The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are going to look pretty different next season.
Last season's head coach, Mike Vellucci, won't be back behind the bench after accepting an assistant coaching job with Pittsburgh. J.D. Forrest, an assistant coach with Wilkes-Barre the past four seasons, was named the new head coach in September. Wilkes-Barre's other assistant coach from last season, Jarrod Skalde, was not brought back and took on a head coaching job in the British league. Forrest's new assistants have not been hired yet.
Erik Heasley, who was Wilkes-Barre's director of operations and assistant general manager last year, is the current interim general manager of the team. Vellucci handled that role last year, and Jason Karmanos briefly served in that role this offseason before he was fired on Oct. 26.
On the ice, over half of the roster will be new to Wilkes-Barre next season, with several players making their professional debuts.
Here's a look at the new faces, which players won't be returning, and what the lineup could look like when the season begins.
ARRIVALS
F - Josh Currie: The right winger was signed to an NHL deal on the opening day of free agency. He put up 41 points in each of his past two AHL seasons, and played 21 NHL games with Edmonton in 2018-19.
F - Frederick Gaudreau: Another forward signed to an NHL deal, Gaudreau spent all of last season in the AHL with the Milwaukee Admirals. He spent time in the NHL with Nashville in the three previous seasons, including when the team made a 2017 run to the Stanley Cup Final against Pittsburgh. He can play both center and wing.
F - Jonathan Gruden: The forward prospect acquired in the Matt Murray trade, Gruden could either turn pro next year or potentially return to the OHL for an overage season. With the OHL possibly removing bodychecking for next season as a precaution due to coronavirus, the left winger is probably better off turning pro.
F - Drew O'Connor: He'll make his pro debut next season after signing an NHL contract with the Penguins following his two seasons at Dartmouth. The left winger scored over a point-per-game last season with 21 goals and 12 assists in 31 games.
F - Radim Zohorna: The Czech winger was signed to an NHL deal in the spring. He's on loan to his former Czech team right now but will move to North America when the season starts.
F - Zach Nastasiuk: He was signed to an AHL contract this summer after playing for San Antonio last season. He can play both center and wing.
F - Nick Schilkey: The right winger was signed to an AHL deal after playing with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers last season.
F - Luke Stevens: Kevin Stevens' son was signed to an AHL deal after spending the last four years at Yale.
F - Felix Robert: Samuel Poulin's center in the QMJHL was signed to an AHL contract this summer. He put up impressive numbers in juniors, with a lot of help from his strong supporting cast. He was planning on playing Canadian university hockey next season before the Penguins made an offer. With the forward depth for next season, I'd expect Robert to start the year in Wheeling.
D - Josh Maniscalco: He's the top right-handed defense prospect in the system now after signing out of Arizona State this summer. I'd expect him to spend the full year in the AHL.
D - Cam Lee: A left-handed defense prospect signed this summer, he's currently playing in Slovakia but will return to North America when the season starts.
D - Will Reilly: He'll make his pro debut after graduating from RPI this spring. The former seventh-round pick is a offensive, puck-moving right-handed defenseman who quarterbacked RPI's power play.
D - Jesper Lindgren: He was acquired in the Kasperi Kapanen trade and is currently on loan to Modo of Allsvenskan, the second Swedish league, but can return if needed for the start of the season. He played a third-pairing role with Toronto in the AHL last season.
D - Billy Sweezey: The Yale grad was signed to an AHL contract this summer and will make his pro debut when the season starts. He's a right-handed defensive defenseman.
G - Max Lagace: He signed an NHL deal and looks to be the first man up if Pittsburgh needs to recall a goaltender.
G - Shane Starrett - He signed an AHL contract and will likely be Wheeling's starter.
DEPARTURES
F - Riley Barber: The Washington, Pa., native was acquired last season from Montreal in the Joseph Blandisi/Jake Lucchini trade. He did not get re-signed and signed an NHL deal with the Red Wings this offseason.
F - Phil Varone: He was the other forward acquired in the Blandisi/Lucchini trade. He signed with Barys Nur-Sultan in the KHL this offseason.
F - Cole Cassels: Signed to an AHL deal midseason last year after his tryout contact with the Belleville Senators expired. He saw success on the top line with six goals and 13 assists in 28 games. This offseason he returned to the Senators on an AHL deal.
