Penguins notebook: Penguins give Sam Poulin a look at center

During the Pittsburgjh Penguins’ 3-0 home loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets in their preseason opener at PPG Paints Arena, there was little of note that happened from an offensive standpoint for the home team despite 28 shots and five power-play opportunities.

One of the lone exceptions was forward Sam Poulin and how he was deployed.

Listed as a right winger, Poulin was used as a center on a number of occasions during the game, particularly on the top power-play unit, albeit in a lineup missing most of the franchise’s projected NHL regulars.

Poulin, the team’s first-round pick (No. 21 overall) in 2019, was 6 for 8 (75%) on faceoffs, including 4 for 5 (80%) during power-play scenarios.

Additionally, during practices in Cranberry on Wednesday and Thursday, Poulin skated as part of a group of players expected to open the season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL).

While the Penguins are dealing with a deficit at the center position because of injuries that will sideline superstars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin to open the season, it might be premature to assume the 20-year-old Poulin will be moving to the pivot on a permanent basis.

“He’s played that position. He’s played all the (forward) positions,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “We certainly envision him playing on the wing. It’s never a bad scenario for any player to have the ability to play multiple positions. That versatility, I think, is a great asset or a great attribute for a player to have. Sam has a comfort level there. … We can move Sam into the middle in certain situations, and that versatility is, in my mind, very valuable.”

Last season, Poulin was deployed at center for the Val-d’Or Foreurs during the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) postseason and was productive in that role as he collected 19 points (11 goals, eight assists) in 14 playoff games.

Lineup announced

The Penguins announced their lineup for Friday’s preseason road game against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center.

It will include:

Forwards: Anthony Angello, Jordy Bellerive, Kasper Bjorkqvist, Michael Chaput, Jonathan Gruden, Kasperi Kapanen, Nathan Legare, Drew O’Connor, Kyle Olson, Poulin, Valtteri Puustinen, Dominik Simon, Radim Zohorna

Defensemen: Niclas Almari, Matt Bartkowski, Taylor Fedun, Marcus Pettersson, Will Reilly, Mitch Reinke,

Goaltenders: Casey DeSmith, Louis Domingue

Zohorna returns

After sitting out practice Tuesday because of an unspecified illness that was not related to covid-19, Zohorna was on the ice Wednesday. He skated in the team’s second session, which primarily involves players expected to open the season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Last week, Zohorna had been centering a line with two of the team’s top six wingers: Kasperi Kapanen and Jason Zucker.

Sullivan cautioned against reading too much into any apparent “demotion” for Zohorna.

“It’s more the illness,” Sullivan said. “We’re just trying to get him back on the ice and see where he’s at. … Nothing’s etched in stone, for sure. Those groups can change.

“He is a guy, potentially, that we could play in an offensive role. That’s why we put him with some of the guys that we put him with early I the camp. Whether or not it ends up that way remains to be seen.”

Other health updates

Forward Zach Aston-Reese was absent from practice for the second consecutive day after testing positive for covid-19 earlier this week. Sullivan described his symptoms as “mild.” Per NHL rules, Aston-Reese must isolate while in the league’s protocols.

After skating in a noncontact capacity Wednesday, forward prospect Filip Hallander had no restrictions Thursday. He missed the first handful of days of training camp because of an undisclosed injury.

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