A week ago today, the Penguins played their preseason opener against the Blue Jackets, dressing a very prospect-heavy lineup.
Eight players in the game -- forwards Sam Poulin, Nathan Legare, Jonathan Gruden, Justin Almeida, Jordy Bellerive, Jan Drozg, defenseman Cam Lee, and goaltender Filip Lindberg -- have yet to make their regular-season NHL debuts. Of that group, all but Poulin, Legare, and Bellerive were playing in their first NHL preseason game of their careers.
The Penguins lost to the Blue Jackets in that game, 3-0, but as I wrote in the game story that night, a number of the young rookies made a positive impression in the loss.