Penguins announce season-opening roster

The Penguins announced their roster to open the 2021-22 season.

It includes:

Forwards: Zach Aston-Reese, Teddy Blueger, Jeff Carter, Sidney Crosby, Jake Guentzel, Danton Heinen, Kasperi Kapanen, Sam Lafferty, Evgeni Malkin, Brock McGinn, Evan Rodrigues, Bryan Rust, Dominik Simon, Jason Zucker

Defensemen: Brian Dumoulin, Mark Friedman, Kris Letang, John Marino, Mike Matheson, Marcus Pettersson, Chad Ruhwedel

Goaltenders: Casey DeSmith, Tristan Jarry

The team also assigned forwards Anthony Angello, Drew O’Connor and Radim Zohorna to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL). It is believed at least one of those maneuvers was a paper transaction for the benefit of the team’s salary cap figure. Presumably, a minimum of one of those players will be recalled to the NHL roster Tuesday, the first day of the NHL’s calendar for the season.

During practice Monday in Cranberry, O’Connor skated on the team’s fourth line.

Malkin likely will be placed on long-term injured reserve Tuesday. He is recovering from offseason surgery to his right knee. General manager Ron Hextall has indicated Malkin will miss at least the first two months of the season because of his ailment.

Forward Brian Boyle remains unsigned but is expected to agree formally to a one-year contract for the league minimum of $750,000. He attended the team’s recently completed training camp on a professional tryout contract. In four preseason games, he had no points. During Monday’s practice, Boyle centered the fourth line.

Crosby (left wrist) as well as Aston-Reese and Guentzel (covid-19) have each been ruled out for Tuesday’s season opener, a road contest against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

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