Penguins’ head coach Mike Sullivan has been dealt a major blow as the team confirmed that forward Boko Imama and, surprisingly, defenseman Sebastian Aho will not be part of the opening roster for the upcoming season. The Penguins made the tough decision to place both players on waivers, leaving fans shocked, especially with Aho’s unexpected exclusion from the starting lineup.
As the team prepares to finalize its opening night roster, the move leaves the future of Imama and Aho in limbo. If they clear waivers, both players will have the option to be sent to the AHL, but their potential absence raises concerns about the team’s depth and balance heading into the season.
The decision also solidifies the inclusion of bubble players such as forward Valtteri Puustinen and defenseman Ryan Shea on the NHL roster. Shea, in particular, has impressed during training camp and seems to have carved out a spot on the roster, pushing Aho out despite the latter’s experience. Shea’s rise mirrors that of former depth player Chad Ruhwedel, showing his staying power within the Penguins’ defensive setup.
However, the Penguins’ roster remains clouded by salary cap complications and the uncertain status of injured players. The team may still need to make additional moves before submitting the final lineup to the NHL.
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Potential options include sending prospects like Rutger McGroarty and Jack St. Ivany to the AHL as part of a “paper move” to temporarily adjust the roster for cap compliance. Injured players like Matt Nieto and Alex Nedeljkovic are expected to be placed on long-term injured reserve (LTIR), which could also provide some salary cap relief.
While the Penguins have several routes to navigate their roster and salary cap challenges, the absence of both Imama and Aho has left fans with questions about the team’s final look as they approach the regular season.
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