Here’s a peek at how former Penguins are faring around the league. Stats are updated through games played as of Saturday, December 8, 2018.
Kasperi Kapanen of Toronto is the runaway leader in goals (11) and points (21). The former first-round pick is tied with Washington’s Matt Niskanen for the assist lead with 10. David Perron (St. Louis) is second in goals (8) and points (16), four points ahead of the next closest forward, Buffalo’s Conor Sheary.
Niskanen paces the expatriate defensemen with 14 points. Ron Hainsey of Toronto is next in line with 12. The big defenseman is second among former Pens with a plus-15, a notch behind Maple Leafs teammate Kapanen (plus-16).
Aside from Kapanen, the biggest surprise is Ryan Reaves of Vegas. The slugging right wing has displayed a touching touch with six goals and 10 points. His 43 penalty minutes trail only Ian Cole (50) of Colorado.
Marc-Andre Fleury (Vegas) leads the ex-Pens goalies in several categories, including wins (16), shutouts (5) and goals against average (2.52). Thomas Greiss of the Islanders has the best save percentage (.918).
| SCORING | ||||||||
| Player | Team | Pos | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM | +/- |
| * Kasperi Kapanen | TOR | RW | 30 | 11 | 10 | 21 | 8 | 16 |
| David Perron | STL | LW | 27 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 22 | -5 |
| Matt Niskanen | WSH | D | 29 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 16 | 0 |
| Conor Sheary | BUF | LW | 26 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 8 | -3 |
| Ron Hainsey | TOR | D | 30 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 15 |
| Jordan Staal | CAR | C | 27 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 14 | -6 |
| Nick Bonino | NSH | C | 29 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 11 |
| Ryan Reaves | VEG | RW | 31 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 43 | 2 |
| Alex Goligoski | ARI | D | 23 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 4 | -3 |
| Eric Fehr | MIN | C | 29 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 20 | -5 |
| Ian Cole | COL | D | 30 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 50 | 7 |
| * Jake Muzzin | LAK | D | 30 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 25 | 5 |
| Scott Harrington | CBJ | D | 25 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 4 |
| Oskar Sundqvist | STL | C | 19 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 8 | -3 |
| James Neal | CGY | LW | 30 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 14 | -5 |
| * Kenny Agostino | MTL | LW | 14 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 4 | -1 |
| Tom Kuhnhackl | NYI | RW | 17 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 0 |
| Josh Archibald | ARI | RW | 15 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 4 |
| Trevor Daley | DET | D | 21 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 2 |
| Deryk Engelland | VEG | D | 25 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 6 | -1 |
| Carl Hagelin | PIT-LAK | LW | 21 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 3 |
| Daniel Sprong | PIT-ANA | RW | 18 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 2 | -7 |
| Brandon Sutter | VAN | C | 13 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | -8 |
| Blake Comeau | DAL | LW | 28 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 10 | -9 |
| Derrick Pouliot | VAN | D | 26 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 16 | -1 |
| Carter Rowney | ANA | RW | 11 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | -1 |
| Ben Lovejoy | NJD | D | 24 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 6 |
| Brooks Orpik | WSH | D | 10 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Brian Gibbons | ANA | C | 23 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 12 | -3 |
| Chris Kunitz | CHI | LW | 21 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 19 | -8 |
| Robert Bortuzzo | STL | D | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | -3 |
| Marc-Andre Fleury | VEG | G | 27 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Antti Niemi | MTL | G | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Adam Clendening | CBJ | D | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Mike Condon | OTT | G | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Thomas Greiss | NYI | G | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| * Chad Johnson | STL | G | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| * Joe Morrow | WPG | D | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 |
| Chris Thorburn | STL | RW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| GOALTENDING | ||||||||
| Player | Team | GP | GA | SH | AVE | SV% | W-L-OT | |
| Marc-Andre Fleury | VEG | 27 | 67 | 5 | 2.52 | .908 | 16-10-1 | |
| Thomas Greiss | NYI | 19 | 43 | 1 | 2.58 | .918 | 10-6-1 | |
| * Chad Johnson | STL | 9 | 26 | 1 | 3.51 | .889 | 2-6-0 | |
| Antti Niemi | MTL | 7 | 26 | 0 | 3.61 | .893 | 4-2-1 | |
| Mike Condon | OTT | 2 | 8 | 0 | 6.38 | .800 | 0-2-0 | |
| Italics—Draft pick or free agent who began his NHL career with the Penguins | ||||||||
| Asterisk—Draft pick who didn’t appear in a regular season or postseason game for the Penguins | ||||||||
Hey Rick,
Thanks for the leg work.
Wouldn’t you like to have Kapanen back. But then again the Pens had to give up something to get Kessel.
When I saw Staal’s name up there, I couldn’t help but remember some people wanting to trade Malkin rather than Staal. Its a good thing that they didn’t get their way. Staal could be a good 3rd liner here still but not more.
I would take Cole and Reaves back in a heart beat.
Think about this, not only are the Pens out of Reaves, but they Oskar Sundqvist is out performing Riley Sheahan right now. OS has 4 G and 2 A in 17 games while RS only has 4 G and 1 A in 27 games. Who would you rather have now?
James Neal only 6 points in 30 games – Ouch!
Pouliot 26 games played this year with 2 G an 2 A – interesting. With Pedan playing in the KHL that stinks!
MAF w/ a Sv% of only 0.908, I still am a fan of the flower but stop it Murray haters.
Sheary 12 points in 26 games, not bad but again stop it. Letting him go was the right decision too.
Hey Other Rick,
I pretty much agree with your sentiments. Not to chase a horse that long ago bolted from the corral in search of greener pastures, but I don’t think the Pens have been the same team since they traded Cole and Reaves.
Maybe we would’ve lost to the Capitals anyway…we appeared to run out of steam late in the series and we’d played so much hockey over a three-season stretch. And Mike Sullivan wasn’t giving Reaves any ice time, so maybe he wouldn’t have even played. But I can’t help but feel they might have made a difference.
I’ve written this before, before I think the Tom Wilson hit on Aston-Reese was the turning point of the series. To quote Elvis, the Pens were all shook up and allowed a key goal just 85 seconds after the hit. Just my opinion, but I think they would’ve reacted differently with Reaves on the bench.
I, too, am surprised by Neal’s lack of production…he’s got such a great shot…although he looked slow during the playoffs last spring.
After his final season in the ‘Burgh…25 goals in 62 games, six more in six playoff games…I thought Staal was ready to take the next step. But he’s never really emerged beyond a 20-goal, 45-point guy. Certainly good, especially given his overall game, but not the player I thought he’d become.
Rick