I have a confession to make. I didn’t see the first half of last night’s Stadium Series matchup at Heinz Field.
By the time I arrived at the Pennsbury Pub and Grille to view the game on a big screen TV, the Penguins had already forged a 2-0 lead over the blood-rival Flyers. Replays revealed that Sidney Crosby and Nick Bonino did the honors.
No sooner had I settled onto a barstool and ordered a beer than Philly’s Jakub Voracek walked around the normally redoubtable Ian Cole in the corner and beat Matt Murray with a brilliant individual effort off the end boards to make it 2-1.
Oops.
I held my breath for a second, hoping no one noticed our fortunes had turned the instant I walked in. Didn’t want to be labeled a jinx.
As I began to take in the game, a friend named Joe approached the bar next to me. We made small talk while I glimpsed the proceedings from the corner of my eye. In particular, I wanted to see how the newest Pen, Ron Hainsey, was faring in his black-and-gold (or gold-and-black) debut.
“I was there,” Joe muttered.
“Huh?” I replied, only half listening.
“I was at the game,” he continued. “About 10 rows back in the one corner. Couldn’t see a thing. Left after the first period. The wind…it was too darn cold.”
Joe proceeded to describe what he was wearing—long johns, Under Armour, hoodie and winter parka I believe—but by then I’d tuned him out. I really wanted to watch the game.
I winced as an unidentified Flyer lined up Pens defenseman Justin Schultz, fresh off a concussion, only to pull up at the last moment.
Thank goodness. The last thing we need is for Schultz to get hurt again.
Judging from replays, it appeared as though I’d missed most of the mayhem that’s come to typify the “Battle of Pennsylvania.” Brandon Manning’s crushing (and dirty) hit on Jake Guentzel, who set up our first two goals to earn the game’s first star. Eric Fehr’s payback collision with Voracek minutes later. And the near-scrap between Chris Kunitz and Flyers toughie Dale Weise.
Indeed, the game—at least from my standpoint—had grown a bit dull. Worse yet, what little action there was seemed to be heavily skewed in the Flyers’ favor. I later learned Philly had piled up a 16-7 edge in first-period shots on goal.
I took a long draw from my beer.
C’mon Pens. We can’t lose to these guys.
Absorbed by the game’s ebb and flow, I began to note some changes.
Why is Kunitz playing with Sid? He’s not a top-line winger any more. What the heck is Hornqvist doing on a line with Bonino? Jeez, Sully…
Then Matt Cullen scored on a rebound off a wraparound attempt early in the third period, and I breathed a little easier. That is, until Philly’s Claude Giroux grabbed Guentzel’s stick while circling out of the corner, pulled it towards him, and somehow sold a bogus holding call to the referees.
“That’s a bleep call,” railed a buddy from a table nearby. “Are they blind?”
It took all of 14 seconds for Philly’s lethal power play to cash in. With Wayne Simmonds providing the hockey equivalent of a solar eclipse, Shayne Gostibehere (as in, you gots-to-be-here to believe it) beat Murray with an absolute rocket from the point.
Poor “Muzz” didn’t stand a chance. One of the few times all evening (36 saves).
Worried anew, I fidgeted and fretted until the 14-minute mark, when Chad Ruhwedel returned the favor with a gift long-ranger that somehow evaded the radar of goalie Michal Neuvirth. I ordered another beer and mellowed out while the Pens wrapped up a 4-2 victory. Leveling their record in outdoor games at 2-2.
While everybody else celebrated, I felt mostly relieved. Relieved it was over. Relieved we’d won. And relieved nobody got hurt.
Ice Chips
The Penguins outhit the Flyers, 50-39. Philly outshot the Pens, 38-29, and won 59 percent of the faceoffs.
Hainsey played 21:08, equaling his career average. He finished the game a plus-1 with four hits, one blocked shot, and one shot on goal. The former Hurricane was second to defense partner Brian Dumoulin in shorthanded ice time (3:09).
The fourth line of Cullen, Fehr and Tom Kuhnhackl (eight hits) combined for three points. Cullen’s tally was his 10th of the season, marking the 15th time Matt’s reached double figures in goals during his NHL career.
Cameron Gaunce (five hits) teamed with Ruhwedel on the third defensive pairing. Kris Letang missed the game with an upper-body injury. Steve Oleksy and Carter Rowney were healthy scratches.
Okay, so here is my question;
I have been thinking about the LA – Bishop rental to try and squeeze into the playoff picture with St. Louis and Calgary the teams most at risk; what are the chances now that either of those teams are and/or have been feeling the pressure and are looking to or already have been hammering out a trade with the Pens for MAF?
I am not sure LA really upgraded by flipping Budaj for Bishop, he really hasn’t looked himself lately, but their spin is being able to put a No 1 on the ice every night.
