Training Camp Weekend In Review

With just 2 days of on-ice sessions in the books, trends are already evident at Penguins Training Camp 2010.

While training camp opened this year for the Boys of Winter with question marks on both line combinations up front and pairings on the blueline, some clarity has started to surface in those areas.

First, Pascal Dupuis opened up camp on the RW on the #1 line with Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz.

On the second line, newcomer Hilary Duff's husband (a.k.a Mike Comrie) slid into the center spot, with Evgeni Malkin on the RW and rookie power-forward Eric Tangradi on the left.

Mark Letetsu started off centering the third line between top 9 regular Matt Cooke on the LW and clone Aaron Asham on the right.

Max Talbot centered Mike Rupp and Craig Adams on the fourth line.

On defense, many wondered how the Pens' two newcomers -- Paul Martin (wearing #7) and Zbynek Michalek (wearing #4) -- would fit in.

Well, Martin was paired with Kris Letang, while "Big Z" was paired with Brooks Orpik.

It will be interesting to see if those combinations stick, but Orpik and Michalek would obviously be the Penguins' shutdown tandem, while Martin and Letang would be their '2-way' pairing. 

While several players are off to good camp starts -- Malkin, Martin, Comrie and Goligoski, to name a few -- the guy who has probably been the best performer so far is Letestu.

Letestu already has 3 goals (including one shootout tally) in two scrimmages and has distinguished himself with good decision-making and strong two-way play on what has been an excellent third line so far in camp.

If Letestu keeps playing the way he has, I don't think there's any doubt that he'll be on the opening night roster filling the role many wondered whether he would snatch going into this camp.

Did I just say snatch?

Well, I did mention Hilary Duff earlier.

Anyway, snatching is also beginning to look like an appropriate reference for RW Tyler Kennedy's roster spot.  Kennedy has been skating on the 5th line throughout camp so far and looks very much in danger of finding himself on the outside looking in 3 weeks from now.

TK is really going to have to distinguish himself in games to avoid being on the wrong end of a trade out of town.

The other notable story out of camp so far is the chemistry which Malkin and Comrie have been showing.

Both have generated good offense thusfar during the scrimmages, and seem to be feeding off each other well.  Malkin, in particular, has been flying all over the ice, and Comrie is doing a great job down low on the cycle.

While many are looking to today's scrimmage between Crosby and Malkin's units, I'm more anxious for the first exhibition game of the season, Wednesday at home against the Detroit Red Wings -- and not just because it will be the first hockey game between NHL opponents in the CONSOL Energy Center, let alone such great rivals like the Pens' and Wings.

Personally, I love the exhibition season.  While I promise I wasn't a scout in my former life, I still love to watch the young players and role players compete for spots, and compete against their peers on opposing teams while doing it.  

Given that it's the first game @ CONSOL, I'm sure the Penguins will dress several of their stars for the game.  They typically do that for home exhibition contests anyway.  That will likely dummy down the number of rookies and kids on the ice, but I'm still anxious to tune in.
In fact, look here for a game day preview that morning. 

Until then ....