ST. LOUIS — Ryan Shea tipped his hand in saying roughly a dozen family members will be on hand for Saturday evening’s Penguins game. His head coach confirmed soon after what will be quite the personal milestone for the left-shot defenseman.
Mike Sullivan told reporters following the team’s morning skate that Shea, 26, will make his NHL debut against the St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center. While eager to get his first crack in a Penguins sweater during a regular-season game, Shea is grateful for those who will be in attendance.
“It's obviously exciting for me, special for me, but it's just as special for them,” Shea said. “I mean, they did all the hard work most of their life to get me to this point.”
Earlier in the week, it looked like Shea would debut alongside Ryan Graves, as Kris Letang sat out Thursday’s practice with a lower-body injury.
Instead, Shea is slated to slide in for Pierre-Olivier Joseph on the third defensive pairing. Shea skated alongside Chad Ruhwedel during Friday’s practice while Joseph operated with John Ludvig.
Sullivan said he and Joseph had a conversation about him being a healthy scratch for the first time this year, one which he believes the 24-year-old lefty took very well. In four games, Joseph posted a -3 plus/minus rating, being on the ice for three goals against in just 11:36 of ice time during Wednesday night’s 6-3 loss to the Red Wings.
“We've got a competitive group, so performance matters,” Sullivan said. “It's our challenge together to help [Joseph] capture his very best game.”
The start to the 2023-24 campaign has been a far cry from last year for Joseph, one in which he set career highs in games played, goals, assists and points. He also tied Sidney Crosby for the best plus/minus on the team.
But in reduced playing time in light of Erik Karlsson’s arrival, Joseph has struggled to settle in early in the year. Now, the opportunity as left-shot defenseman on the third pairing shifts over to Shea.
After edging out both Ty Smith and Mark Friedman for spots on the opening night roster, Shea persevered as the seventh defensemen on the roster. He remained in that role even after the Penguins claimed John Ludvig off waivers and traded for another lefty in Jack Rathbone, who is currently with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
To stay sharp in the meantime, Shea credited the coaching staff for keeping his conditioning up and treating every practice like it’s a game. It’s hardly been easy for Shea to maintain game shape, though, on game days.
“Obviously, the skates after morning skates have been pretty tough when you only got one or two guys out there,” Shea said. “But, it all benefits me in the long run.”
That work behind the scenes, as well as his play in the preseason after three years in the Dallas Stars’ organization, has already played off. Following three seasons at the American Hockey League level, Shea has already checked off one box in making an NHL roster.
Now, the stage is set to complete another.
“Step 1 was making the team and then step 2 is cementing myself as an NHL player, and you don't do that in one game,” Shea said. “But, hopefully, when I get in, I can play good enough to stay in the lineup.”
Radim on the scene
In addition to Shea being in the Penguins’ lineup Saturday night, so too will be Radim Zohorna. A left-shot forward with 35 NHL games under his belt, Zohorna was recalled from Wilkes-Barre to fill the spot of Jansen Harkins, who cleared waivers and has reported to the Baby Pens.
Zohorna was narrowly edged out by Harkins for the final spot on the opening night roster. The 27-year-old who has scored five goals and assisted on six others across stints with Pittsburgh, Calgary and Toronto is confident with where he’s at heading into another NHL opportunity. .
“I feel like this might be in best shape I’ve ever been,” Zohorna said. “I feel great and I had some experience from a tough last year. So, I feel good.”
Zohorna figures to skate on the fourth line with Noel Acciari and Jeff Carter, with Matt Nieto elevated to the third line to fill Harkins’ vacated spot. Defenseman Will Butcher skated at fourth line left wing during Friday’s practice, seemingly acting as a placeholder for Zohorna until he joined the group.
Zohorna, who stands 6-foot--6, impressed in training camp as a penalty killer with his large frame, as well as for his two-way game.
“He's deserving of this opportunity,” Sullivan said. “And we think he's a guy that can fit into our lineup and help us.“
But as Penguins fans know, Zohorna has impressed in training camp before, only to come up short once given an opportunity. Sullivan said consistency will be the key to whether Zohorna can stick this time around, unlike last year when he went on waivers and bounced around the league before returning to the Penguins.
“I think his game has improved since he's been a Penguin,” Sullivan said. “I know we lost him there for a period of time last year, but we were thrilled to get them back this year.”
Andrew Destin: adestin@post-gazette.com and Twitter @AndrewDestin1.
First Published: October 21, 2023, 6:08 p.m.
