CRANBERRY, Pa. -- The Penguins' 23-man regular-season roster has been submitted to the NHL office.
It's safe to assume that it was written in pencil.
That's because it is almost certain to change before their regular-season opener Tuesday at 7:38 p.m. in Tampa. Brian Boyle, you see, still has not officially signed a contract. When he does, someone will have to be removed from the roster to open a spot for him.
Moving Evgeni Malkin from the roster to injured-reserve or the Long Term Injured list would appear to be the move there. But Ron Hextall might have to do something more if Sidney Crosby, Jake Guentzel and Zach Aston-Reese are unable to dress for the game against the Lightning and the Penguins plan to use 12 forwards. Hextall could place someone on injured-reserve or assign a player to Wilkes-Barre to bring up a forward from Wilkes-Barre.
In any case, here's a look at the players currently on the 23-man roster, as well as one who seems likely to join it in the next day.
CENTERS
Teddy Blueger -- He's already a reliable third- or fourth-liner, and could take on top-six duties at some point in his career if his offensive game and faceoff ability remain on their current upward trajectory.
Brian Boyle (unsigned) -- The Penguins likely have to make a move or two to clear the salary-cap space needed to sign him, but based on his performance during camp, it will be worth the trouble. He brings size, experience, a degree of physicality and strong penalty-killing.
Jeff Carter -- It's probably not realistic to expect him to produce points the way he did after being acquired from Los Angeles at the trade, but Carter's offensive ability and faceoff acumen make him a top-six tourniquet the Penguins are fortunate to have, given their injuries at center.
Sidney Crosby -- Crosby, who is recovering from wrist surgery, was a limited participant in practice iMonday, which is some of the best news the Penguins have gotten in quite a while, since he arguably is the best 200-foot player in the game. He's been skating for weeks, so conditioning shouldn't be an issue. Once he gets medical clearance to play, look for him to be in uniform. (Best wishes to the person who would have to tell him he's not in the lineup after he gets that clearance.)
Evgeni Malkin (injured) -- When he returns from offseason knee surgery -- and how effectively he plays -- should prove to be one of the key variables in determining how successful the Penguins' season is. When he's healthy and teams with Crosby, the Penguins still have a 1-2 punch in the middle that few teams can match.
Evan Rodrigues -- With Crosby's return getting closer, Rodrigues' job as a placeholder for Malkin on the second line -- Carter presumably will assume that role when Crosby returns -- might be brief, but he should be a capable fill-in for as long as necessary. He's not spectacular, but is solid and versatile.
WINGERS
Zach Aston-Reese -- A mild case of COVID-19 disrupted his preparation for the season, and could prevent him from playing until he gets back in game shape. Aston-Reese doesn't produce many headlines or highlights, but is a sound blue-collar winger and penalty-killer.
Jake Guentzel -- A positive COVID-19 diagnosis sidelined him for the final week of camp and, although he is asymptomatic, will keep him out of the lineup for at least one game. His promising prognosis is important, because losing a guy who can be penciled in for 30-plus goals for an extended stretch would be big for a team already missing Crosby and Malkin.
Danton Heinen -- He had a pretty good camp and looks as if he can move up and down the lineup, as needed. Heinen also seems to have some still-undeveloped offensive talent.
Kasperi Kapanen -- This guy is a breakout season just waiting to happen. He'll miss not having Malkin as his center until at least December, because their games seem to mesh nicely, but he should be good for 30 goals. Especially if he gets significant time on the No. 1 power play.
Sam Lafferty -- Entering his fourth full season as a pro, Lafferty could be approaching a make-or-break point with the organization. He has good size and enough skill that he could solidify his place on the depth chart if he consistently performs at the level of which he is capable.
Brock McGinn -- As the Penguins' most prominent free-agent addition during the offseason, he'll be counted on to salve some of the sting of Brandon Tanev's departure. And while his style isn't the same as Tanev's, his impact could be.
Bryan Rust -- Rust never seems to be short on motivation, but if he needed a little extra incentive, the opportunity to test the market as an unrestricted free agent should provide it. He can do it all -- and generally does.
Dominik Simon -- After accepting a two-way contract to rejoin the Penguins, Simon produced a strong showing in training camp and made a compelling case to be on the Opening Night roster. His inability to consistently score goals when playing alongside Crosby frustrated much of the fan base, but Mike Sullivan always has appreciated his versatility and overall sound game.
Jason Zucker -- He never has had the offensive impact the Penguins were seeking when they got him from Minnesota. If Zucker ever is going to score as expected, doing it when the Penguins have some notable absences on their top two lines would be a good time.
DEFENSEMEN
Brian Dumoulin -- His personal stats aren't going to dazzle, but Dumoulin's defensive play gives Kris Letang the latitude get involved in the offense when he detects an opportunity. Predictably, Dumoulin's play in his own end
Mark Friedman -- Still something of an unknown commodity, since he only got into five games after being claimed off waivers from Philadelphia last season, Friedman figures to be the first guy in line when an injury or slump opens a spot on the blue line.
Kris Letang -- At age 34, Letang can still do it all -- and do it very well. He just hasn't been able to do it all the time. When he does, however, he can have an impact that few defensemen in the league can equal.
John Marino -- He likely would prefer to forget much of his sophomore season, but he showed as a rookie that he can play at a high level. His strong defensive play makes him the ideal partner for Mike Matheson, but don't be surprised if Marino's blend of skill and instincts allows him to make more than an infrequent appearance on the scoresheet.
Mike Matheson -- His career is back on track after spending a season with the Penguins, but there's still room for growth in his game, especially defensively. If he can exorcise some of the flaws from his defensive game, Matheson could secure his place here as a top-four guy for a lot of years.
Marcus Pettersson -- Like Marino, his usual partner last season, Pettersson had a subpar 2020-21. It's not a stretch to suggest he could rebound this winter, although it will be difficult for him to rise above the third pairing unless there are injuries. There should be a market for him if Ron Hextall would decide to explore possible trades.
Chad Ruhwedel -- After years of being a good depth guy, it looks as if he'll be taking a regular shift at the start of the season, opposite Pettersson on the No. 3 pairing. It will be interesting to see how he handles the enhanced workload.
GOALIES
Casey DeSmith -- DeSmith accepts his backup role without complaint -- an underrated trait in a No. 2 goalie -- which is an indication that he has the right mindset for the role. However, he also has shown that he can play at a high enough level that he could be the every-day goalie for a significant stretch if circumstances demanded it.
Tristan Jarry -- He could put up 20 shutouts during the regular season, and his 2021-22 still will be judged solely by how he performs in the playoffs. Which, for the go-to goalie on a team that professes it intends to compete for another Stanley Cup, is as it should be.
