Our Pittsburgh Penguins are in a state of flux. The team’s up for sale. Superstars are struggling to score. Players are airing their gripes to the press. Rumors are swirling anew that coach Mike Johnston’s job may be in jeopardy.
Heck, it’s downright depressing if you’re a Pens fan.
Searching for a bright spot? How about the play of Brian Dumoulin.
Thrust into full-time duty with the offseason departures of Christian Ehrhoff and Paul Martin, the former Boston College star has quietly emerged as one of the black-and-gold’s steadiest defensemen.
How steady? Saturday night marked the first time Dumoulin finished with a minus since opening night. A span of 15 games.
Not that you’d notice. Indeed, the native of Biddeford, Maine has a knack for not drawing attention to himself. A good thing when you’re a stay-at-home defenseman tasked with keeping the other team off the scoreboard. As he and frequent partner Ben Lovejoy are on a nightly basis.
Yet there are things about Dumoulin that stand out. Size, for one. At 6’4” and 207 pounds, he’s the tallest of the Pens’ present crop of d-men. His skating, for another. Extremely mobile, he possesses remarkably quick feet for a large man. Dumoulin also sees the ice well and makes a crisp first pass. He’s well suited for Johnston’s puck-retrieval game, which relies on pinpoint outlet passes from the defense to help drive the attack.
Recently, Jenn Menendez of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette asked the 24 year old to comment on his progress.
“I think I’ve been more consistent. That’s one of the keys I had coming into this year,” said Dumoulin. “I really wanted to be a consistent player and bring it every night. I think it’s one thing I’ve learned to do.”
As with all young players, there’s room for improvement. Given “Dumo’s” soft hands and feel for the puck, his coaches would like to see more offense from No. 8 than the two assists he’s tallied in 17 games. They’d like the big fella to use his broad-shouldered frame to better advantage, too.
Still, during a season where controversy and turmoil reign, the rangy defender’s been a pleasant surprise.
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