As our Penguins enter the second half on the outside of the Eastern Conference playoff picture looking in, it’s safe to say the season hasn’t gone as planned.
Dreams of an offensive dynamo were dashed early on as a squad built to score goals struggled to produce under former coach Mike Johnston. Stars like Sidney Crosby experienced epic droughts. Sixty-minute efforts were (and are) as rare as 1864 two-cent coins in mint condition.
At least one player bucks the trend. Patric Hornqvist provides palpable passion game in and game out. He bangs. He grinds. He fearlessly drives to the net and establishes squatter’s rights in the slot in a style reminiscent of fabled countryman Tomas Holmstrom. Often in the shadow of hulking defenders who mean to inflict bodily harm.
Indeed, on a team that features plenty of east-west play, Hornqvist’s decidedly north-south approach stands out. Drawn to the dirty areas like a moth to the flame, the bullish Nordic winger skates with a wrecking-ball abandon you wish was contagious.
“He’s a hard guy not to love,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “He’s a passionate guy. He wears his emotions right on his sleeve. He brings a ton of energy on the bench.”
Acquired from Nashville in a controversial deal for James Neal in June 2014, Hornqvist does possess offensive pedigree. While not a pure scorer like Neal, the 5’11” 189-pounder’s topped 20 goals five times during his NHL career, including 30 in 2009-10 and 25 during his inaugural season with the black and gold (in only 64 games).
Through the early stages of this season, however, Hornqvist’s considerable sweat equity went largely unrewarded. Infected with the same offensive malaise as his high-profile teammates, the pocket power forward failed to register a point in 11 of 12 games before finally breaking through with an assist against Columbus on December 21.
Since then the Swedish import’s been on a roll, tallying four goals and four assists in his past 10 games. With three power-play markers during that span, Hornqvist’s a key factor in the team’s recent man-advantage resurgence. Possession-wise, he’s one of a handful of Pens with a positive Relative Corsi for % at even strength.
Number 72 has ramped up his physical play, too. Hornqvist’s 96 hits—third on the team—represent a career high. His 29 blocks (second among black-and-gold forwards) are approaching his top mark.
The Pens will require every ounce of Hornqvist’s abundant drive and energy if they’re to claw their way to a playoff berth. Not to mention continued offensive contributions from the man with the “Squiggy” haircut.
A task he’s up to, for sure.
Bonino Hurt
Center Nick Bonino is expected to miss at least a month with a hand injury, the Penguins announced today. Bonino was hurt during the third period of Tuesday night’s 3-2 overtime loss at Carolina.
The injury robs the Pens of one of their top penalty killers and faceoff men at a crucial time. Heading into Thursday night’s action the club trails Boston and New Jersey in the race for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Eric Fehr will center the third line during Bonino’s absence. Sullivan suggested that a number of players could see PK duty, including recent call-ups Bryan Rust and Tom Kuhnhackl.
Hi Rick,
Woke up this morning, and SURPRISE ! JR made another trade.
The guy is 5’11 and is listed at 185 pounds and is 27 years old.
Just what we need, another smurf !
In his entire 5 seasons in the NHL he has scored a total of 62 goals.
17 goals is his highest single season output.
This year he has 4 ! Now for the good news.We have to pay him 4 million a year for 3 more years. In my books, that is a lot money for 17 goals a year.
I have been very supportive in my comments of JR, saving my frustrations
for his bosses Mario and Ron and the previous GM Shero, but to me this move is plain ridiculous. I know they got rid of Peron and that is what people will look at, however you can not win a Stanley Cup if you continue to waste your cap space paying 4 million a year on a 2 million dollar a year player.This team needs to get bigger, tougher,faster,and younger.
Even Byran Rust will score 10 to 12 goals in the next year if you play him in the same situations as Carl H. and he costs you about 800,000 a year.
It shows how desperate we have become !
Plus they had to throw in Adam G. from an already weak d corps to make the numbers work.
You know Rick,if they did nothing and kept Peron, at least in 4 month’s we would have had his 4.5 million dollars in Cap space to secure some real talent in the off season. This way JR has tied our hands again for 3 more years.
I am afraid I agree with you now on this one. JR has to go !!
