Move from center to wing could be on the table for Penguins' Noel Acciari

A good rule of thumb to remember for NHL preseason camp is avoid drawing early conclusions regarding personnel groupings.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are no exception.

Coach Mike Sullivan currently is utilizing line combinations and defensive pairings that never will be used once the regular season begins.

Yet, inferences can be made about how the Penguins are looking at players who are a lock to make the NHL roster.

Take, for example, one line the Penguins have deployed through two days of camp: Noel Acciari, Kevin Hayes and Blake Lizotte.

Assuming the Penguins will deploy the three on a line for the Oct. 9 season opener vs. the New York Rangers would be in violation of the aforementioned guideline.

In addition, Acciari, Hayes and Lizotte — the latter two being first-year players with the Penguins — are primarily centers.

President of hockey operations/general manager Kyle Dubas suggested over the summer that a position change to wing could be forthcoming for Acciari this season.

“I’d definitely play wing,” Acciari said Thursday in Cranberry. “I think I’ve played probably 50% of my career at wing. I usually start at center somewhere and get moved to the wing. I’m comfortable at the wing.”

Acciari rejoined the Penguins’ main practice groups Thursday after welcoming a son, Quinton Steel Acciari, with his wife earlier this week. His son’s middle name pays homage to Pittsburgh.

“Being born in Pittsburgh, I thought it’d be unique,” Acciari said. “When he gets older, he’ll understand it’s where his name came from.”

Limited to 55 games last season because of several stints on the injured list, including a concussion in February, Acciari primarily skated as the Penguins’ fourth-line center.

When he was healthy, Acciari excelled on the penalty kill and was dependable defensively. However, he produced only four goals and three assists.

Switching from center to wing could open up Acciari’s game.

“I actually think I’m more effective sometimes with reading the play a little quicker, getting in first on the forecheck, maybe get that hit, get the loose puck,” Acciari said. “Rather, if I’m center, I feel like I have that more defensive mindset, where I want to make sure the puck gets out before I leave (the zone). I think at wing, I’d have a little more freedom to jump out of the zone and win a race to a puck.”

Ultimately, that’ll be a decision for Sullivan, one with ripple effects throughout the lineup.

For starters, it’d open up Acciari’s former fourth-line center role.

Hayes, as well as Lars Eller, are logical candidates to factor in there, as are Lizotte and fellow newcomer Cody Glass.

Additionally, Vasily Ponomarev, Sam Poulin and Jonathan Gruden are competing for spots in camp.

With a surplus of centers, even when the final cuts of camp are made, some players are going to be moved over to wing. But that’s far from a problem in the eyes of Sullivan.

“I’ve always been a strong believer that you can’t have enough center icemen on your team,” Sullivan said. “It gives us flexibility to be able to move people around the lineup. It gives us the ability to withstand and endure injuries if and when they occur. So there’s a lot of value in having center icemen as part of your roster or your extended roster.”

As for Acciari, Sullivan confirmed Thursday a move to wing could be in his future. However, expectations for Acciari will be the same as last season.

“He’s still going to bring the same game, and that’s a conscientious game,” Sullivan said. “Hard to play against, trustworthy, good penalty-killer, shot-blocker, brings an element of physicality to the team, can help us build momentum by being hard to play against and establishing the forecheck, hanging onto pucks.”

“If I were to explain what (Acciari’s) role is on our team, that would be it. Whether he plays center or he plays wing, that’s not going to change.”