Penguins Notebook: New Lines, Players on Chopping Block

Faced with injuries to Ben Kindel and Blake Lizotte, Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Muse shuffled the team's lineup on Friday, Friday marking a dress rehearsal for the team's final preseason game in Buffalo on Saturday. As part of the roster reduction, the Penguins cut seven players, including Avery Hayes, and re-allocated the Ruck twins to Medicine Hat of the WHL.

Among the players not sent down to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins were young talent Rutger McGroarty, Tristan Broz, and Owen Pickering. Coach Muse indicated that these players would soon be removed from the main group.

Ville Koivunen continued to play on the third line, taking regular shifts, while Bill Zonnon and Harrison Brunicke remained in the main group. Koivunen was on the second power play, while Zonnon worked in sparingly during drills. The biggest change in depth chart positioning due to injuries was Hendrix Lapierre, who took over as the third line center, alongside Nick Robertson, who was inserted at the penalty kill position.