Hey Jim,
At first blush I liked the trade. Based on scouting reports and his track record (this season’s struggles aside), I’ve got to think Hagelin’s an upgrade over Perron, who didn’t seem to do anything well except score during shootouts.
However, when I read the terms of Hagelin’s contract my enthusiasm ebbed somewhat. As you pointed out, $4M a season (for 4 years) is an awful lot to pay for (at best) a 17-goal scorer.
No sooner did we dig ourselves out from under an onerous contract (Scuderi’s) we added one.
I’m afraid Rutherford’s chasing his tail, at least to an extent. Caught in an endless loop of trying to prop the team up to a) make the playoffs and b) make it look good for a prospective buyer. Who’ll, in all likelihood, see through our smokescreen anyway.
Hi Rick
Patrick Hornqvist is a rare bread of player,given the small size of his frame and his no non sense approach to the game. He plays with heart on most nights. 185 pounds on a good day, but he plays like he is 215 pounds. He is good for 20 goals a year and probably another 20 to 30 helpers a year on any good NHL team.To me he is a really good third line winger, given his age and size on a true Cup contending team.The problem is,like many of the Pens he is over paid for his current offensive production. 4.1 million a year for four years is a little steep.If his cap hit was 3.1 million, or 2.9 million people would say to hang on to him. My point is that,if he is priced right then there are always room for his type of player on a cup contender.
What Patrick needs are two new line mates that are about 230 pounds,6’3 or better, that can skate,score and FIGHT if needed. Then you really would see the value of Hornqvist .
Final point, is the recent comments in the media about Mario being upset that apparently they had a buyer for the Pens recently and Ron over ruled him and would not sell the team for the offered price.Now they are trying to say it never happened. Right…… also the articles both mentioned that if the Pens miss the playoffs,Mario said that they would end up in the RED !
Can you imagine how hard it will be for JR to get anybody of real character and talent to come to the Pen’s now after the owner said that ?
Great days to be a Pen’s fan.
Cheers….
Hey Jim,
I LOVE the way Hornqvist plays. Image if he was 20 pounds heavier. He’d truly be a force. I always felt that way about Chris Kunitz, too. While I realize Kuny’s in decline now, he stills plays so much bigger than he is. Wish we had a few more like them. Or, as you suggested, a couple of full-sized power forwards who combined a scoring touch with snarl.
Unfortunately, those guys are an increasingly rare breed this days. Where have all the Gary Roberts and Rick Tocchets gone? Heck, I remember back in the day when there were tons of guys who could fight and score. Clark Gillies, Bob Nystrom, Dan Maloney, Terry O’Reilly, Al Secord, “Wild” Willi Plett, Paul Holmgren, Mel Bridgman, Jim Peplinski, Perry Turnbull and our own “Battleship” Kelly, to name a few.
Switching gears, I don’t have any connections to the Pens, and thus no inside information on the sale of the team (or any rumored rift between Mario and Burkle). About all I can do is comment on what I observe … that perhaps it’s been harder to find a prospective buyer than ownership would’ve liked.
I’ve got to think some of the side issues—development rights to the old Civic Arena property and Mario’s desire to maintain a stake in the team—are complicating things. Perhaps the asking price, too.
While I can’t profess to know anything about the team’s financial structure, it wouldn’t shock me if the Pens would lose money if they don’t make the playoffs.
Pens need to start winning more and acting like high powered offense and stop making sucky goalies look good against them its ridiculous.
Hey Jon,
It sure hasn’t been as easy for this team to score as we all thought or hoped. There are lots of factors, including a league-wide trend toward tighter defensive play, greater tolerance for obstruction, and goalies who seem to fill the net just by standing still.
However, there’s no doubt the Pens have underachieved offensively. Among the forwards, Malkin’s about the only guy who’s scoring at his expected pace. While Sid and Hornqvist are coming around under Sullivan, they’re still lagging a bit. Kessel needs to pick it up a notch.
But the real issue is with players like Bonino, Fehr, Kunitz and…especially…Perron. All these guys have been 20-goal scorers in the past. It’s unreasonable to expect career years from them. But…say…15 goals apiece? None of them is projected to come close to that mark.
Factor in guys like Plotnikov and Porter who provide little in terms of output, not to mention an offensively challenged defense, and you start to see why we’ve sunk to the bottom of the barrel in goal scoring.