Penguins Update: The Farnham (and Bailey) Circus

Yesterday was a sad day for Penguins fans who like a little mustard on their hot dog. Bobby Farnham, the crowd-pleasing buzz-saw with the enormous heart, was claimed on waivers by the New Jersey Devils.

The move was more symbolic than anything. The modestly skilled marauder wasn’t going to be an effective player for the Pens. Not with pacifist coach Mike Johnston cinching his leash so tight. During a rare shift against Ottawa, Bobby ran one of the Senators into the end boards. When he skated back to the Pens’ bench, he and Johnston locked eyes.

You could almost read Farnham’s expression. Is it okay for me to do that?

Nor was the pocket-sized battler going to neutralize anyone. Certainly not a slugger like Washington’s Tom Wilson, who would’ve eaten poor Bobby alive.

Still, loss of the feisty forward reinforces a disturbing trend for fans like me who feel toughness and aggression are essential elements to a hockey team’s success. It continues a crusade, if you will, that Mario Lemieux initiated back in February 2011. In the wake of an ugly brawl with the Islanders, the Pens’ owner asserted that his team would no longer embrace a certain style.

Mario’s been true to his word.

Since that fateful day, scrappers Arron Asham, Robert Bortuzzo, Matt Cooke, Steve Downie, Deryk Engelland, Tanner Glass, Eric Godard, Mike Rupp, Zach Sill, Joe Vitale (and now Farnham) have departed the Steel City. So has any pretense of black-and-gold toughness.

I’m not suggesting the Pens lure Big Georges Laraque out of retirement. With a heightened sensitivity to the cause and effect of concussions and head-trauma, hockey has evolved to a degree. Old-style enforcers are—for the most part—gone. Few teams are willing to employ players whose sole skill is beating the tar out of an opponent with his fists.

Still, hockey is a hard game. You need guys who play with an edge. Ones who can turn the momentum of a game with a big hit. Or rugged play in the corners. And, yes, you still need guys who’ll drop the mitts on occasion to defend themselves…or a teammate.

The Penguins play the Washington Capitals tomorrow night in DC. The Caps are one of the top teams in the league (6-1). Not by coincidence, they’re among the biggest…and baddest. In stark contrast to the peacenik Pens, they employ players who fight (Wilson and Michael Latta) and players who hit (Alex Ovechkin and ex-Pen Brooks Orpik). Guys who’ll grind and battle (Jay Beagle and Jason Chimera).

We’ll see how our Penguins fare.

Sarge in Charge

The Penguins hired former black-and-gold great Sergei Gonchar to serve as a defense development coach, Jim Rutherford announced today.

“We have some defensemen in Wilkes-Barre we want developed,” explained the venerable Pens GM.

High on Sarge’s priority list? Mentoring prospect Derrick Pouliot, the gifted former first-round pick who struggled mightily during training camp.

Long revered as an exemplary teammate and leader, Gonchar tallied 881 points during a stellar NHL career that spanned 20 seasons. In 322 regular-season contests with the Pens, the popular Russian piled up an impressive 54 goals and 259 points.