KEEP JUUSO RIIKOLA
ON
On Tuesday, the Penguins officially finalized their
23-man roster in advance of their regular season opener on Thursday without
having to make any hard decisions...yet.
Training camp phenom Juuso Riikola earned a well fought
for spot, taking advantage of an injured non-roster designation for goaltender
Tristan Jarry. Other notables are right-winger Daniel Sprong, left-winger
Dominik Simon, and center Derek Grant, who the Penguins acquired over the offseason.
The Penguins will suit up 13 forwards, eight defensemen,
and two goalies heading into their home opener with the reigning champion
Washington Capitals.
On Sunday, Pittsburgh opted to send forward Zach
Aston-Reese, who had a less than impressive camp after returning from a broken
jaw, and defenseman Zach Trotman down to the Wilkes-Barre/Penguins in the AHL,
leaving Jarry’s status open-ended until now. The lower-body injury he sustained
in the Penguins preseason finale against the Blue Jackets has effectively taken
him out of contention. Jarry also hasn’t practiced since Friday, September 28.
Once his health is regained, it’s likely he’ll also be sent down to
Wilkes-Barre, as he neither had a better preseason than Casey DeSmith, nor
would need clear waivers as he passes through.
That leaves Brian Dumoulin, who is still nursing an
upper-body injury and is considered day-to-day by Mike Sullivan. He is listed
on the opening night roster as of now, but it’s unclear whether or not he’ll
get the green light come puck drop.
THE FINAL ROSTER IS AS FOLLOWS
FORWARDS
Sidney Crosby, Jake Guentzel, Patric Hornqvist, Evgeni
Malkin, Phil Kessel, Carl Hagelin, Derick Brassard, Simon, Bryan Rust, Matt
Cullen, Riley Sheahan, Sprong, Grant
DEFENSEMEN
Kris Letang, Dumoulin, Olli Maatta, Jack Johnson, Jamie
Oleksiak, Chad Ruhwedel, Justin Schultz, Riikola
GOALTENDERS
Matt Murray, DeSmith
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