September is correct across the nook which suggests hockey is about to be in full swing. Through the summer season, the Pittsburgh Penguins gave their backside six a facelift, and it’s virtually time to see their new depth gamers in motion. For the previous couple of years, the Penguins have struggled with bottom-six manufacturing and are hoping they did sufficient over the offseason to right this subject. Will there be sufficient assist round captain Sidney Crosby and the remainder of the highest six this season?
Penguins’ New and Improved Backside Six
The Penguins made a number of offseason additions to their lineup together with some new forwards. They are going to positively be making some roster cuts earlier than opening evening, however they are going to nonetheless have an virtually fully totally different backside six. Certainly one of these new forwards who will greater than probably be becoming a member of Pittsburgh’s depth is Blake Lizotte.
The Penguins signed Lizotte to a two-year contract on July 1. He has spent his complete profession with the Los Angeles Kings and can now be making his Jap Convention debut. At 26 years previous, he will certainly be serving to with Pittsburgh’s youth motion, and his velocity and forechecking capacity ought to add a spark to the underside six that has been lacking for some time.Â
Final season, Lizotte performed in 62 video games with the Kings and scored seven targets and eight assists. He has all the time been a workhorse-type participant, and the Penguins are hoping a recent begin can be helpful. He’ll greater than probably play on the left wing of Lars Eller which can be a little bit of an adjustment for him. Nevertheless, his versatile fashion of play suggests this is not going to be a problem.
Cody Glass was one other offseason addition to the ahead group. Glass was drafted seventh total by the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017. He was traded in the summertime of 2021 to the Nashville Predators and had his finest season in 2022-23 scoring 14 targets and 21 assists. His manufacturing dropped considerably final season, however the Penguins are hoping a change of surroundings would be the repair he wants. At 25 years previous, he may also convey youth to Pittsburgh’s lineup, and his 6-foot-3, 205-pound body might be an enormous assistance on the facility play.Â
The Penguins additionally acquired veteran Kevin Hayes from the St. Louis Blues this summer season. Final season, he performed in 79 video games and scored 13 targets and 16 assists. His recreation positively noticed an enormous drop in manufacturing final 12 months, however it appeared like he by no means actually meshed effectively with the Blues. He can be a constant third or fourth-line heart who will work exhausting. He’s good on the faceoff and his 5-on-5 play was truly fairly first rate final season. There isn’t a doubt he can be an improve to the underside six and can convey a veteran presence to the group.Â
One other attention-grabbing participant to observe this season can be Drew O’Connor. O’Connor is actually not new to the Penguins, as he carved out a spot for himself within the lineup final season. He performed in 79 video games and scored 16 targets and 17 assists.Â
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O’Connor additionally grew to become a key factor to the penalty kill. He has confirmed that he may be an asset anyplace within the lineup as he spent a major period of time final 12 months on the primary line subsequent to Crosby. The Penguins have each motive to imagine his improvement will proceed to progress, and he might flip into an enormous weapon this season.Â
Did Pittsburgh Lastly Repair the Backside Six?
A variety of the gamers Pittsburgh added to their backside six this summer season struggled final season. Nevertheless, they’ve all proven promise up to now, and the Penguins are hoping the change of surroundings will restore them to their former glory. With coaching camp rapidly approaching, it needs to be attention-grabbing to observe how the underside six develops.
