In my excitement over Jeff Taffe being signed, I failed to recognize that Pascal Dupuis is signed to the Penguins next season. Wow.

Thanks to a good friend of mine for pointing it out (We all know I’m new at this).

No one goes from the first line to the American Hockey League. Therefore, My third line will once again change.

Dupuis – Talbot – Kennedy

Pascal Dupuis

Start Janne Pesonen in Wilkes-Barre. He will benefit from the time in the AHL and hopefully will work his way to Pittsburgh quickly.

Tyler Kennedy would be the other option, but he proved too much last season. When Pens fans saw player after player fall to injury, Kennedy was one of the big surprises that helped the team stay afloat.

And in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Kennedy showed that he belonged. He is lightning quick and hustles more than anyone on the team.

Even without Pesonen, this line is still fast and hard working. Dupuis is quick and hustles, which matches up directly with Maxime Talbot and Kennedy.

I would expect Pesonen to find his way in to the lineup as the season progresses though. If Kennedy’s play slips up we could see Pesonen earlier than expected.