Practice Report

Pascal Dupuis will have a new role with the Penguins next week. 

Coach Mike Johnston said after this morning’s practice that it’s imperative Dupuis stay heavily involved with the team while he undergoes treatment for the blood clot in his lung. The plan is put together a job description by next week, and see how it works. 

“As a coaching staff we want him to be very involved in the team over the next six months,” said Johnston. “Certainly from the perspective of keeping him up to date with what we’re doing and how things are going.”

Dupuis watched this morning’s practice from the stands, and sat with General Manager Jim Rutherford.

***Beau Bennett slid into the No. 2 power play unit at practice, where Dupuis generally skates. There he joined regular linemates Brandon Sutter, Steve Downie, along with defensemen Paul Martin and Christian Ehrhoff.

***Johnston said he will continue to evaluate who will be the best fit to replace Dupuis on the club’s top line with Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz. He liked the physical presence and ability to hold the puck down low that Blake Comeau brought Tuesday in Montreal, but said several more games will be needed to gauge things. Dupuis was only recently reunited with that line. 

***Johnston said he plans to use both goaltenders when the Penguins will play a true home-and-home series against the New York Islander Friday at Consol Energy Center and Saturday night at Nassau Coliseum.

***There is no immediate plan to recall a forward in the next day or so, said Johnston.