We move to the middle for the last center spot in the lineup
Our mission to craft the best possible lineup heading into the 2024-25 season continues with the crucial spot down the middle.
Drew O’Connor - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust
Michael Bunting - Evgeni Malkin - Rickard Rakell
Anthony Beauvillier - Kevin Hayes - Valtteri Puustinen
Blake Lizotte - C4 - RW4
Depth forward
LD1 / Erik Karlsson
LD2 / Kris Letang
LD3 / RD3
Depth defender
Goalie 1
Goalie 2
To my dismay for a lack of drama, this vote should be a formality. Lars Eller is a legitimate NHL center and a solid, responsible player. By all rights, this should be his spot if he’s still on Pittsburgh’s roster next season.
However, we’re going to have some fun and try anyways. Because, under the surface, there are a lot of credible options on the table here.
Vasily Ponomarev is right on the door. Acquired from Carolina in the Jake Guentzel trade, Ponomarev, 22, is accomplished at the AHL level and has two points in two NHL games. Kyle Dubas said at the time of the trade that Ponomarev was on the precipice of an NHL call-up to Pittsburgh once the youngster got his feet wet and introduced to the organization in Wilkes, only to see him suffer a nasty high ankle sprain in March that derailed him.
Sam Poulin is still around and he’s got to be knocking on the door somewhere. Considering a legit and established fourth liner in Blake Lizotte is already around, the Pens might be able to get away with breaking Poulin in here. Not that it’s likely to happen, but if it had to, it wouldn’t be the worst outcome in the world.
Not listed today will be Noel Acciari. Acciari has played center but at soon-to-be 33-years old, that’s not his best use this season. Dubas indicated a benefit of adding centers like Lizotte and Kevin Hayes would mean that Acciari could shift to wing as a 5v5 role.
Tristan Broz has played center and wing as of late, let’s throw him in the mix here, because, sure why not?
We will list a 19-year old as well. Yager is still perhaps green and under-sized for an NHL center but his talent and two-way ability and upside is too much to not grant as an option.
In all likelihood, the chalk option of Eller is probably the right one. But it’s also the community’s call right now. Everyone wants to see young players ascend, right? Let’s see if one will.
