Given the option, yeah, Penguins coach Mike Johnston probably would prefer to be close to his opening-night lineup by now.
“As a coach, you always want to get your team [finalized] fast,” he said.
Makes sense. It’s easier to focus on details and to fine-tune game plans when you’re working with a smaller group.
But that isn’t a viable option for the Penguins. Not for a few more days, anyway.
For while many NHL clubs have trimmed their training-camp rosters into the mid-30s — or even the mid-20s — the Penguins still are carrying 49 players.