etc.

 

[Gurglesons]

Fair point the money doesn't matter, but I'd rather not see the GM develop a habit of generosity to guys he doesn't even rate.

It is more likely he does rate him though.



Yeah, I don't really have any answers here. They are clearly willing to bet on players bouncing back, so that's there.

If it was like 1.5 mil I’d care, but they just seemed to want a depth option and he worked, I dunno. Never got the signing but if we waive him immediately because Caggiula and co are better could care less..

 

[Peat]

If it was like 1.5 mil I’d care, but they just seemed to want a depth option and he worked, I dunno. Never got the signing but if we waive him immediately because Caggiula and co are better could care less..

It's probably meaningless, but there's no need to give that sort of AHL guarantee to depth options.

I stress again that this is probably academic, Heinen being absent as well makes me lean towards certain depth guys not playing because the org doesn't need them to. Which bothers me more.

 

[DesertPenguin]

So off day today. Game tomorrow, then practice is cut down from three teams to two going forward.

I'd assume we see a very green squad again in Detroit, with cuts of players who aren't under consideration for the big squad coming immediately after.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

That'd be off-putting if we lose tomrorow with this lineup.

Pretty clear tell that Archibald has fallen behind in the pecking order. You love to see it.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

I'll be at trivia tomorrow so I'll once again be unable to watch.

 

[Flying Dego]

That'd be off-putting if we lose tomrorow with this lineup.

Pretty clear tell that Archibald has fallen behind in the pecking order. You love to see it.

There you have it. I think sans Carter that's Sully's offense and defense.

DOC, Big Z, and Caggs are the biggest camp Battle for #13 and I don't know if I've ever been more intrigued by a battle for that spot like I am currently.

 

[Gurglesons]

There you have it. I think sans Carter that's Sully's offense and defense.

DOC, Big Z, and Caggs are the biggest camp Battle for #13 and I don't know if I've ever been more intrigued by a battle for that spot like I am currently.

You think Poehling is 12?