Penguins Top-Six Replacements Must Rise To Challenge
The Pittsburgh Penguins must adopt a "next man up" mentality with top forwards injured.
The Pittsburgh Penguins unveiled a list of players dealing with injuries yesterday following a lightly attended practice. Rickard Rakell and Chad Ruhwedel will miss substantial time as the Penguins placed them on injured reserve. Meanwhile, there is no timetable for Bryan Rust, who is being evaluated for a lower-body injury.
On the blue line, the Penguins' crowded group of third-pairing options has dwindled to two players. Ryan Shea has been a pleasant surprise and a steady hand since joining the lineup early in the season. John Ludvig, recalled from his conditioning stint yesterday, was a waiver claim late in training camp that was injured five minutes into his NHL debut in October.
Expect Ludvig to rejoin the Penguins lineup tomorrow night to round out the defense core.
The more pressing issue is the pair of missing forwards. With Rakell out "longer-term" and Rust's status unclear, the Penguins could see two AHL call-ups playing next to Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
While not an ideal situation, especially if they lose Rust, who had 16 points (9G-7A) in the team's first 17 games, the Penguins have historically seen players elevated by playing with Crosby and Malkin. They'll need to do so once again.
Vinnie Hinostroza has been a welcomed addition to the Penguins' bottom line this season, providing speed and an added scoring touch. He skated with Crosby and Jake Guentzel at yesterday's practice, something he did early in training camp, and was named as a potential top-six replacement for Rust or Rakell by head coach Mike Sullivan.
The other forwards, Alex Nylander and Jansen Harkins, were recalled yesterday evening. Nylander and Harkins have a similar distinction as both possess scoring talent at the AHL level that has not transferred to the NHL.
Nylander has lit up the AHL since joining the Penguins in 2021, scoring 88 points (44G-44A) in 110 games with Wilkes-Barre. He showed flashes at the NHL level late last season with Evgeni Malkin and Jason Zucker but only produced two points (1G-1A) in nine games.
The Swedish forward may be able to find a rhythm next to Crosby in the short term, similar to how Dominik Simon and Danton Heinen performed in past seasons when the Penguins were without their top wingers. Or the Penguins could elect to reunite Nylander with Malkin in hopes of a better result than last season.
Harkins quickly made an impression this preseason but fell flat in the first week of the season. He was sent to Wilkes-Barre in favor of Radim Zohorna, who has elevated the Penguins' third line. With Wilkes-Barre this season, Harkins has nine points (4G-5A) in 11 games.
Harkins' size (6'2", 197 lbs.) adds a different element to the Penguins' top lines. His aggressiveness on the forecheck and penalty-killing ability could help to fill the void left by Rust but with a clear downgrade in scoring ability.
The best-case scenario for the Penguins is that Bryan Rust's injury doesn't hold him out for an extended period, leaving one top-six forward position open.
However, if Rust misses significant time, the Penguins need these three players to contribute enough to keep the top lines functioning smoothly. That may not be by simply scoring goals. Drawing penalties, playing sound hockey in the defensive zone, and supporting offensive zone pressure is pivotal to keeping the Penguins afloat.
None of Harkins, Hinostroza, or Nylander can make up for everything Rust and Rakell bring. The Penguins will need more from everyone in their lineup to help bridge the gap between now and when those two return from injury.
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