It was right around this time last season when the Penguins received a divine bit of inspiration, wrapped in the guise of a devastating injury.
Remember? March 11, 2016 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus. Evgeni Malkin was checked awkwardly into the end boards during second-period action by Blue Jackets bruiser Dalton Prout and came away favoring his left arm. An injury that would prevent Geno from playing again until the postseason.
At the time, Malkin was centering a potential high-octane line for sniper Phil Kessel and speedy newcomer Carl Hagelin. During a previous stint on IR, his spot had been effectively filled by Matt Cullen. I assumed the veteran center would step into the void again.
Then Mike Sullivan threw me a curve. He announced that Nick Bonino would be elevated to the No. 2 center spot.
“I think ‘Bones’ has some real good offensive instincts,” the Pens’ coach said.
Bonino had tallied all of four goals and 13 points and, frankly, looked thoroughly unimpressive while doing it. I thought “Sully” had lost his mind.
How wrong I was.
The soon-to-be-dubbed HBK Line caught fire. In one of the most stunning individual transformations since mild-mannered Clark Kent stepped into a phone booth and re-emerged as Superman, Bonino scored five goals and 16 points in his final 15 games, including a career-best five-point night against Detroit on March 26.
The dashing Hagelin? Seven goals and seven assists in his last 16.
Given a line of his own, Kessel’s extraordinary creativity and playmaking skills bubbled to the surface. Reborn, he racked up six goals and 10 assists down the homestretch to salvage a mildly disappointing regular season before shining like the Hope Diamond in the playoffs.
The trio displayed marvelous chemistry. An innate sixth sense for knowing just what each other would do on the ice. With all due respect to Sidney Crosby and super rookie Matt Murray, arguably the driving force behind the Pens’ Stanley Cup triumph.
Everyone—myself included—assumed that success would continue unabated this season. Mysteriously, it hasn’t.
The unit played a handful of uninspired games together in October, but was quickly broken up. Occasionally Sullivan reunited last year’s playoff heroes, with similar results.
Hockey lore is filled with one-hit wonders who burst onto the scene, only to quickly fade from view. Do the names John Druce, Al Hill and Steve Penney ring a bell?
I just never figured The HBK Line to be one of ‘em.
Like everyone else, I’m at a loss to explain how something so right could suddenly go so wrong. Kind of like those three-month love affairs I experienced in my (much) younger days. Ones that began hot ‘n’ heavy, only to ingloriously flame out in the end.
The fact that Bonino appears to be a slow starter—and has struggled on draws—may have something to do with it. Puck possession starts in the faceoff circle. But that’s putting far too much on No. 13’s sloping shoulders. The answer, obviously, isn’t that simple.
A spate of injuries to our forwards, notably Bryan Rust, Conor Sheary and, more recently, Hagelin certainly is a factor. Forcing Sullivan to juggle his line combinations to plug short-term gaps.
Then again, perhaps it’s a matter of timing. Maybe the erstwhile HBK members are like your faithful bloodhound. They don’t get into a lather until they pick up the scent. Or in this case, a whiff of high-stakes hockey.
Whatever the causes, here’s hoping Sully gives the trio another try, and soon.
With the playoffs fast approaching, the Pens sure could use an encore performance.
Hey Rick,
Call me old fashion, call me dumb, …Both are true but I can not help to think that Bones would play ” better” if he had a decent ,long term contract. Based on his last years performance alone,he will get a serious raise over his 1.9 million cap hit he gets now.
My bets are the first digit in his new contract will be a three and the term will be for for 5 to 6 years.So why not agree in principal now that due to cap restraints this year,I can not change your contract, but you will be signed FIRST in July at whatever the agreed price and term will be.
My gut feeling is his agent has already suggested that and MARIO and company are not willing to commit to a long term and that price. Yet he looks over to his left wing and sees a guy,who they pay 4 million a year to for 3 more years, and what really has he done except skate fast ?
Kind a makes you feel wanted.
Would you really bust your hinder every night knowing that this is your last year in the Black and Gold ?
As Coach said last fall, not getting Bones signed would be a BIG mistake and it would come back to haunt them. It has.
Putting Geno and Phil together is a recipe for failure come play off time, because last year it was the HBK that won us the Cup.Three scoring lines .
Now we do not have that.
On a different note,Streit looked good last night against Tampa.
Cheers
Hey Jim,
As a coach/manager/whatever, I am a big fan of change the players or change the players. I don’t know Bones, I don’t what his hot buttons are. I don’t know if he is the kind of player you need to coddle or challenge to get the best out of him. You may be right, sitting in limbo could very well be taking a toll on Bones’s psyche and negatively affecting his play.
