Here’s an excerpt from my latest Trib column:
When injury creates a spot in the top six, give Samuel Poulin a shot. The Penguins took Poulin in the first round of the 2019 draft because he racked up points in junior hockey. They’ve since tried to turn him into a checker without even seeing if he can produce at the NHL level. He’s 21. It’s a bit early to do that.
To read the entire column, click HERE.
By way of expanding on that, the Penguins promoted winger Filip Hallander from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Monday.
Not only would I like to see Poulin get a chance playing in the top six, I want to see Hallander get decent minutes at Washington on Wednesday night.
It might not make much tangible difference. But Coach Mike Sullivan should give different, younger players a chance to inject energy and adrenaline instead of relying solely on the same old guys who have been doing nothing but losing to somehow manufacture energy and adrenaline out of their backsides.
Different isn’t always better.
But it can be. At least it’s different. Hallander can't do worse than Kasperi Kapanen.
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