All I want for Christmas is more changes for the Penguins.

Dear Santa,

Yes, the early Christmas gift of GM Jim Rutherford to Penguins’ fans, Jamie Oleksiak, looks pretty good in his first game as a Penguin. (I really like his nickname “The Big Rig.”) He led the team in hits in his first game in a Penguins’ sweater. He also flashed some really Christmas-y sweet skating moves; once to get open space and a lane to the net and a couple of times eluding forecheckers. Unfortunately, he missed the net on the open chance his skating gained him, and again (though no fault of his own), his first night’s CORSI was on the negative side (11 Shot Attempts For with 15 Shot Attempts Against). I am thinking that total was due more to his defensive partner for most of the game Matt Hunwick. Hunwick is one of the few Penguins who still has negative CORSI numbers after the resurgence of the fore-check.

I must also say I do like the fact that Oleksiak actually skates while he is on the ice and doesn’t just stand there like so many of his peers do. No, Oleksiak seems to have learned that the best way to beat the fore-check is to keep skating; a moving target is harder to hit and catch. You would think that with Kris Letang’s, Brian Dumoulin’s and Ollie Maatta’s skating ability –and the fact that all three have exhibited some good moves of their own to carry the biscuit all the way into the attacking zone– that they would do less standing and more skating. Alas, they don’t. So my first Christmas wish is that the rest of the Penguins’ “D” learn from Oleksiak and not vice versa.

Also, Santa, even though the Penguins were able to beat the really naughty Columbus Blue Jackets (they should get lumps of coal in their stockings), the Blue Jackets are slumping (4 -5 -1 in their last 10 games) on the back end of a back-to-back series and without the services of Brandon Dubinsky (one of the more naughty ones, Santa), Ryan Murray, and Zach Werenski, and lost Boone Jenner (another candidate for coal) for a dangerous cross-check in the second period, Columbus still stole a point and almost got both of them. Our Penguins may be able to crawl out of the hole they are digging, but I remain unconvinced. All teams have their share of injuries that they must overcome to prove themselves winners, so I am not feeling all that sorry for Columbus, but their depleted and tired line-up almost sent the Penguins to another loss.

Therefore Santa, please, please, please, do not let this be the end to the Penguins’ moves. My Christmas wish list: make Ottawa to trade us Erik Karlsson and Jean-Gabriel Pageau. The media is reporting that Ottawa may be willing to deal these players. Please Santa, give Rutherford the courage to think about the future to make a deal like this happen. We may need your help with this because it may have to be a multi-team swap to get the deal done. Please drop Rutherford some extra outside of the box thinking in his stocking.

I have read that Andrea Athansiou is not happy with the lack of ice-time that he has been getting in Detroit. Santa, I was hoping that Rutherford would have signed Athansiou as an Restricted Free Agent (RFA), but since he failed that maybe you could bring us Athansiou in a trade as well. With Athanasiou, Hagelin would become redundant and Athanasiou can play Center as well as Left Wing.

To bring these trades off, Santa, I would suggest that you could offer Letang (hemay be picking up stats right now but this may be our last best chance to shed him), Ian Cole (I hate to see him go, but I am resigned to his departure), Matt Hunwick (addition by subtraction?)  Carl Hagelin, Conor Sheary, and Tom Kuhnhackl (I like him too, just like I like Cole, but it appears that Mike Sullivan doesn’t), as well as draft picks (but keep the picks to a minimum please — maybe some of the players on this list might net Draft Picks that could sweeten the pot for Ottawa.)

The final presents I would like to see in my Penguins’ stocking is Daniel Sprong at least to get a shot. Sidney Crosby needs a quality winger that isn’t afraid to shoot the puck.

I know I haven’t always been on my best this season Santa, I have been a little critical of my favorite hockey team, but that is only because I want to see a 3-peat.

Go Penguins!!!

The Other Rick