For the second consecutive year, young Pittsburgh Penguins’ defensemen P.O. Joseph and Ty Smith will likely duke it out during training camp for a spot on the NHL roster.
Both Joseph and Smith have attributes that could push the Penguins back to the postseason, but they’re both left shot defenders and are at about the same level in the depth chart.
The two have NHL-level skill, but if they are still in Pittsburgh come training camp, it’s likely only one of them can stay.
Last year, there was a common consensus that Smith won the battle in camp and was more deserving of the NHL roster spot.
Smith would have slotted in on the third pairing and likely could have brought a great deal of offense to the Penguins’ blue line.
Salary cap issues and the waiver wire got in the way, however, and the final defensive position was given to Joseph, while Smith was sent off the the AHL where he would spend a majority of the 2022-23 season.
Smith was called the the NHL for nine games and scored four points last season, and definitely has what it takes to be a regular.
So does Joseph, however; in his first full season at the NHL level, Joseph played in 75 games and produced 21 points.
More so, Joseph looked supremely confident game in and game out; it was noticeable that him losing the battle during camp was just a fluke.
Heading into 2023 Training Camp, however, it looks like those two will dueling for NHL time once again.
This call for a second round does, however, assume neither will be traded away if the Penguins end up landing Erik Karlsson from the San Jose Sharks.
A high-level young defenseman might be part of the ask, and both Joseph and Smith fit that bill.
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