If I am the coach and I felt that this were the case I would have gone to JR and said something. I would have gone to bat for him, after the way he played last year he would have deserved no less. I would also let him know that I am going to bat for him but that I need him to play his best so I have leverage when I speak to JR on his behalf. I would also remind him that regardless of whether he plays here next year or opts for bigger money elsewhere, his own play will dictate how much anyone will pay for him, so that he needs to give his best like last year and that if wasn’t getting the job done, I would find someone that would get the job done and then back up my words by talking to JR et al and is I didn’t see a change, sit Bonino in the Press Box.
To be sure, Bonino did pick up an assist as well as winning tons of FOs last night. However, where was he on that first goal against. Both D (Cole and Ruhwedel) and Bonino were no where to be found with 2-bolts in front of the net and Murray left out all alone on a limb. Thanks to Malkin, Murray, Kessel, Crosby, and Streit (I had to say that last part sotto voce since I berated the trade) the Pens over-came that guffaw in a big way.
With Sheary back maybe we can start seeing some big O numbers again!
GO Pens!!!!!!!!!!
Hey Rick,
Like you, I was looking forward to a great season from HBK. Vision of a triple threat offense with scoring records falling filled my thoughts. I was worried that if we didn’t resign Bonino before the season he would put up numbers that the Pens couldn’t compete with to resign him.
Maybe starting the season off without Crosby messed some things up. Maybe they are just plain tired from too many games, after that long run last year. Maybe it is just a question of Chemistry. Chemistry is a fleeting thing and may have left them. What ever the reason, it doesn’t matter, the line has flopped. Boy I was wrong.
Kessel has been able to still contribute, just not with HBK. Hagelin hasn’t been quite as fortunate, but his speed has still been a factor in many games and he has been able to stay a plus. Unfortunately, Bonino has been the one struggling the most. Maybe it is a question of Bones being a slow starter; afterall he started out pretty slow last year but after he came back from his hand injury which was roughly about the time Malkin went down to injury, he went on his streak. Maybe he needs another hand injury?
Regardless, last year, even when he wasn’t contributing on the scoreboard, he was still winning FO. Whatever the reason, this year he has been slumping in all facets of his game. Cullen, the 4th line Center has played less games and has more points. His plus/minus is worst among Centers and his FOW% is just under 49%. Truthfully, I can’t help wonder why Sullivan hasn’t given Sundqvist an opportunity to take Bones spot either directly or indirectly on 4th line with Cullen getting the 2nd line. As I have written before, maybe some time in the Press Box could spark him the way it sparked Cole and Lovejoy last year.
Again, as I have written several times, I can’t help but blame the thrid lines ineffectiveness to the elevated shot totals. Last year the lead the way with their harrassing the opponents thereby insulating an otherwise weak D.
Hopefull Sheary will be back tonight!
Go Pens!!!
Looks like I was writing too fast and have some typos.
I meant Cullen getting the 3rd line and he and Bones are tied for points with Cullen playing less games.
Hey Other Rick,
I’ve been scrambling around a bit today. But great thoughts and comments, as always.
Rick
Rick
Honestly I don’t see Bonino as a consistent offensive threat – Really what
I thinks happens is the longer your put into a certain role other teams have
the opportunity to evaluate your strengths / weaknesses. I think a player
like Bonino is easily taken out of what he does well.
Just think if Sutter had the chance to play with the type of skilled players
now with the Pen’s – he currently has 15 goals and 12 assist to Bonino’s
9 goals and 14assist. Personally I would make the trade again tomorrow
to have Sutter back.
Hey Mike,
There certainly were elements to Sutter’s game that I liked. He was clutch, for one, with a deceptive shot. I thought he was particularly effective off the rush…especially coming down the right side.
I’m not super into metrics. But those who are insist Sutter’s one of the most overrated players in the league. In particular, his WOWY (with or without you) numbers aren’t good. They labeled him “an opportunistic scorer” with few other redeeming qualities.
Don’t know if I buy that. But perhaps not the two-way stalwart he was touted to be.
Actually, given the comparative strengths and weaknesses in Sutter’s game, I always thought he’d make a better right wing than center. Surprised no one tried that.
Personally, I think Bonino has a better all-around game. Or at least he did–this season he’s struggled on faceoffs and output-wise, although we tend to forget he’s a third-line center.
To me, “Bones” displayed very subtle, almost sneaky offensive skills last spring. Good at changing the pace and then … WHAM. Very heady, when on his game.
Unfortunately, we just haven’t seen a whole lot of that guy this season.
Rick