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When he coached the Wheeling Nailers, Clark Donatelli was used to seeing his roster depleted by call-ups.
Now that the shoe is on the other foot and Donatelli is the one plucking players from Wheeling’s roster, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton head coach had a stern message for the new arrivals.
“They’ve been down in Wheeling putting some hard time in – riding the bus, the travel schedule, playing tired. They’ve been through the grind but now they’re here, you’re over the hump,” Donatelli said after Sunday’s practice. “Go out and show everyone that you can play.
“Here you are. Make the most of it.”
There are nine players on the current roster that began the season in Wheeling and most of them have appeared in less than 10 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Center Jarrett Burton, who was Wheeling’s leading scorer when he was called-up on Friday, is one of the new faces adjusting to a new opportunity.
Burton played his first AHL game in Saturday’s 3-2 loss to Bridgeport and said he could tell a difference between the ECHL and AHL.
Burton also knows any adjustments must be made quickly in order to establish himself as an AHL player.
“You always want to show your best effort because you don’t know how many opportunities you’re going to get,” he said. “Make the most of it and try to play your own game, the game that got you here.”
Getting back on track
Saturday’s loss was the fifth in the last six games for the Penguins, but Donatelli isn’t using all the roster changes as an excuse. He said the goaltending tandem of Matt Murray and Tristan Jarry remains one of the top duos in the league, and the defensive corps is still relatively intact.
With those building blocks in place, Donatelli said it’s time for his team to execute and do it right from the start.
“Instead of waiting for the third period, we have to come out ready to go,” he said. “We haven’t won a lot of games here in a little stretch. We have to have some urgency.”
Injury updates
F Dominik Simon didn’t practice on Sunday and is day-to-day. His status is doubtful for Tuesday’s game, Donatelli said.
F Dominik Uher also didn’t practice and is still considered week-to-week. F Sahir Gill skated by himself before practice and is day-to-day, as is C Matia Marcantuoni. F Tyler Biggs and D Barry Goers practiced wearing the red no-contact jersey. Biggs is getting close but Goers is a ways off from returning, Donatelli said.
Forwards Tom Kostopoulos, Kael Mouillierat and Carter Rowney and defenseman Tim Erixon didn’t practice but had maintenance days, according to Donatelli.
