CRANBERRY, Pa. -- Radim Zohorna showed a lot during the Penguins' training camp.
Enough to earn an audition as Evgeni Malkin's temporary replacement on the No. 2 line.
Bu ultimately, not enough to secure a spot on the major-league rosters heading into the regular-season opener Tuesday in Tampa.
Zohorna, 25 and entering his second season in North America, was assigned to the Penguins' farm team in Wilkes-Barre Monday.
"We really like his game," Mike Sullivan said after the final practice of the preseason Monday. "He's a good player. We think he's going to help us moving forward. When we're trying to put a final roster together to start the season, there's a lot that goes into these conversations.
"But he's one who, for me, is a difficult decision. P.O Joseph, on the defense side. He's knocking on the door, and he's been there for a little bit."
The decisions to demote both players likely reflected factors other than on-ice performance. Neither had to clear waivers to go to the minors, and both have two-way contracts that pay a reduced salary or count against the NHL salary cap when they're in the American Hockey League.
It didn't help Joseph that the Penguins have a bounty of experienced left-handed defensemen, and Brian Boyle's showing during camp likely snuffed any chance Zohorna had of starting the season with the parent club.
Boyle is 36 and came to camp on a professional tryout, but earned a place in the Penguins' plans with a solid overall performance that included good penalty-killing.
"He's a key part of our group now," Kasperi Kapanen said. "Takes big faceoffs. A big body. Defensively, really sound."
Boyle is expected to sign a one-year contract for the league minimum of $750,000.
"We've obviously really liked his camp," Sullivan said. "I know (Ron Hextall) is discussing options with his agent right now."
Boyle is penciled in for a bottom-six role and, while he's not a likely difference-maker, he has the potential to be a good complementary piece of the Penguins' personnel puzzle.
"He's been in the league a long time," John Marino said. "He knows how to play the game. He knows his role. He knows what it takes to win."
MORE FROM THE PRACTICE
• Sidney Crosby, who is recovering from wrist surgery, along with Jake Guentzel and Zach Aston-Reese, both of whom were diagnosed with COVID-19 recently, worked out on the ice before practice, then were limited participants during the workout. Sullivan said none of the three will play in Tampa, that Crosby is "unlikely" to play on this trip and that the other two will be monitored to determine their availability for the Penguins' game at Florida Thursday.
• Marino, on playing alongside Mike Matheson on the No. 2 defense pairing: "We haven't really played too many games together," but he is beginning to learn the nuances of Matheson's game.
• Kapanen said "this is probably the best shape I've ever been in," an assessment echoed by Sullivan. "I think (he) deserves so much credit for how hard he's worked to get himself into the condition that he's put himself in," Sullivan said.
• Upgrading their penalty-killing got a lot of attention during camp, and that apparently won't change once the season starts. "It's a work-in-progress," Sullivan said. "There were things in the preseason that were liked, and there were areas where we know we have to get better. ... It has been a point of emphasis. It will continue to be a point of emphasis, because we know that's an aspect of our game where we have to improve."
• Marino got clipped in the face by Sam Lafferty's stick during a drill and adjourned to the locker room, but returned after a few minutes. "He's getting me a coffee," Marino said. "We'll call it even."
• Kapanen, on the Penguins' mindset entering the road trip to Tampa and Florida. "Just being in that locker room, you can feel the energy. ... Everybody is just really antsy to get down (to Florida), get some sun and then play two great games."
The Penguins used these personnel combinations:
Danton Heinen-Jeff Carter-Bryan Rust
Jason Zucker-Evan Rodrigues-Kasperi Kapanen
Brock McGinn-Teddy Blueger-Dominik Simon
Drew O'Connor-Brian Boyle-Sam Lafferty
Brian Dumoulin-Kris Letang
Mike Matheson-John Marino
Marcus Pettersson-Chad Ruhwedel
Various placeholders-Mark Friedman
• With Crosby, Malkin and Guentzel out of the mix, the Penguins' power play units looked like this:
No. 1 -- Letang, Rust, Kapanen, Carter and Zucker
No. 2 -- Matheson, Marino, Rodrigues, Simon and Heinen