So, if this is the case, is Shattenkirk or maybe Wideman (not sure they would give up Hamilton at this point) on their way to Pgh? And if so, what are your thoughts, what else would you be willing to give up or what else would you want in exchange? Or would you perhaps take LAs approach?
If someone is a really hoping for a trade like one of these, they should maybe thank LA for adding to the pressure to push that sort of trade forward.
Hey Coach,
Sorry for being so late getting back to you.
In my perfect world I would like to see MAF, Olli Maatta, and Derrick Pouliot, and what ever other minor piece required plus our first round pick, go to St. Louis for Jake Allen, Kevin Shattenkirk and possibly either left winger Magnus Paajarvi or defenseman Robert Bortuzzo.( I prefer Borts ).
Borts has just signed a 2 year extension for 1.15 million and Paajarvi, who is a big body,very fast skater, high first round pick who never achieved his potential is signed for 700K and is RFA after this season. Shattenkirk will only be a rental and will be gone to New York for 7 million + the reports say.
Allen’s cap hit is $ 2.35 million this year and then $ 4.35 million for the next 4 years.
If Justin Schultz does not resign, he will bring us at least 1 first round and possibly 2 first round, 1second and 1 third round picks, that will be much higher than our 30 th pick we will forfeit this year to St.Louis.So giving up the 30 th pick is not a concern to me because we will not be in a position to pay Justin Schultz 6 million dollars plus a year and keep everyone else as we posted before.
To me if the Blues are worried about Allen, and getting something for Shattenkirk, they should take the deal. Yes we give up Maatta,Pouliot,( who is wasting away in WBS), and MAF but we get Bortuzzo long term and Allen as well.The numbers work about 1.5 million in our favor. Then I look for an aging veteran forward with size at trade deadline for 1 million or so dollars.
I am now all in.
Fun being an armchair GM…..
Cheers
Hey Jim,
If the Pens were to trade MAF combined with Kuntiz’s contract expiring and and at least accoring to your trading Maatta, that is ~$15mil. Even adding back Allen and Bortz’s contract, it seems the Pens should be able to resign Schultz or Shattenkirk.
I may get blasted for this suggestion, but if (and remember this is a big if because your deal is a just one of our discussions and not anyhting real, at least not yet) I may think about shopping Letang in the off-season and go into next season with Shattenkirk and Schultz. Now before anyone who may read this strings up an effigy of me please hear me out.
I am not pushing for this I am just considering the future of the entire team. Letang plays a very hard on the edge style of hockey. He is not that effective when he doesn’t play that way. But his style of play combined with his limited size, he tends to get hurt. He is a question mark every year as to how many games he will play. Which is the reason why I think a Shattenkirk rental makes sense to begin with. Add to that his $7+ mil contract. Next year I would consider trying to start the year with Schultz and Shattenkirk as my top 2-RD.
I think Letang is a phenomenal skater, has great moves (great in the Shoot Out, maybe the best since Erik Christansen), A very good offensive defenseman, provides a large portion of the physical edge for the team. I also feel tons of fan loyalty towards him and would love to see him retire a Pen. I am just thinking out loud here, considering some things you have brought sort of mentioned about Letang.
I may still want someone other than Bortz and Cole for snarl. Since I proposed my Colorado deal I have been thinking about the size Zadarov would bring. I may still want to find a way of bringing him here.
What are you trying to do Coach? Get the GM of the year award. ?
Great stuff.
If we were ever to trade Letang….Only one place for him to go. Montreal. ….
They would idolize him there.
I bet you Montreal would trade even up for Shea Webber. NO KIDDING. The brass in Montreal are still taking crap for trading crowd favorite PK Subban .
Good stuff
Cheers
Hey Jim,
You keep pushing me more and more to making that trade, The Pens couldn’t keep all three Shattenkirk, Schultz, and Weber, but looking at that suggestion; Trade for Shattenkirk et al, finish the season, then trade Letang for Weber – Sign Shattenkirk – let Schultz go RFA and get a 1 rnd pick, then start the season next year with Weber and Shattenkirk heading the D supported by Cole and Bortz?
I am not seeing a down side here, from a team perspective.
Hmmmm Looks good on paper to me.
JR getting beat at every turn – Brendan Smith to the Rangers
for a 2nd + 3rd round picks.
I’m dying a slow death.
Hey Rick,
As I previously posted,that outdoor game was a tremendous visual spectacle and all Pen’s fans should be very proud. Even the little bit of snow was a very nice touch. Well done. 🙂
FYI, Tonight Brent Bishop was traded to the LA Kings for Peter Budaj and young d man, 6’3″ 205 pounds,Erik Cernak.Tampa also sent a 5 th round pick and LA sent a 7th round pick in 2017 and another conditional pick in 2017 as well. Bishop had 2 years to go on his contract with a $ 5.95 million annual cap hit.
