Pair at the Point: A Pittsburgh Penguins Podcast

1. The Penguins have acquired Rickard Rakell from the Ducks for Aston-Reese, Simon, a 2022 2nd Rounder, and Calle Clang.Scorer in, defensive forward out2. Trades around the leagueFleury Giroux Chiarot Giordano 3. Metropolitan DivisionContinues to get better Challenging path ahead for all teams in the Metro, East Follow us on Twitter: @PairAtThePointPair at the Point Website: pairat

1. Secondary scoring2. Trade Deadline rumors3. Mark Friedman v. Marcus Petterson 4. WBS call-ups and what that means for players like Kapanen and SimonFollow us on Twitter: @PairAtThePointPair at the Point Website: pairatthepoint.transistor.fm/Follow The FHN: @theFHNThe FHN Website: thefhn.net

Crosby's 500th Goal Play of the Penguins top line Secondary scoring troubles and trade deadline rumors Follow us on Twitter: @PairAtThePointPair at the Point Website: pairatthepoint.transistor.fm/Follow The FHN: @theFHNThe FHN Website: thefhn.net

1. Jake Guentzel turns it around2. Marcus Petterson's play3. Scoring needs from Kapanen and Zucker4. Jarry/DeSmith play so farFollow us on Twitter: @PairAtThePointPair at the Point Website: pairatthepoint.transistor.fm/Follow The FHN: @theFHNThe FHN Website: thefhn.net

1. Analysis from the last four games.Panthers Blackhawks Stars Maple Leafs 2. Standouts3. Players who have more to give.Follow us on Twitter: @PairAtThePointPair at the Point Website: pairatthepoint.transistor.fm/Follow The FHN: @theFHNThe FHN Website: thefhn.net

Pre-season Wrapped UpDrew O'Connor not making the 23 man roster. Brian Boyle contract First Game TakeawaysNo Crosby, Malkin, Guentzel, ZAR Defensive play Heinen's debut

Training Camp cuts PracticeDrills Dump-in, puck retrieval, two-on-ones Interesting Practice CombosZAR-Blueger-McGinn Letang-Joseph Interesting playersDrozg ScrimmageTeam Black vs. Team White LinesZucker-Zohorna-Kapanen Zucker-Rodrigues-Kapanen Guentzal-Carter-Heinen Boyle practicing with Rust DefenseMarino Matheson Other players to mentionPoulin Legare Riikola Lindberg Bjorkqvist P

1. Development Camp RosterOffenseJustin Almeida (LW) Raivis Ansons (LW) Shaw Boomhower (LW) Jonathan Gruden (C) Filip Hallander (LW) Sam Houde (C) Nathan Legare (RW) Kyle Olson (RW) Sam Poulin (LW) Valtteri Puustinen (RW) Felix Robert (LW) Lukas Svejkovsky (RW) Josh Williams (RW) DefenseNiclas Almari Isaac Belliveau Cam Lee Dylan MacPherson Josh Maniscalco Chris Merisier-Ortiz Ryan

PLAY STYLEFast, agile, and surprisingly physical Aggressive pinches and cross-ice passing decisions Limited shooting ability. PAST TO PRESENTCareer overview, improvements defensively in last few seasons Performance trajectory for next season? Beyond? EXPECTATIONSPairing stability with Dumoulin Injury factor Point projections? Defensive performance?

Season Statistics - Then and Now2017-18: 64 points in 82 games played - .78 points per game 2018-19: 42 points in 81 games played - .52 points per game 2019-20: 41 points in 60 games played - .68 points per game 2020-21: 18 points in 38 games played - .47 points per game Playoff Performances2017-18: 0 points in 5 games played - 0 points per game 2018-19: No playoffs 2019-20: 2 poin