Story by
Intense Penguins Training Camp, What We’ve Learned So Far
- Story by
- Intense Penguins Training Camp, What We’ve Learned So Far
Intense Penguins Training Camp, What We’ve Learned So Far
CRANBERRY —Competition and intensity. Coaches' whistles blew and pucks dropped Thursday for the first day of the 2025 Pittsburgh Penguins training camp and the first day of new coach Dan Muse's tenure.
Fans who have spent any time at the UPMC Lemieux Complex might have left with their ears ringing from the loud practices and assistant coach Mike Stothers banging the glass with his stick, just to raise the intensity another level or three.
Advertisement
There have been a few hints as to what's to come, though Muse has backed away from chances to circle which players are making impressions or how he planned to construct the roster for Monday's preseason game against the Montreal Canadiens .
We've seen former prospect Filip Hallander skating between Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust , likely indicating the organization is taking a look at Hallander at center. The Penguins organization is thin at center, and Hallander began his pro career in the middle with the Penguins organization before being traded and heading home to Sweden during the pandemic. Last season, Hallander scored 27 while playing on the wing in the Swedish Elite League.
Hallander has been solid, though unspectacular, in the first few days.
Also, Evgeni Malkin has been skating with Anthony Mantha and Danton Heinen . We're exaggerating a bit, but it seems Heinen has scored on every shot he's taken in camp. Mantha has shown soft hands but slower feet.
Advertisement
Despite Muse's reticence to name the standouts, there have been some of the scrappy youngsters, the type of players fans have been clamoring for. As Muse reminded us yesterday, it's just three days, and it would be inappropriate to begin calling out players good or bad.
So, in context, what we've learned so far
-
Tristan Broz is absolutely flying. His skating has again improved, and he is zipping past defenders at full speed. The increased speed is a great compliment to his slick hands.
-
Avery Hayes is digging in every corner for every puck and being a pest to the Penguins' defenders.
-
Caleb Jones has shown his a quick, smooth defenseman. He's a long shot for the team, but the pace and energy of camp have played into his strengths. In practice, he's often paired with Kris Letang . We look forward to seeing him in the preseason games.
-
Some of the veterans are getting a kick out of the simplistic start to camp. Muse hasn't yet gotten into the system and the finer points of the team game, but has instead worked on hockey fundamentals.
-
A couple of coaches at various levels of hockey who regularly speak to PHN noted that some vets will love it–after all, the team has missed the playoffs for three years and been incredibly sloppy at times–but cautioned that some veterans will soon see it as beneath them, especially the "Herbies" skating drills and the more simplistic edicts.
-
-
Muse praised Kindel's hockey IQ Saturday, but Kindel has both shown his game aptitude and just how far he needs to come before being a real contender for an NHL roster spot. It's tough to grade him as he's often in traffic.
-
Tommy Novak has not had a good camp thus far. The physical and energetic pace does not jibe with his soft game. He was reaching to the walls on Saturday when instead he could have planted himself in position. If the Penguins are pushing to be a hard-nosed, competitive team, Novak will need to improve that aspect of his game or score a lot of points to avoid Muse's doghouse.
-
PTO singee Brett Murray is a mountain of a hockey player. At 6-foot-5, 244 pounds, he stands out. In fact, he makes Justin Brazeau look tiny.
-
Brazeau looks like a solid player. He moves well.
-
-
Matt Dumba has looked very good. If all things were equal, he'd be in the early lead to be the third-pairing right-side defenseman. He's looked really, really good.
Dumba, 31, has been skating quite well and moving the puck confidently. He is in direct competition with Jack St. Ivany and Harrison Brunicke for the spot, and competing against Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas's edict that young players who are ready will make the team.
-
Alexander Alexeyev has looked like a player who has been served more press box nachos than ice time over the past two years. He's a heavy defenseman with a bit of snarl, so training camp with speedy drills probably isn't his best showcase. In camp, he has looked lumbering. Perhaps the games will provide better insight.
-
Parker Wortherspoon looks bigger than advertised. The left-side defenseman on a $1 million contract is listed at 6-foot-1, 194 pounds. He's shown good movement and has been sharp.
The overall takeaway from the first few days is that the pace and intensity are bringing out the best in many players. It's not possible for the veterans to ease into camp or not give a full effort. The veterans on their toes have only added to the competitive level and given us a better look at the scrappers fighting for space.
Advertisement
Now it's time for the games.
The post Intense Penguins Training Camp, What We've Learned So Far appeared first on Pittsburgh Hockey Now .
Related Headlines
