Pittsburgh Penguins Joe Vitale Looking to Stick Around for Good
By Matt Shetler
If anything good came from the slew of injuries the Pittsburgh Penguins suffered last season, it’s the fact that a lot of young guys got a little taste of what NHL hockey is all about.
While guys like Dustin Jeffery and Mark Letestu certainly took advantage of the playing time, other guys impressed as well getting much less of a look.
One of those guys was center Joe Vitale who immediately looked like he belonged in an NHL uniform.
Vitale got a nine game look last season, scoring a goal and assisting on another. He did enough good things during his call up to leave an impression with head coach Dan Bylsma.
He then took that experience and along with a solid training camp, earned a spot on the Penguins opening night roster.
After four games, he’s making the case that Pittsburgh should be his home for a while.
Vitale had a two-point game Tuesday night in the Penguins 4-2 win over the Florida Panthers and simply was one of the best players on the ice. while it’s only four games into the season, he’s looked good in every one and will eventually force the team into some tough decisions.
He’s averaging a point a game to this point and while that certainly won’t continue, the other things he does on the ice is worth noticing.
Vitale is skating well, not afraid to get physical and has a knack for being in the right place at the right time. He’s also done a surprisingly good job in the faceoff circle, which should lead to increased minutes for the rookie.
While things certainly can change in the upcoming weeks, right now Vitale is a guy who can’t be sent down to the minors when the Penguins finally get healthy.
With the news that Sidney Crosby has been cleared for contact in practice, his return could possibly be less than a month away. With Crosby and Jeffrey both currently on injured reserve, some roster moves will be necessary whenever they both return to the lineup.
Before the season began, Vitale would likely be the logical choice, but right now he’s making the case that he belongs up with the big club. If he continues to play at a high level, he will make the decision very tough for Bylsma and general manager Ray Shero.
By that time though injuries will likely play a role on roster decisions, but what if the Pens are completely healthy? Who’s the odd man out?
Could it even be possible that Vitale’s early success has made that guy Letestu? That would have been unthinkable a season ago, but it very well could be.
Having too much talent is a problem every NHL team would love to have, so while decisions on young players like Vitale and Letestu may seem difficult to make, many GM’s around the league wish they had problems like this to deal with.
So keep your eye on both Vitale and Letestu during the upcoming weeks. They are both out on the ice to prove they belong in a Penguins uniform.
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