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Penguins Still Delaying On Recalling Top Prospects
Published March 22, 2024 at 1:51 PM
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March 22, 2024 (1:51 PM)
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Rob A.March 22, 2024 (1:51 PM)
The Pittsburgh Penguins have a few prospects in the AHL that they still have not given the chance to as of yet. As the season winds down when will it be time.
The Penguins, although not mathematically eliminated from the playoffs as of yet, have seen their playoff hopes drastically change with only have 14 games remaining in the regular season.
Kyle Dubas' first year was not everything we hoped for as fans and some look at it as a failure. So, why are we still waiting to see what the youth movement that Dubas promised has to offer.
Must read on Penguins Latest
Sam Poulin And Vasily Ponomarev Are Two Options The Penguins Should Discover Now
Vasily Ponomarev was a return received for Jake Guentzel who is one of the top players for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton already. He wears number 11 for the team, and has a great story as to why he picked that number to wear.
When he played with the Chicago Wolves, the director of hockey operations was Geno Ubriaco who happened to be a member of the Penguins inaugural season with the NHL in 1967.
Despite the fun history lesson, Ponomarev is someone the Penguins should check out at the NHL level. His first NHL goal was against the Capitals back on January 5th, putting the Hurricanes up 6-2.
Carolina goal!
Scored by Vasily Ponomarev with 00:59 remaining in the 3rd period.
Assisted by Jesperi Kotkaniemi.
Washington: 2
Carolina: 6#CARvsWSH #ALLCAPS #CauseChaos pic.twitter.com/R65W2kEPtw� NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) January 6, 2024
Sam Poulin is another good prospect who HC Mike Sullivan acknowledged as having a great year with the baby Pens. After Poulin missed 18 games due to injury, he returned and is having a breakout year.
«Sam Poulin, for example, has had a really strong year,» Sullivan said. «I think everybody is really encouraged by Sam and the progress he's made. You can see the jump that Puusty's made and the impact he's having right now. A guy like Jon Gruden that has been up and down, but I think is more impactful now that he comes up and plays in Pittsburgh.»
Penguins Are Focusing On Each Game and Winning Instead Of Prospects
So, where are these players? The Penguins themselves have not given up on the playoffs yet. So that is Sullivan's main focus. The current roster and playing winning hockey.
«We're obviously focused on the Pittsburgh Penguins, and that's where our main focus is,» Sullivan said. «Certainly, there are a lot of people inside our hockey operations that are watching these guys consistently. And we have those discussions amongst our group.»
It sounds as if the focus is still on the playoffs for the team. But we will see if the organization and Dubas decide it is time to give the future a look.
As Read On: The Hockey News - Penguins Waiting to Recall Top Prospects
| POLL | ||
March 22 | 110 answers Penguins Still Delaying On Recalling Top Prospects Which top prospect would you like the Penguins to call up next? | ||
| Sam Poulin | 68 | 61.8 % |
| Vasily Ponomarev | 42 | 38.2 % |
| LIST OF POLL | ||
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