2024-25 Penguins’ Lineup Project: Depth Forward
The 13th man won’t be a lineup regular but will still be asked to contribute.
Stick taps all around for Noel Acciari who makes the opening night roster as voted by the fans, claiming the right wing slot on the fourth line alongside Blake Lizotte and Lars Eller, beating out Sam Poulin and Jesse Puljujarvi in the voting.
That gives us four complete lines featuring a nice mix of familiar names with a few new faces thrown in as well. Most of the change came in the bottom-six of the lineup, with all six players on the first two lines being returners from last season.
Drew O’Connor - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust
Michael Bunting - Evgeni Malkin - Rickard Rakell
Anthony Beauvillier - Kevin Hayes - Valtteri Puustinen
Blake Lizotte - Lars Eller - Noel Acciari
Depth forward
LD1 / Erik Karlsson
LD2 / Kris Letang
LD3 / RD3
Depth defender
Goalie 1
Goalie 2
With all four lines now sorted for next season, let’s take a look at the Penguins candidates to play for role of 13th forward for the upcoming campaign. In all likelihood, whoever is selected as the depth forward for this squad won’t play a make-or-break role for the Penguins this coming season, but they will no doubt be called upon at some point to step in and eat minutes.
Due to the nature of this position being more or a fill-in role, we’re going to pass over including some of the more intriguing prospect names in the Penguins system since it’s likely the front office and coaching staff will rather have them getting consistent game action in the minors rather than sitting in the press box in Pittsburgh.
In the second half of last season, this role was filled primarily by newcomer Jesse Puljujarvi so he leads this list of candidates, but interestingly enough, he finished behind Sam Poulin in voting for the right wing spot on the forth line so perhaps its Poulin who fans wish to see more than another depth veteran.
This isn’t the first time Poulin has been an option for one of these depth slots, and each time his name is brought up it has been followed by the thought that at some point it has to be a make-or-break moment for the former first round pick. Perhaps this is that time.
After Pulujuarvi and Poulin, the options become your run of the mill depth guys who could either be the 13th forward or earn a fourth line spot if everything goes right in training camp.
Matt Nieto spent most of last season on the sidelines injured but there was hope he could be a valuable fourth line piece when he first signed. There’s every chance he battles and makes the opening roster but he’s also a prime candidate for a demotion if it doesn’t work out.
Rounding out the group is Emil Bemstrom and Jonathan Gruden. Bemstrom was a late addition last year and reupped with the Penguins for another season. Gruden has been an AHL mainstay for the Penguins and made his NHL debut last season. Both should see NHL playing time this season at some point.