I was ambling across the parking lot at the Crafton-Ingram Shopping Center this afternoon, taking in the unseasonably warm Pittsburgh weather before reporting to work at Wright’s Gym, when I bumped into one of our members, John Bigger.
“Think they’ll make a trade before the deadline?” John asked.
“Huh?” I responded. For a second I thought he was referring to the MLB meetings, which concluded a few days ago.
“The hockey holiday deadline,” he replied, jogging my memory.
“Nah,” I countered. “I think JR’ll wait until the New Year.”
Shows you what I know. Penguins GM Jim Rutherford, apparently anxious to shake up his struggling team, got in some last-minute holiday shopping, swinging two separate deals.
The first, I’ll admit, had me scratching my head. In exchange for speedy winger Josh Archibald, minor-league goalie Sean Maguire and a sixth-round pick in 2019, JR acquired 36-year-old goalie Michael Leighton and a fourth-round pick from Arizona.
Honestly, I thought Leighton had retired. A quick glance at his stats on hockeydb.com confirmed I was nearly right. Since emerging as Philly’s go-to goalie during the 2010 playoffs, Leighton’s played all of seven games in the NHL. For the most part, he’s plied his trade in the American Hockey League, were he’s put up decent to very good numbers.
We paid a pretty steep price, it seemed, for a guy who, in all likelihood, will serve as no more than a veteran mentor at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. And I really liked Archibald’s speed and grit, although he obviously didn’t fit into the Penguins’ plans. I’m sure he’ll get a chance to play under Rick Tocchet out west.
The deal did provide a little cap space, not to mention flexibility. Archibald was on a one-way, two-year deal with an AAV of $675K ($650 if he played with the Baby Pens). Maguire, a highly touted prospect who never panned out, was earning $62.5K in the minors. Leighton will make $200K in the minors…$650K in the unlikely event he plays for the Pens.
JR promptly flipped the newly acquired 4th round pick to Dallas for defenseman Jamie Oleksiak. The first thing that jumped out at me is his size. The kid’s a monster–6’7″ and 255 pounds. He’s also a former first-round pick (14th overall in 2011), so he must possess at least some pedigree. And he’s still young…two days short of his 25th birthday.
Here’s what The Hockey News has to say.
| Assets
Has tremendous size and reach for the blueline position, so he’s not easy to play against. Also skates well for his size and has good shutdown instincts. |
| Flaws
Does not make good-enough use of his physical gifts and needs more work in his defensive-zone coverage. Isn’t a natural point producer, either. Lacks game-to-game consistency. |
| Career Potential
Mammoth defenseman with a little upside. |
I was curious about the kid’s toughness, so I checked his fight card on dropyourgloves.com. He can handle his dukes, with particularly impressive victories over Edmonton’s Patrick Maroon and Nicolas Deslauriers of Montreal. He’s held his own against the likes of Minnesota heavy Chris Stewart.
He’ll also hit (271 in 140 NHL games) and block shots (183). His career Corsi is 49.5—not great, but hardly horrible. While not a consistent offensive threat, he did tally five goals in 41 games last season.
Oleksiak’s spent most of his pro career as a fringe defenseman, splitting time between the Stars and their AHL affiliate. Actually, the newcomer’s career track closely resembles that of Ian Cole, who was in a similar place when Rutherford acquired him from St. Louis in 2015. Ironic in a way, since Ian’s the guy Oleksiak will most likely supplant, long term.
Of course, it remains to be seen whether the kid can help solidify an ultra-shaky defense, let alone contribute enough on offense to please coach Mike Sullivan. But, hopefully, it’s a step in the right direction.
Hey Rick,
Great stuff. Thanks for the leg work on Oleksiak.
I believe it was circa 49 AD when a great fire burned what historians suggest may have been about 70% of Rome. Whether apocryphal or not, it is said that then emperor, GM if you will of the Roman Empire, Nero, sat at his villa in Antium and played his fiddle. (If I recall at least the part of the fiddle is just urban legend, I don’t think the fiddle was invented until later.)
However, if this is all that JR has up his sleeve, I am sorry, JR is doing his best Nero imitation. As both you and Jim note here and others have noted immediately in the fire storm of comments directly after the trade, Leighton does nothing but nothing to help the Parent club.
In fact, the loss of Archibald, although not greatly hurting the big team, does diminish team speed, tenacity, and youth. No, pride will never allow JR or Sullie to acknowledge the mistake n trading for Reaves, so Archibald was never really going to get much of a chance to play in Pgh.
And as much as I would be willing to give Oleksiak a chance (after all I have been screaming for Pedan or Tinordi to be called up), it really is questionable whether or not he will get that chance. With Maatta, Dumoulin, Cole, and Hunwick, a head of him as left handed D men, he does seem to be the odd man out.
So, short of trading Hunwick, who really is a bust. For all of the 3 goals he has scored, his defensive lapses have resulted in far more goals against and trading Cole, who I do like, but who is UFA at the end of the season, Oleksiak sits.
for all of the sound and fury, these trades signify nothing. They do not qualify as a shake-up, maybe the prelude to a shake-up, but not a shake-up. Status quo was maintained for all of the under-achieving veterans.
For JR to shake this team up and set it up for a legitimate shot at a 3-peat attempt, the team needs to trade Letang (if possible, and with his offensive numbers this year, it may be the last best time to pull that off), trade, sit or in some tangible way acknowledge the Reaves experiment was a bust, and trade for a legitimate 3rd line Center to drive depth scoring.
