Pittsburgh Penguins forward Dominik Simon is usually out of position.

Listed as a center, Simon predominantly has played as winger since he began playing in North America with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2015-16.

And through the vast majority of his NHL existence, Simon mostly has lined up on the wing next to center Sidney Crosby, much to the consternation of those who feel his limitations as a goal-scorer don’t qualify him for such a prominent assignment.

His latest assignment has him out of his non-position.

For the past two games, Simon has taken up residency as the team’s No. 3 center because of injuries to Crosby as well as fellow center Nick Bjugstad. With Patric Hornqvist and Dominik Kahun on his wings, Simon has one assist in two games.

The assist was a primary helper on the game-opening goal of a 4-1 home victory against the New Jersey Devils on Friday. Stealing a clearing attempt by Devils defenseman Sami Vatanen, Simon sneaked a short forehand pass down the left wall to Kahun, who dashed his way out of the corner toward the crease and beat goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood with a dazzling backhander.

“He made a good play,” Kahun said. “We had good a good forecheck with (Hornqvist). He caught the puck with his hand and made a nice pass to me.”

One person who benefited from quality passes by Simon as a center was Calgary Flames forward Michael Frolik. During the IIHF World Championship tournament in May, Simon centered the Czech Republic’s top line with Frolik and Jakub Voracek of the Philadelphia Flyers on his wings. Simon netted 12 points (four goals, eight assists), and Frolik led the team with seven goals in addition to his seven assists.

“He didn’t play center for a long time, but (the Czech coaches) put him there,” Frolik said. “He did a pretty good job. Usually, he better plays wing than center, but I think he did pretty good. He’s a pretty smart player. He’s a smart guy. He can make plays there. Of course, he’s not the biggest guy, but he’s smart with the puck. He can make some plays. A good player for sure.”

That success in May led to a trial run in September during the preseason when Simon lined up as a center in some exhibition contests. His play in the preseason provided management assurance he could line up at his listed position if needed.

“We felt as though coming out of watching him play center (during the preseason), that he’s a guy we can utilize if called upon,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “We still prefer to play him on the wing but given the circumstance we’re in right now, he’s a guy that we can utilize in the middle, and we have a comfort level there.”

Simon professes to have comfort at his readopted position.

“I don’t mind it,” Simon said. “I used to play center before. Not in the pro (ranks) too much, but I don’t mind it.”

His wingers, foreign or domestic, seem to appreciate his acumen as a center.

“He’s good. He’s a smart player,” Hornqvist said. “He works really hard. He’s always on the right side of pucks. Our line has been good. We’re skating. We’re working for each other. When you’re doing that, it doesn’t’ really matter who you have working in different positions. Because even if one guy (makes) a mistake, it doesn’t lead into two. We have layers to support each other, and I think you see that all over the ice.”

Said Frolik: “As a center, you have to kind of be the brain of the line, and I think he did a pretty good job at that. Faceoffs were a little bit of an issue there. He wasn’t very good at that part, but we tried to help him, jump pucks if we knew he was going to lose it. He can make plays for sure.”

Simon isn’t the only member of the Penguins to move from wing to center. Jared McCann does it constantly, and Sam Lafferty has made the change sporadically. For each, the main difference is the increased duties in their own end of the ice.

“I feel like a little bit more defensively responsibility,” Simon said. “That might be it. Reading the game a little bit different. A little bit more from behind or above. … It’s not a huge difference but a little bit.”

Said Frolik: “You can see that he’s not the biggest guy, but he’s definitely strong on pucks. He can battle hard. He’s got a long stick, a long reach. It’s a good advantage. He’s strong on the stick, and he can make some turnovers with that.”

If the Penguins ever get a full complement of healthy centers, Simon almost assuredly will return to the wing. But he already has shown he capably can fill in when the occasion arises.

“He played (many) years before at center,” said Kahun, himself having made the move from center to wing as a professional. “He said he’s OK with that. He played wing a lot of the time. It’s not easy to switch around. As a center, you have other things to do. He does a good job.”

Said Frolik: “As a center, he did a pretty good job. Obviously, he didn’t like that position that much, but I think he battled through it pretty good. He’s a good playmaker. He can see the ice pretty good (when) cycling the puck. He’s a good offensive player.”

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