The Penguins yesterday set their active roster and the six-man taxi squad for tomorrow’s opening day of the NHL season.
There were no surprises on the active roster, which does include winger Kasperi Kapanen, who is currently in quarantine after arriving in Pittsburgh over the weekend. Kapanen was late to camp because of work visa problems, which stranded him in Finland last week. The taxi squad will include forwards Anthony Angello, Frederick Gaudreau, and Drew O’Connor, defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph, and goaltenders Alex D’Orio and Maxime Lagace.
Coach Mike Sullivan says the team has to walk a fine line when deciding who to put on the taxi squad, because those players need to play hockey.
The team has not yet declared the status of Zach Aston-Reese, Zach Trotman, Sam Miletic, and Josh Maniscalco. All have missed time in the week of camp, and Aston-Reese has not practiced yet as he continues to rehab from shoulder surgery. Rosters are due to the NHL today, so the status of the those four players will become clear.
Sullivan says the Penguins had a productive camp and while it was not ideal, he is satisfied that they accomplished their goals.
Defenseman Marcus Pettersson has been working with new teammate Cody Ceci in recent days, but he’s expected to be with John Marino on the second defensive pairing. He says the Penguin’s defensive system enables the coaches to switch up their pairs.
Winger Jared McCann has been working on the third line, which has been reconfigured this week with Mark Jankowski at center and Brandon Tanev at the other wing. McCann likes the versatility of the new line.
Hall of Fame broadcaster Mike Lange will not start the season in the Penguins radio booth, announcing yesterday that his doctors have told him it’s best to wait until he gets his covid-19 vaccination. Lange will make occasional between-periods phone visits and said he looks forward to his return, when he will begin his 46th season broadcasting Penguins hockey. Josh Getzoff has been doing Penguins road games with Phil Bourque the last two seasons while Lange has done home games. Getzoff will handle all of the radio work until Lange is back. Meantime, says Lange, Penguins fans should “Keep smilin’ like the butcher’s dog.”
Airtime for the Penguins’ opener tomorrow will be 4:30 on 92.5 FM, U92 and the U92 Sportschannel at U92radio.com.
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