## Penguins' Lizotte Decision Up In The Air, Nedeljkovic To Start, Ponomarev Sent To AHL
The Pittsburgh Penguins have a number of decisions to make before their season opener against the Arizona Coyotes on October 12th. One of the biggest decisions is what to do with forward Evan Rodrigues. Rodrigues is a versatile player who can play center or wing, and he has been a productive player in the AHL. However, he has yet to establish himself as a full-time NHL player.
Another decision the Penguins have to make is who will start in goal against the Coyotes. Tristan Jarry is the incumbent starter, but he has struggled at times this preseason. Casey DeSmith is a capable backup, but he has never started more than 20 games in a season.
Finally, the Penguins have to decide what to do with forward Pyotr Kochetkov. Kochetkov is a highly-touted prospect, but he has yet to play in an NHL game. The Penguins could keep him in the AHL to develop further, or they could bring him up to the NHL and give him a chance to compete for a roster spot.
The Penguins have a lot of talent on their roster, but they also have a lot of question marks. The decisions they make in the next few weeks will have a big impact on their success this season.
### Nedeljkovic To Start
The Penguins have decided to give Alex Nedeljkovic the start in goal against the Coyotes. Nedeljkovic has been impressive in the preseason, posting a 2.00 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage.
Jarry will serve as the backup goalie against the Coyotes. He has struggled in the preseason, posting a 3.50 goals-against average and a .889 save percentage.
### Ponomarev Sent To AHL
The Penguins have assigned forward Pyotr Kochetkov to the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Kochetkov has been a standout in the preseason, but the Penguins want him to get more playing time in the AHL.
Kochetkov is a highly-touted prospect, and the Penguins believe he has the potential to be a top-six forward in the NHL. However, he needs to develop his game further in the AHL before he is ready for a full-time role in the NHL.