Filip Hallander sends a warning to his fellow Penguins in training camp.

Strong words from the young forward.

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 2 years ago
Filip Hallander sends a warning to his fellow Penguins in training camp.
Shelley Lipton/Icon Sportswire/Getty

Each and every season teams around the National Hockey League welcome fresh faces into training camp, fresh faces that are all hoping to get their first crack at playing in the big leagues. This year has proven to be no exception and although in most cases these players are somewhat of a long shot to make the team, there is at least one rookie that is brimming with confidence.

Joining the Pittsburgh Penguins in camp this year is 21 year old centerman Filip Hallander. Now Hallander has had something of an odd journey to get where he is, but one thing is certain and that is that this young man is looking to prove to the Penguins that they have made the correct choice in investing their time and resources into his development. Speaking with members of the media on Saturday, Hallander made it clear that he was coming to camp not merely to showcase how much he has developed, but to claim one of the open spots on the Penguins roster this season.

"I'm here to take a spot," said Hallander this week.

If it sounds like Hallander might have something to prove, there is a good reason for that chip on his shoulder. Hallander was drafted in the second round (58th overall) of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft by the Penguins, but before ever playing a game for the organization he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Hallander was a part of the trade that brought forward Kasperi Kapanen to Pittsburgh, a trade that involved six players in total with 3 going each way. Upon acquiring Hallander from the Penguins, Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas was quick to sing his praises, but despite that vote of confidence he would be traded back to the Penguins less than a year later as part of the trade that sent former Penguins forward Jared McCann to Toronto. 

It's not hard to see why a young man in this situation would feel he has something to prove, perhaps to both the Maple Leafs and the Penguins. If his most recent comments are any indication of his intentions, he plans to do just that.

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