WBS Penguins Send Three To Wheeling

Rust is on his way to the ECHL's Wheeling Nailers along with Chupp and Schnell.

We reported yesterday that Cody Chupp had been assigned to Wheeling, but it appears that Ryan Schnell and Matt Rust are also on their way to the ECHL, this according to Penguins beat writer Jonathan Bombulie.

Pittsburgh's forward situation leaves them with 17 forwards as of right now with Sidney Crosby and Tyler Kennedy out. The Pens are currently at the 23 man roster limit so it would appear that two forwards will need to be moved off the NHL roster before those two can return.

All the remaining forwards would have to clear waivers so there's no guarantee that WBS will add any bodies when Kennedy and Crosby return to the NHL lineup. Likely candidates would be Steve MacIntyre, Richard Park, Dustin Jeffrey and Mark Letestu. Letestu has been mentioned in trade rumors.

Right now the WBS Penguins have 13 forwards. They are (in no particular order):

• Bryan Lerg, Colin McDonald, Jason Williams, Ryan Craig, Geoff Walker (injured), Eric Tangradi, Brian Gibons, Niko Dimitrakos, Ben Street, Paul Thompson, Nick Petersen, Zach Sill, and Brandon DeFazio

With Walker injured and probably not ready for tomorrow, the Penguins have the 12 forwards they need, which almost guarantees Ryan Craig will return to the WBS lineup in Norfolk on Wednesday.

I'll have a better idea tomorrow and will update the WBS roster situation in the pregame preview.

Go Penguins!