Do the Penguins Need a Tocchet?

It sure was great to see our Penguins trim New Jersey last night before a big holiday crowd at PPG Paints Arena. The black and gold seemed remarkably unfazed by the pasting they received only 24 hours earlier at the hands of red-hot Columbus.

Credit Mike Sullivan and the coaching staff for helping the team turn the page so quickly. The players, too.

Newcomer Chad Ruhwedel scored his first NHL goal and contributed 16-plus minutes of sound defense. Marc-Andre Fleury resembled the “Flower” of old while turning aside 23 shots in arguably his best game of the season.

Sidney Crosby once again set the tone, netting his eighth game-opening goal and 24th of season. Both tops in the league. Evgeni Malkin picked up two assists to claim the No. 2 spot in the NHL scoring race.

Encouraging signs, all.

Yet I’m having a hard time shaking the humbling loss to Columbus. John Tortorella’s crew didn’t just beat us. They humiliated us. Especially in the final two periods.

It marked the second time this season the Pens have suffered a 7-1 embarrassment at the hands of a “heavy” team. On November 16, they were steamrollered by Washington in similar fashion.

Both games followed a similar script. The opposition leaned hard on our mobile but undersized defense, forcing the Pens to stand and defend. A tactic that bore obvious fruit.

Every team lays an egg once in a while. Over the long 82-game season, as inevitable as death and taxes. But throw in the Pens’ recent overtime loss to another bruising foe, the Kings, and a trend seems to be emerging.

Got me to thinking. Do the locals need to muscle up in order to better compete against the bigger teams in the league?

A prickly question, to be sure. With no easy answer. Start to alter the roster in a significant way, and you risk taking away what makes the team so special in the first place. In the Pens’ case, speed, tenacity and an extraordinarily high level of skill, not to mention a marvelous esprit de corps.

Still, I worry about how we’ll fare should we meet the Blue Jackets or Capitals in the playoffs. More to the point, how will the Pens handle the (bump and) grind of a seven-game set versus a physical foe?

Last year they were able. This season? Based on the lopsided losses to the Jackets and Caps, I’m not so sure.

Flashback to the Penguins’ Cup winners of the early ‘90s. The fortunes of the 1990-91 team turned dramatically with the acquisition of Ron Francis and backline thumpers Ulf Samuelsson and Grant Jennings.

The following season an ultra-skilled squad was in complete disarray until then-GM Craig Patrick added power forward (and current assistant) Rick Tocchet and hulking defenseman Kjell Samuelsson.

Suddenly, the Pens could compete on even terms with physical foes like the Rangers and Blackhawks, who they swept in four straight to capture a second Cup.

Different game back then, I know. But perhaps not so different.

I’m not suggesting that current GM Jim Rutherford abandon the blueprint that’s brought us so much success. But I wonder if the team might not benefit from a couple of players—say one up front and one on defense—who combine size, strength and ability.

Not that guys like that grow on trees. I’m sure every team would love to add players with those attributes. Part of the Pens’ dilemma.

In the meantime, I like the element feisty Steve Oleksy has brought to the D. Although undersized, he’s given opposing forwards a little something to think about when they buzz the Pens’ net. And I thought his spirited go with the Devils’ Miles Wood last night provided a real spark.

However, when Kris Letang and Trevor Daley return, the Michigan native’s unlikely to remain in the lineup. Once again stripping the defense of a consistent physical presence.

For the record, Baby Pens enforcer Tom Sestito can play a little, too. But it’s difficult to envision the burly left wing dislodging anyone from the present Steel City mix.

Looking outside the organization, former first-round pick Kerby Rychel is toiling in the AHL with the Toronto Marlies. He’s big (6’1” 213) and rugged and employs a hard, straightforward style. Might even have an ax to grind with his original team, Columbus.

It’s no secret that Derrick Pouliot’s struggled mightily to fulfill his promise with the Pens. Perhaps a trade might benefit both players.

Ultimately, we’ll need to trust Rutherford to do what’s best. With few exceptions, his judgement’s been spot on.