Drew O’Connor Gaining Confidence, Earning Regular Role With Penguins
As the Pittsburgh Penguins drive down the stretch, Drew O'Connor is emerging as an important depth option.
There is more than just a trade deadline on the horizon for the Pittsburgh Penguins; regardless of who is on the roster, they have a playoff race to keep up in.
Any team that has a fighting chance to go deep in the postseason will need a productive bottom-six group of forwards, and the Penguins have famously lacked that this season.
Solutions may not be simple right away, but some help may already be in the dressing room and getting regular playing time.
Drew O’Connor has played a career-high 25 NHL games during the 2022-23 season and is making real progress as an NHL regular.
Heading into the year, it was unclear if the 24-year-old had what it takes to be more than an injury replacement, but he’s earned a spot over the last few weeks.
“You still have to earn every game, I think,” O’Connor said. “That’s kind of my mentality. Just trying to do the best I can every game. Earning my shifts, earning more games.”
Head coach Mike Sullivan has liked what he’s seen from O’Connor and has shown it by keeping him in the lineup over certain guys.
Before Kasperi Kapanen was claimed off of waivers, Danton Heinen was a regular healthy scratch from the lineup while O’Connor was given regular ice time.
O’Connor may be averaging a little over nine minutes of ice each night, but he’s in a good spot.
In his 25 games played, O’Connor has contributed for seven points (4G-3A) and he’s gaining all kinds of confidence and momentum.
“I think I’m playing more confidently,” O’Connor said. “That kind of comes with more minutes and games.”
O’Connor has earned the right to stay involved on the Penguins NHL roster as they fight for a playoff spot.
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