We now know the players for the first game tomorrow (Monday) when the Penguins head up to Montreal.
FORWARDS
12 – Robby Fabbri
14 – Boko Imama
15 – Joona Koppanen
18 – Tommy Novak
22 – Sam Poulin
26 – Tristan Broz
39 – Anthony Mantha
43 – Danton Heinen
48 – Valtteri Puustinen
49 – Rafael Harvey-Pinard
81 – Ben Kindel
84 – Atley Calvert
85 – Avery HayesDEFENSE
5 – Ryan Shea 24 – Matt Dumba 27 – Ryan Graves 38 – Owen
Pickering 45 – Harrison Brunicke 50 – Finn Harding 75 – Connor Clifton
GOALIES
1 – Sergei Murashov
30 – Joel Blomqvist
It’s very much a first preseason game on the road roster, but it’s not exactly a poor group of names either. There are no 2025 draft picks, save first rounder Ben Kindel. There’s three forwards in Tommy Novak, Anthony Mantha and Danton Heinen that one would think have a really good chance of making the NHL lineup as long as they emerge from training camp with health. The rest is a mostly mixed unit of some players that could be mid-season callups (Boko Imama, Joona Koppanen, Valtteri Puustinen, Sam Poulin), a couple young ascending players (Tristan Broz, Avery Hayes) and then of course Robby Fabbri who is hoping to turn his tryout into a contract with a strong training camp.
The defensive group chosen is probably more intriguing than the forwards. Finn Harding won’t be an NHL factor but the other six names in the group are all gunning for roster spots. Heavy contracts may keep veterans Matt Dumba, Ryan Graves and Connor Clifton in the NHL but youngsters in Owen Pickering and Harrison Brunicke are right there gunning to make headway. Ryan Shea is always the forgotten about player from the outside, but one who also usually has a knack for playing his way into the good graces of his coaches. Brunicke starred in four preseason games last year, it looks like right off the bat from the first preseason game that it will be the start of another extended look by the Pens to determine whether Brunicke shows them he is ready to start the season in the NHL. Brunicke made the most of the opportunity last season and now he’s looking to do the same a year later and hope to change the end result by forcing the team to make an uncomfortable decision (with the intrigue being potentially at the expense of one of Dumba, Graves or Clifton).
The goalies picked should make this a fun game. Sergei Murashov has drawn rave reviews in early camp action, as he almost always does – in part due to style. Murashov is so athletic, active and eye-catching that he’s the rare goalie who stands out a lot to observers and demands attention based on how he goes about his business. Which isn’t to say the praise and attention is unwarranted, but he usually is going to get talked about a lot just based on how he plays. On the opposite end of the spectrum, there’s been little written or much said about Blomqvist – who does not typically capture the imagination of observers, but who is a sound and proficient goalie in his own right. There’s been no announced plan on the goaltenders officially, however in early preseason games it usually gets planned ahead of time to get both goalies into the game action.
As of press time, I haven’t seen an announced lineup yet for the host Canadiens. Given that it’s their first game too, it likely won’t be a very star-studded group of players either as the season gets into its very early beginnings.
For the Pens, it’ll be worth watching to see what players like Murashov, Brunicke, Pickering, Hayes and Broz can put out there. All of them are trying to make their cases and put themselves out for evaluation to start moving up the ranks within the organization. A single preseason game isn’t going to make or break any of them, but the opportunities can be quick and limited on the NHL stage.
