Oskar Sundqvist will be lobbying hard for a fourth-line center position with the Penguins in a matter of weeks.
Considering how close the club’s touted prospect came to breaking camp on the NHL roster last year, it is fitting he can hardly contain a grin when thinking ahead to September.
“I know what it takes this year, after going through last year. I know how much work it is and what I have to do to get a chance to take that spot,” said Sundqvist after an informal practice Thursday at the Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry.
Sundqvist said he believes that experience last year will provide the edge he needs to lock down a roster spot.
“I’m one year older and know what it’s about a little bit more,” he said. “Last year, I didn’t really know what to expect. But now I do. I think that’s a great advantage.”
He also expects to be healthy.
Sundqvist was kept out of development camp in July because of a hamstring injury, but said he believes it will be a thing of the past when camp opens next month.
“It feels good. I started to practice 100 percent a couple of weeks ago. I’m getting better and better every day. I’m not worried about the physical [part],” said Sundqvist. “My whole body will feel 100 percent. It’s going to be fun when it starts.”
Standing in his way, of course, could be several late summer acquisitions, like 38-year old veteran Matt Cullen, a natural center who could be shifted to the wing, and Eric Fehr, who is recovering from elbow surgery and not expected to be a factor in camp.
Sundqvist was among more than a dozen players who skated Thursday in a fairly structured two-hour block of ice time at the club’s new practice facility. Sidney Crosby, Chris Kunitz, Pascal Dupuis, Beau Bennett, Tyler Biggs, Nick Bonino, Adam Clendening, Marc-Andre Fleury, Steve Olesky, Kevin Porter, Sergei Plotnikov and Rob Scuderi were among those at the workout.Sundqvist said he has learned as much from being around his teammates as he has on the ice.
“It’s really good for me and to see these guys,” said Sundqvist. “Everyone is a little bit older than me here. It’s great to see how they work and what are they doing to get prepared for training camp. We’re all getting prepared.”
And he’s counting down the days to camp: “It will be really fun. That’s what I’ve been waiting for the whole summer and what everyone is waiting for. I can’t wait until it starts.”
Jenn Menendez: jmenendez@post-gazette.com and Twitter @JennMenendez.
First Published: August 28, 2015, 4:00 a.m.