Pittsburgh Penguins Players with the Most to Prove During the 2014-15 Preseason

The Pittsburgh Penguins' 2014 preseason schedule wraps up on Wednesday when the team visits Detroit to take on the Red Wings.

Even without Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin taking to the ice, a wide range of storylines have swirled for the past 10 days around a team that's in a state of flux.

Plenty of new faces are eager to show that they belong, while some of Pittsburgh's established veterans also find themselves with something to prove as preparations for the new season continue.

Here are the five players who are most focused on making a strong impression as camp wraps up.

Pascal Dupuis

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Returned to action September 29 after tearing his right ACL and MCL on December 23, 2013.

What Does He Need to Prove? 

Dupuis' job isn't in jeopardy. Now that he's back to game action, he'll almost certainly be slotted back onto Sidney Crosby's right wing and the top penalty-killing unit. The veteran will need to show that, as he told Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "my knee feels 100 percent, so it's time to go now."

Under the watchful eye of the Penguins' new coaching staff, Dupuis managed four shots on goal and two hits during his return to the lineup in Monday's 4-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild. He's expected to suit up again for Pittsburgh's final exhibition game Wednesday at Detroit.

Christian Ehrhoff

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Signed a one-year free-agent contract with Pittsburgh on July 1 after receiving a compliance buyout from the Buffalo Sabres.

What Does He Need to Prove? 

That he's a top-pairing defenseman. Three years ago, Christian Ehrhoff was a hot commodity with the Stanley Cup finalist Vancouver Canucks. He signed a 10-year, $40 million free-agent contract with the Buffalo Sabres during the summer of 2011.

As Buffalo's fortunes plummeted, so did Ehrhoff's reputation. He signed a one-year deal with the Penguins and will partner with Kris Letang this season in an effort to prove that he remains a valuable asset on the blue line.

Patric Hornqvist

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

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Acquired from the Nashville Predators along with Nick Spaling in exchange for James Neal at the 2014 draft in June.

What Does He Need to Prove? 

That his upside matches Neal's. Both right wingers are 27 years old, but while Hornqvist has been a consistent 40-50 point scorer, Neal peaked with 40 goals and 81 points during his first full year in Pittsburgh as a key part of the Penguins' scoring machine.

When he traded for Hornqvist in June, general manager Jim Rutherford told NHL.com's Dan Rosen, "We just think he's a complete player, an all-around player, a guy that plays with an edge and is going to be good in the playoffs. And also a right-hand shot. We don't have many right-hand shots, so that was another plus."

Since Evgeni Malkin has yet to appear in preseason, it's too soon to assess whether he and Hornqvist will have chemistry. In his two exhibition appearances so far, Hornqvist has generated an impressive 10 shots on goal but has yet to record his first point.

Oskar Sundqvist

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Drafted 81st overall in 2012, big center Sundqvist spent last season with AIK of the Swedish League and scored two goals as part of Sweden's silver medal-winning 2014 Olympic team.

What Does He Need to Prove? 

That he belongs in the NHL. Pittsburgh's deep down the middle, but the absences of Crosby and Malkin during training camp have given Sundqvist enough ice time to impress team management.

General manager Jim Rutherford has praised Sundqvist for his "remarkable improvement" since prospects camp, and coach Mike Johnston  suggested to Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the rookie could be an option on opening night, especially if Malkin remains on the sidelines.

Kasperi Kapanen

Keith Srakocic/Associated Press

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Drafted 22nd overall in 2014. Spent last season with KalPa Kuopio of the Finnish League.

What Does He Need to Prove? 

That he's not your average 18-year-old. As the son of longtime NHLer Sami Kapanen, Kasperi grew up around the league and knows the ropes.

"He’s a very, very mature kid for his age," Penguins assistant general manager Bill Guerin told Michelle Crechiolo of NHL.com. "Obviously having his father playing so many years in the NHL and playing with him and bringing him up that way, he’s already a pro, so he’s ahead of the game in that department."

Kapanen has drawn into four of Pittsburgh's five exhibition games so far and was named first start in the Penguins' 2-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on September 27, where he opened the scoring with a power-play goal.

As a right winger, Kapanen has his eye on the roster spot that opened up when Beau Bennett was injured—eager to prove that he can be more than a boy among men.