What I'm hearing: Penguins' sagging ticket sales, Jarry's AHL stint, Rust's health, more

I dont mean to pounce on the Pittsburgh Penguins by bringing this up because theyve been a remarkable economic success story over the past 20 years, particularly since the opening of PPG Paints Arena in 2010.

They once had a sellout streak that lasted 15 years, only to be undone by a pandemic that kept people from leaving their homes.

We now know, though, that their sellout streak would have ended organically in due time anyway.

Advertisement Last season, the empty seats at the Penguins home arena were noticeable, though hardly flagrant.

This season, its been a little different.

The number of empty seats against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday was eye-popping.

Sure, it was Halloween, so kids were trick-or-treating instead of taking in a hockey game.

It was a weeknight.

The Ducks arent a draw.

The Penguins had lost six straight.

Marc-Andre Fleury had just been in Pittsburgh the game before.

The Steelers are good.

October games are never an easy sell.

These things are all true.

Also true: Pittsburghs interest in the Penguins hasnt been this low since the season before Sidney Crosby arrived, all the way back in the 2003-04 campaign.

That can all change in a hurry, of course.

Its funny what winning streaks can do and how they can provide hope.

But at the moment, Pittsburgh isnt invested financially or emotionally in the Penguins like it typically is.

I counted 44 humans sitting in Section 224 during the second period against the Ducks.

It was jarring.

Naturally, the Penguins are aware.

They knew it was coming.

Its a transitional time for the franchise, which longtime fans know all too well.

That doesnt mean its fun, of course.

It most certainly is not.

Heres more of what Im hearing and seeing around the Penguins: Through three games in AHL Wilkes-Barre, Tristan Jarry is 3-0 with a 1.95 GAA and a .937 save percentage.

The Penguins believe Jarry has taken some strides, but they also know their No.

1 goaltender cant accurately be judged until he returns to the NHL .

Given the two-week window allotted for Jarry in Wilkes-Barre, it would appear the first game in which he could make his NHL return would be Nov.

11 against the very powerful Dallas Stars at PPG Paints Arena.

Id expect Jarry to play sometime that week, perhaps as early as that Dallas game.

Advertisement As best I can tell, when Jarry makes his NHL return, Joel Blomqvist will likely be headed to Wilkes-Barre.

That makes sense.

The Penguins have to find out about Jarry and Alex Nedeljkovic isnt going anywhere.

Blomqvist doesnt have to clear waivers to be sent down, and he needs to play.

Ive said all along that I believe Crosby will finish his career in Pittsburgh, no matter how bad things may get for the Penguins over the next couple of years.

I still maintain that to be true because its what Crosby always says, and hes not shown to be a liar.

With almost three full seasons still under contract and a no-trade clause firmly intact, only Crosby could dictate a deal.

There is no reason to think he will ever do so based on what he has repeatedly said.

I assure you, however, other teams are going to come asking about his services anyway.

Speaking of Crosby, he nearly dropped the gloves with Brock Faber on numerous occasions last week when the Penguins hosted the Wild.

Crosbys temper was a little short on that night, presumably because of how he and the Penguins had been playing.

Things got nasty between the two.

It happens.

We see Crosby lose his mind a couple of times a season, which is pretty endearing, given his usual kind demeanor.

Before things got even nastier between the two, Jack St.

Ivany took matters into his own hands and fought Faber.

It might seem a little barbaric, but what St.

Ivany did is part of hockeys core value system.

Frankly, there hasnt been enough of it over the years for Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang .

The Big Three have been forced to fight their own battles for much of their time in Pittsburgh.

St.

Ivanys actions did not go unnoticed in the locker room.

Weve seen the line of Crosby, Malkin and Rickard Rakell enjoy success over the past week.

That shouldnt be a surprise, given were talking about two Hall of Famers and an accomplished scorer who has started strong this season.

Advertisement If nothing less, the combination has jump-started Crosby, who didnt look himself over the seasons first 10 games.

I still dont get the sense its a permanent lineup configuration.

Coach Mike Sullivan has never been a huge fan of using Malkin and Crosby on the same line because of the way it compromises the rest of the lineup.

Sooner rather than later perhaps when Bryan Rust returns to the lineup I have to think Crosby and Malkin will again lead separate lines.

Speaking of Rust, a source close to him told me the injury he sustained in Vancouver was a re-aggravation of the lower-body injury he sustained in the preseason.

Its nothing especially serious.

Initially, there was concern it was.

The team wants to ease him back into the lineup.

Given Rusts value and his history of playing through injuries, the Penguins want him to operate at 100 percent.

In terms of standing out with speed, size and overall presence, Jesse Puljujarvi has been one of the Penguins best forwards since the beginning of training camp.

Sullivan has noted Puljujarvi is a different player this season, further removed from a double hip resurfacing surgery that caused an extensive, difficult recovery period.

So why has he been a healthy scratch on multiple occasions? Puljujarvis mental dips have always frustrated his coaches, and that is no different in Pittsburgh.

The coaching staff likes him because they see what he can do.

Basically, theyre trying to help him along because they believe theres something there.

(Top photo: Charles LeClaire / Imagn Images).

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