For all of the fan-fare about the 4th line last game, it was 1 game out of 35 and that line still ended up not getting on the score sheet. Maybe their tenacity did wear the other team down a little, but it still resulted in no goals and no win. And despite Sheahan’s recent modest scoring, he is not playing anywhere close to what is needed to 3-peat.
Since Ottawa is in the mood for a trade, I say again, deal with them, make it a multi-player, multi-team deal to get draft picks to trade to Ottawa, for them to recoup some of their lost Picks and prospects, but get Karlsson and Pageau. (Letang and Karlsson are playing about equal right now and a couple of draft picks very well could make it attractive for Ottawa). That would constitute a shake up!
Also, bring up Sprong! Crosby needs a RW that can score. He has had to play with a hodgepodge of wingers, often playing on their off-side in an effort to shake things up. It is doubtful that the team also has enough trading material to trade for 1 and still fill the more gaping holes at C and on D.
I may still want more tinkering, but that is what is needed to shake this team up, not trading draft picks and prospects for more unused players.
Hey Other Rick,
Stated with eloquence, passion and expertise, as always. I don’t disagree with any of your assertions, at least not to any great degree. For the record, I’m not as down on Hunwick and Sheahan as most seem to be, and I actually like the latter. But I can appreciate where you’re coming from.
In my mind, the Oleksiak deal…provided he proves himself…is a prelude to dealing Ian Cole. And since the kid has some scrap in his game, the Pens may also feel comfortable parting with Ryan Reaves, who I agree just hasn’t worked out. That would free up $3.2 mil for a possible trade for another center.
Anyway you slice it, I don’t think our Pens are gonna’ three-peat. Given our recent level of play, I’m not even sure we’ll make the playoffs, although perhaps playing teams within our division and conference will help provide a spark.
In any event, I’d like to see JR make moves with an eye toward setting us up for the near future (2018-2020).
Rick
Hey Rick,
I tend always speak and write my opinions in the strongest terms possible, almost as if I don’t acknowledge opposition. So for the record;
I tend to feel that Cole will get traded and that the Oleksiak is the Prelude to that trade. However, I don’t think that the trade will be made for the right reasons (He is going to be UFA and he is an asset that could net the team a good return). I fear that the trade will be made for the wrong reasons (People who can’t play nice together for the good of the team, to try and give an excuse for more ice time for Hunwick by removing players of equal experience and thus trying to justify a bad signing, and to protect under-performing but old higher paid cronies, trying to make Cole the scapegoat).
And as I have written, I would like to see Oleksiak get a chance, but doubt he will. I see the team using Hunwick as much as they can. However, in Oleksiak’s case, as much as I am willing to give him a chance, with Pedan and Tinordi in WBS was this trade necessary?
As for Hunwick, I do acknowledge that he is playing better than he was earlier this season and his numbers are starting to show it, but it is not showing up in the W column. In fact, the team is struggling to keep its head above water (0.500) lately.
I am not as down on Sheahan as I was when the team first traded for him, perhaps I have just reconciled myself to the inevitable but I think he is more of a 4th line Center than 3rd. If the team landed a Pageau, he would be better on the 3rd line and he also was a pretty good PK man netting 7 SHG one season. Having both Sheahan and Pageau would only solidify that area even more, particularly with Rowney able to shift back to RW and step in when one of those 2 are in the box.
Hey Coach,
From your various writings, being ambiguous is not a problem you have. Most definitely we know where you stand on most issues. That is what I really like about your work. Most of the time it is either black or white …not much grey from you.
Keep up the great work…
Jim
Hey Other Rick,
For the record, I don’t want to see us trade Ian Cole. I really like the guy. But I think it’s a foregone conclusion that if we trade a d-man, he’ll be the one to go.
BTW, I like your thoughts on Pageau and Karlsson. But I have a hard time seeing the Sens bite on Kris Letang, especially if they’re committed to rebuilding.
With plenty of room under the cap, I wonder if Vegas–in the midst of a surprisingly strong season–might have an interest in ‘Tanger.’ His good buddies, Fleury and Perron are there, and we might be able to pry loose a young defenseman and carve out some cap space to boot.
Rick
That is why I am suggesting a multi-team deal as well. I am not sure who may want what. However, if the Pens could involve another team with other draft picks and if Ottawa is going to hit the reset button, maybe they will take take on Letang’s to get the draft picks. Regardless, of how it has to happen (in terms of who trades what, not in over-all cost, the cost to benefit ratio still has to be there), I do think that Karlsson and Pageau in a Pens uniform may give them a good shot at a 3-peat.
Hi Rick,
I too think we paid to much for an AHL caliber goalie.He is a back up to the back up at best. We need depth for sure in all positions but this trade really surprised me. Now if with the 4 th round pick we also received from the Yotes and we are able to get Jamie Oleksiak playing and he develops into a solid 5 or 6th d man, then the trade becomes Archibald verses Oleksiak .
Rick I think I would like that trade myself but time will tell if Jamie can stay healthy and contribute 15 to 18 solid minutes a game for us.
Bottom line is I am glad JR is starting to do something. I am sure he is far from being finished.
Hope you have a great Christmas Rick. Thanks for your help tonight.
Jim