F - Ben Sexton: He was on an AHL deal last year and participated in Pittsburgh's training camp, but did not play all season due to lingering concussion issues. He retired this offseason at age 29.
D - Macoy Erkamps: He was a depth defenseman last year on an AHL deal. He signed an AHL deal with the Hershey Bears for next season.
D - Matt Abt: Had a solid rookie year in 2018-19, split last season between the AHL and ECHL. He signed an AHL deal with the Colorado Eagles.
D - John Nyberg: He was acquired midseason in the Oula Palve trade and only played in 16 games with Wilkes-Barre before the season shut down. He signed a multi-year deal with Brynas in the SHL.
D - David Warsofsky: He was Wilkes-Barre's captain last year, his third stint in the organization. He was traded to Toronto in the Kapanen trade.
STILL UNSIGNED
F - Thomas Di Pauli: Di Pauli's had bad luck with injuries throughout his time in the organization. I think he's a good depth piece to have when he's healthy, but I don't see him getting re-signed, given the number of forwards already on the roster. There's just no room.
F - Adam Johnson: Like Di Pauli, I think, Johnson is a good depth option to have, but I just don't see a place for him on the roster.
F - Jamie Devane: He's an enforcer, and skated in about half of Wilkes-Barre's games last year. I don't see him being re-signed.
F - Graham Knott: He was on an NHL deal last season, acquired midseason in the Joseph Cramarossa trade. He played 11 games with Wilkes-Barre and 18 in Wheeling after the trade, and was not given a qualifying offer this offseason.
F - Kevin Roy: Acquired midseason last year in the Ryan Haggerty trade. He played well after the trade, scoring 10 goals and 11 assists in 35 games. He might be looking for another NHL deal, which he won't get from the Penguins.
F - Ryan Scarfo: He was on an AHL deal last year and spent most of the year in Wheeling. He'd be good for Wheeling to have, but he doesn't have a spot on the AHL roster.
D - Michael Kim: Last season was his first pro season after being signed to an AHL deal out of Boston College. He split the year between the AHL and ECHL. If he's resigned, he'd likely end up in Wheeling due to the defensive depth.
G - Dustin Tokarski: Served well as a backup on an AHL deal last season. The goalies are pretty much set through the system for next season, so he won't be needed.
LINES
With so many new faces next season, it's hard to predict how the lines will shake out before we see how everyone fits together in training camp. But here's how the lines could look:
Sam Miletic - Frederick Gaudreau - Anthony Angello
Drew O'Connor - Jordy Bellerive - Jan Drozg
Jonathan Gruden - Zach Nastasiuk - Josh Currie
Justin Almeida - Chase Berger - Radim Zohorna
Pierre-Olivier Joseph - Zach Trotman
Kevin Czuczman - Josh Maniscalco
Cam Lee - Will Reilly/Jesper Lindgren
Max Lagace
Emil Larmi
Alex D'Orio
• I think it makes sense to carry three goaltenders. We don't know what the AHL's coronavirus testing protocols will be next season, but it might not be possible to recall a player and have him play the same day. For that reason, teams might need to carry around three goaltenders.
• Schilkey, Stevens, and Robert would be extra forwards or in the ECHL to start, and Jon Lizotte (left-handed D who was re-signed to an AHL deal) and Sweezey would be extra defensemen. I'd have Reilly and Lindgren rotating in last spot on the right side, if Lindgren does return to North America this season. If he or the organization think it is better for his development to have more regular playing time in the second Swedish league, he might just stay there for the rest of the year.
• If Anthony Angello is on Pittsburgh's roster to start, I'd bump Drozg and Currie up on the right side and put Schilkey in on the third line.
• Kasper Bjorkqvist has a full-season loan to KooKoo in Finland. KooKoo's announcement of the loan didn't mention if the agreement allows Bjorkqvist to return to North America when the AHL season starts, but given the depth at forward this year, it's probably best for Bjorkqvist to stay in Finland for the full year either way, where he's guaranteed a lot of playing time.
• Same goes for Niclas Almari. His loan agreement with the Pelicans might allow him to return, but given the depth at left D, he's best off staying in Finland. Regular playing time will be good for his confidence.