Also K. Shattenkirk refused a trade to Tampa and they offered him a 7 year, 6 million dollar annual contract. 42 million in total and he is 28 years old the report said..
This gives you an idea what Justin S. will be worth in the off season if he continues to be healthy and puts up points. Not much difference between these two players Rick. Plus Justin is 2 years younger and taller.
Things are getting interesting ?
Cheers
Hey Rick,
The Ottawa Sun news paper, one of our National Papers, posted an article today regarding K. Shattenkirk.
I quote :
“now it appears Shattenkirk is headed somewhere…. Blues want ,including a first round pick and a prospect. It is believed the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins who are headed for a playoff showdown in the East, if history repeats itself, have both had serious talks with the Blues about acquiring Shattenkirk.You have to think given the fact they are such bitter rivals,neither team wants the other to land the biggest fish at the deadline….A sign and trade deal certainly does not look like it is going to happen and the belief is he will sign with the New York Rangers next year “.
Very interesting Rick. So the Blues are forced to trade him now and get something because he is leaving for New York, otherwise he would have went to Tampa where the weather is better and Florida apparently has less taxes . So he is a rental only.
The question becomes, how bad does Mario and company want to win it all this year. MAF and Derrick P. and a first round pick ?? What do you do. ?
Cheers
Hey Jim,
I would seriously look at a way to get Shattenkirk. It may have to be a 3-way deal because I am not sure if St Louis would want MAF with the way Allen is looking now. but If I am the Pens the only way I can clear room is trading MAF.
The clock is ticking.
Hey Coach,
What did you think of Hainsey in his debut ?
Plus that Vorachek goal should never have happened.
Muuray never had a chance. Cole let him down big time.
I would like to see Vorachek try that move on Victor Hedman
or a Chara in his prime. He would have been flat on his rear end.
Jim
Hey Jim,
I watched the game from a friends house with a lot of people talking back and forth so I didn’t get the chance to really watch the game like I like too. From what I did see Hainsey played much like I expected, okay, but no where near what I think the Pens need to repeat.
You are right about Cole though, when I saw Vorachek coming out in front like that I couldn’t believe it. Not only Hedman and Chara, but even ex Pens like Orpik and Samuelsson would have flattened him, That was surprising to me, Cole has been extremely solid all year. I think in time though, Murray learns to poke check that play himself. Vorachek was in too close, with experience Murray doesn’t let that happen. That is one of the Fleury’s attributes I love, that lighting fast poke check of his. Opponents can’t skat ethat close to him freely. But that is also a skill that has to develope over time.
Over-all, 38 more shots on goal against just goes to bolster my argument that the team needs far more than a Hainsey back there. And Phillie isn’t the worst offenive team, they are ranked in the top 10 in shots per game, but no team is going deep into the play-offs when their goalie is under that much pressure night after night.
LA going after Bishop surprised me at first but after I thought about it, with Quick coming off of a long term injury, I think I understand what they were looking for. I am not sure Bishop is the answer though, he hasn’t really been his old self yet since his play-off injury last year. I really was thinking the Pens would have a hard sell on MAF, but if LA bites on Bishop maybe the rumors from the Quebec media you mentioned are right. Maybe the only reason the MAF deal hasn’t been announced yet is that it is a multi-team deal and all the Ducks aren’t in a row yet. Maybe the Pens are actually after Shattenkirk, while St Louis is really after Duchene but Colorado is the one picking up MAF because they don’t expect Varlamov to really come back. I don’t know, I am just letting my imagination run wild at the moment.
Hey Coach,
67,318 People in paid attendance at Heinz Field.
I just read it on the link below. You all know this already, but for me it is fresh news. WOW !
It also said that Pittsburgh has been involved in 3 of the Top 5 attended outdoor games in NHL history. Think about that Coach !
That is an incredible statement when you consider New York, Detroit, Toronto,Montreal, LA, Boston, Edmonton and Chicago. Big hockey markets. My point simply is this, 50 years ago when the league expanded from 6 to 12 Teams there were many who supported Philadelphia, but Pittsburgh was another issue.They were not to sure it would work long term. Rick can fill us in on those details one day I am sure. But to read those words in that news paper article below is a testament to the incredible fan base in your region. 67,318 people to an outdoor hockey game on National television.
That says it all…..
Hey Jim,
Through those early days of the late 70s early 80s I used to go to about 20 – 30 games a year. I was just reminiscing about paying $15-20 for A or B section seats even for play-off games. Often times there would only be 5K or 6K in the building but the funny thing was those 5K-6K rocked the building; they made more noise than most of the sellouts of the late 90s.
I also remember sweating out several bankruptcies.
What a great thing to see the 67,318 at the game. I spoke to a friend Sat morning who now lives in Chi but flew back to the City to go to the game. My only hope is that the league doesn’t oversaturate th emarket with these outdoor games. I hope they always stay special like this.