By all accounts, Teddy Blueger is poised to grab the Penguins’ fourth-line center role in 2019-20.
It remains to be seen how much the 25-year-old Latvian contributes offensively (he had 10 points in 28 games in the NHL last year, and 39 in 45 contests in the AHL), but he certainly looks ready for the defense-focused assignment. Blueger started about 61 percent of his face-offs in the defensive zone with the Penguins last year, which is the highest rate among returning Penguins forwards.
With Blueger skating at even strength, Pittsburgh allowed just 1.2 goals per 60 minutes and 22.