It isn’t the easiest thing to do. Improving a team through trades. Indeed, there’s a certain hit-or-miss quality about the process that comes with the turf. Kind of like panning for gold nuggets in a partially played-out stream, hoping to strike it rich.
Especially if your counterpart senses you’re itching to make a deal. Overplay your hand and you’re liable to overpay. Dearly.
Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford knows all-too-well how easy it is to get burned. Take last season’s stinker, for example, when he parted with a first-round pick and forward Rob Klinkhammer for erstwhile sniper David Perron. Or the unpopular Simon Despres for Ben Lovejoy swap.
Fortunately, JR doesn’t dwell on past mistakes. Nor is he easily discouraged. With the season hanging in the balance, the veteran executive unearthed two gems. Two days after dismissing Mike Johnston—and admitting that perhaps he didn’t provide the embattled coach with the right mix of players—Rutherford parlayed shopworn Rob Scuderi and his onerous contract into ultra-mobile defenseman Trevor Daley.
He was just warming up. Seeking to address a paucity of production from the port side and add more special-teams options, JR shipped the snake-bitten Perron and spare defenseman Adam Clendening to Anaheim on January 16 for burner Carl Hagelin.
Taken in tandem, the trades have had an energizing effect. They may well have saved the Pens’ season, too.
Hagelin, in particular, provided an immediate spark. His speed, playmaking, and all-around hustle have created time and space for linemates Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel, who’ve combined for five goals over the past two games. In four games since his arrival, Hagelin’s picked up three assists to go with a sparkling plus-5.
Skipper Mike Sullivan, who coached No. 62 in New York, was effusive in his praise.
“He’s going to track pucks down,” Sullivan said. “He’s going to help [Malkin and Kessel] keep the puck longer. He’s going to force turnovers. Put teams in vulnerable circumstances. And he’s got good enough hockey sense that he can play with those guys that think the game at that level. He’s a good player and a real good person.”
A sequence at the end of Saturday’s comeback victory over Vancouver spoke volumes about the speedy Swede’s unselfish nature. Sidney Crosby made an extraordinary play to get him the puck—and a chance at his first Penguins goal. Hagelin promptly dished a pass back to Sid, allowing the Pens’ captain to score into an empty net. A class move through and through.
While it’s unclear what went wrong for Daley in Chicago he, too, has been a terrific addition. From his perch on the back end Trevor’s helped improve the Pens’ transition game, which was in shambles prior to his arrival.
Like his fellow newcomer, the foundation of Daley’s game is skating. Remarkably quick and agile, the 5’11” 195-pounder is especially adept at using his edges on the power play to move laterally and create passing lanes. A skill he shares with former Pens great and current coach Sergei Gonchar.
Daley can score, too. A career-best 16 goals last season with Dallas. And four since joining the black-and-gold on December 14, including three goals in his past five games.
Wilson Recalled
With forward Beau Bennett reinjuring his shoulder on Saturday and Chris Kunitz questionable for tonight’s key division matchup with New Jersey, the Pens have recalled forward Scott Wilson from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Wilson skated in four games for the Pens around the holidays, picking up his first NHL point (an assist). The 23-year-old Oakville, Ontario native has 20 goals—tops in the AHL. He leads the Baby Pens in scoring with 34 points in 32 games.
Farnham Returns
Tonight’s game marks the Steel City return of Bobby Farnham, the pint-sized marauder who was claimed on waivers by the Devils on October 26.
“It will be fun,” Farnham told NJ Advance Media. “I’m excited, obviously. I had a great time in that organization. I’m excited to go back and play.”
Since joining the Devils, Farnham’s scored seven goals in 25 games while providing his customary energy and fire (44 PIM and three fights).
Hi Rick
The Pens are definitely playing a more up tempo game.Hagelin and his speed has helped to create more offensive chances for his line mates. Kessel seems to have found another “gear” as well. If Hagelin and his speed can create two or three additional quality scoring chances every game,then obviously he was worth the 4 million we will pay him.He may never be a pure goal scorer in the true sense but his value maybe that he helps Geno score an extra 10 goals a season, Kessel an extra 15 goals a season, and his defense an extra 5 goals a season,and he prevents 20 goals a year from being scored against his line then that makes him very valuable.
It takes many parts to make a Cup Contender. I did not see this at first !
With Daley,he has definitely been an improvement over Scud’s.He has changed the dynamic of the Pen’s back end. Do they still have D problems? Absolutely.They need at least 2 more pieces to really make a difference and there lies my concern.Why did Chicago never play him other than a 6 or 7 th d man? If Chicago is the Cup Standard which we measure ourselves it begs the question.What do they know that we don’t ?
Final point is, I see that Adam Glendenning was picked up off waivers by Edmonton.They want him to run their Power play the article says.It also went on to list all his many accomplishments in the AHL. He was a First team and Second team all star selection? Apparently he was a power play specialist? Why did not JR pick this kid back up off waivers ? He was a first round pick !
Instead we have some 4 th and 5 th round small d men in our minor system and we expect to compete in today’s NHL. Strange…
Hey Jim,
Always nice to hear from you.
I must say, I’m very pleased with how the Penguins are playing. Kind of a night-and-day difference from even a few weeks ago, when they lost those back-to-back games to Chicago. They’ve changed my opinion of them. At least concerning this season’s playoff chances and their potential upside.
I won’t go into detail (I’m working on a new post along these lines). But I think they’ll need to upgrade their scoring depth—especially at left wing. And, as you noted, I think the defense still is a potential weakness. Especially since Sullivan paired Daley with Dumoulin to form a stronger second pairing.
We’ll have to see how the Pouliot-Lovejoy tandem works out. But I’d love to see them add a solid, physical “all-arounder” to pair with Pouliot.
Regarding Clendening, he never really got much of a chance to show what he could do here. I, too, was kind of baffled by it. Especially given his impressive track record in college and the AHL. Then I read somewhere that his skating might be an issue. Given the Pens’ preference for speed on their “d,” it kind of makes sense. Plus, I’m sure Rutherford was looking to clear some cap space.
I really hope the kid finds a home in Edmonton. It’s almost painful to watch a player—especially a young one with promise—bounce around so much. I hope seizes the opportunity with the Oilers and establishes himself as a bona fide NHL defenseman.
Two great pick ups IMO great speed and hockey sense from both