CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- Could the Penguins new third-line left wing be Riley Sheahan, the same guy who, up until last Friday's trade for Derick Brassard, looked to be the third-line center?
Or could it be Conor Sheary, the guy who started as the third-line wing with Brassard and Phil Kessel on Tuesday night, but didn't finish there in the Penguins' 3-2 loss to the Devils?
Or could it be a minor-league call-up, perhaps Dominik Simon, who played 28 games there this season, recording 11 points? Or could it be -- gasp -- Daniel Sprong?
It could be any or none of the above. The Penguins haven't announced a roster move yet, but Mike Sullivan will have some options as he will look to fill the void left by Zach Aston-Reese.
Sullivan revealed Wednesday that the rookie is out "longer-term" after suffering an upper body injury in practice two days earlier. That same practice at the Lemieux Sports Complex also claimed Matt Murray, who is out with a concussion after taking an Olli Maatta shot to the facemask.
If Wednesday's practice is any indication, Sheary will be given another crack at replacing Aston-Reese. The problem is that he has just two goals since the start of the New Year but none in his last 12. On Tuesday, he had a golden opportunity ... but the puck bounced over his stick:
That's just the kind of misfortune Sheary has had since signing a three-year, $9 million contract extension last summer after helping the Penguins to their second straight Cup, contributing to it with 53 points in 61 games. This season he has just 22 points -- 12 goals -- in 61 games, stirring rumors that he was possibly on the trading block before Monday's deadline.
"I certainly don't feel like I'm useless out there," Sheary said of his lack of production.
Perhaps a return to his native Boston for Thursday's game against the Bruins could change his luck?
"I'm hoping so," Sheary said. "It's a frustrating time for my personal play right now. I just have to stick to the little things and keep working hard and keep competing and hopefully things will go my way."
Clearly, Sheary -- a streaky scorer by nature -- had his confidence shaken and Sullivan says it's his job to help him get it back. Sheary has been given ample opportunity, including a spot on the top line with Sidney Crosby, but his lack of production continued.
"We're trying to put him in a position to be successful," the coach said. "That's part of my responsibility and certainly our conversations with Conor recently have been about simplifying the game and taking some of the the thinking out of it. These players are proud guys, accomplished guys. Sometimes they try too hard when it doesn't go their way out there."
But if Sheary falters, the Penguins may turn back to Sheahan, who took seven shifts on a line with Brassard Tuesday against the Devils.
Sheahan last played the wing last season with the Red Wings and says he's ready to go back in if called upon. For him, he says the only thing that changes is the defensive zone coverage and on the breakout.
"It's pretty similar," Sheahan told me. "You kind of keep the same mindset and be conscious in your D-zone. The thing that's different is taking the puck off the wall and just being in a different spot on the ice when you have to make plays in the D zone. It's something I'm comfortable with and something I'll get used to if I have to play there."
Clearly, Sheahan is the hotter hand, albeit at center. Since Jan. 23, a stretch of 15 games, Sheahan has 10 points (four goals), including this one Feb. 18 at Columbus, his second of two against the Blue Jackets:
If Tuesday night showed anything, it's that Sheary is on a short leash and Sullivan won't hesitate to mix things up if the situation calls for it, even if that means Sheahan at the wing.
"He's a real versatile player," Sullivan said. "I think that's a bonus for our team. It gives us more options moving forward. Riley's played a lot of good hockey for us here, and certainly he's a big part of this team. I've got to make sure that I keep him involved and giving him the minutes he needs to be successful and be the player that he's been for us."
NEWS AND NOTES
• Phil Kessel did not practice with a maintenance day. He took hard falls Friday night Carolina and again Tuesday against the Devils.
• Sullivan had no update on Murray's status.
• Before shipping up to Boston later Wednesday afternoon, the Penguins held a brief practice at the Lemieux Sports Complex. Here were the line combinations and pairs:
Guentzel-Crosby-Rust
Hagelin-Malkin-Hornqvist
Sheary-Brassard-(Recchi)
Kuhnhackl-Sheahan-Rowney
Dumoulin-Letang
Maatta-Schultz
Hunwick-Oleksiak