Ex-Penguins Update: February 11, 2018

1. Hey Rick,

   I have two big things that stand out. For one, Perron is putting up numbers. I always thought he was lazy. I guess being left unprotected and unwanted finally woke him up.

   #2 Bonino. Pens lost Bonino and I keep hearing the Pens need a 3rd line center.
   I have always thought Sheahan was a fine replacement. The numbers now prove it.

   Bonino .37 pts per game. Sheahan .44 pts per game. Both have the same +/-.

   You can’t say it’s because Sheahan plays on a better team. Nashville has a way better record and scores more points per game.

   Bonino averaged .46 points a game as a Penguins player. I think Sheahan has proved to be a very capable replacement and I really don’t see a better option out there from what is supposedly available.

   The smartest move would be the Pens moving Sheary for a backup center in case of emergency. It would also give the team some wiggle room as far as bringing players up and down from WBS.

   Other than that, standing pat probably the wisest trade deadline move.

   1. Hey Phil,

      As you may remember, I was an opponent of the Sheahan trade when it went down. Since then I have criticized him at times as well. However, over the course of this season, like Reaves, my opinion has changed a little. I do think that Sheahan can be a valuable 4th line Center, and at this point of the season, I am more inclined to agree with you in that he may be the best long term answer to the 3rd line Center this season.

      I would still prefer to see the Penguins get a more offensive 3rd line center to drive the three-headed monster. Yes, Sheahan has shown some moves, particularly during the road trip, but he has been very streaky and is just on a hot streak right now. I suspect that he will cool off and heat up at least 1 or 2 more times before the season is over.

      However I don’t think the Pens can find one at a reasonable price at this point in the season. Maybe, no one will really be all that active this year at the trade deadline like many teams are claiming, but as the deadline approaches, I can see some of those teams getting too nervous and paying high prices for rent-a-players making the cost of the type of Center I would want too high.

      I know the Cullen rumors persist, and I would think that could be a viable option for the Penguins, but I would think that Minnesota would try and hang on to him for their own playoff run.

      There are several names in the trade rumor mill that intrigue me but as the time passes, I keep drifting more and more towards exactly what you say; don’t make any big splashes. At best move Sheary for Solid Center and/or pick up 1 more D man to hedge against playoff injuries.

      If the Pens were to keep Sheary and Hunwick off of the ice or limit their time out there, I do think the players here could make a solid run. Many of those teams that looked like world beaters in October are now coming back down to earth as the Pens are rising again.

   2. Hey Phil,

      Given how badly Perron and, until recently, Hagelin struggled, I was beginning to think Pittsburgh was turning into a place where left wings came to die. Both of these guys were solid producers before they got here, and both—after initially lighting it up—went into the tank.

      A while back I mused that it might be due to the fact that the Pens seem to be a right-side team. Sid and Geno generally operate from the starboard side of the ice, as does Kessel, and the top puck-moving defensemen (Letang and Schultz) are right shots. The only time the puck seems to spend a significant time on the left side is when Kessel sets up over there on the power play.

      Kind of an off-the-wall thought, for sure. But perhaps there’s some validity to it.

      I like Sheahan, too, and thought this was a pretty savvy trade on JR’s part. Provided he’s not asked to step into a first or second-line role for any length of time, I’m fine with Riley as the third-line center. And I agree, numbers-wise, that he’s easily Bonino’s equal.

      One thing about ‘Bones’…he was really clutch. He seemed to score big goals when it really mattered. It remains to be seen if Sheahan possesses a similar knack. But I like what I see in Riley, especially of late.

      Rick

2. Hey Rick,

   As always, thanks for all the leg work on this. I admit, I look forward to these updates.

   Some random thoughts;

   I was very surprised when the Pens offered Archibald and Pouliot 1 way contracts this past summer. When they did, I was fairly sure both would be plying their trade elsewhere and now; they are.

   I saw that one of those 4 goals by Kapanen was a SHG. Why I mention that is that in my mind, I never thought of Kapanen as a defensive/PK type player. I guess that since he hasn’t really made into the NHL yet, he has to remake his game.

   I don’t want to dump on Wilson, Pouliot, Archibald yet, since they haven’t really been playing on elite teams.

   You and I have talked about this before, but it is amazing how Perron never enjoyed the success here in Pgh as he has elsewhere. He always looked like he had cement hands with passes bounding off of his stick.

   The rumors of Cullen’s return still persist. I wonder what Cullen’s season would be looking like had he stayed here in Pgh. I would think he fits Pgh more than Minn. Also, with Bellerive lighting it up in the WHL right now with 37 gs and 73 pnts in 53 gps, I like the idea of not tying the team down with a contract that may keep the kid from breaking the opening day lineup next season. I am no fan of what appears to be a return to the Bylsma/MJ era of dinosaur hockey. The return of giving “veterans” more breaks than they really deserve and burying kids in the minors, particularly when they are outplaying the vets.

   I do have faith that this team can still have a chance despite the Letang’s and Sheary’s on the roster, but I do not believe they team is playing the best players in the system.

   1. Hey Other Rick,

      Funny you should mention the kids vs. veterans thing. As I was doing this update, I was thinking the very same thing. Actually, looking up Daniel Winnik’s stats triggered it. Good player, solid, responsible, yet ultimately not the type of player you win with. As you pointed out, we had so many of ‘em near the end of the Shero/Bylsma Era…guys like Chuck Kobasew, Taylor Pyatt and Lee Stempniak to name a few.

      All things being equal…and provided you have a solid core of veterans to serve as an anchor…I’d rather play an up-and-comer over a grizzled journeyman. While they may make a few more mistakes, they also provide a drive and hunger that most veterans can’t duplicate, especially ones who’ve bounced from team to team and have no real allegiance to the crest.

      A few random observations. The bottom seems to have dropped out on Pouliot in Vancouver. Don’t know if he was injured or if they just sat him, but he missed a number of games. His minutes have dropped from around 18 to the 12-13 range…a clear indication he hasn’t progressed as hoped. No real surprise there.

      Wilson scored a goal and an assist for the Sabres last night. Can’t imagine that he’ll ever match the form he displayed with the Baby Pens in ’15-16 (22 goals in 34 games), but I still think he can be an effective energy guy at this level. Same with Archibald.

      Re Cullen: I haven’t had much opportunity to watch him play this season. But I’m guessing the dip in his stats is probably attributable to the fact that he’s playing a different system (and role) with Minnesota. I still think he’d be a considerable upgrade over Rowney (much better at wing)…at least on a short-term basis.

      Apparently, Tomas Plekanec’s name is being bandied about, although he’s got a whopping cap hit ($5 mil). There’s a crazier rumor floating around regarding the Coyotes’ Max Domi. Although there’s always the Tocchet (and Mario) connection, I have a hard time seeing Arizona giving up on the kid…especially given their stated direction to build with youth. Then there’s the not-so-small matter of what the ‘Yotes would want in return. Domi most assuredly won’t come cheap.

      Rick

      1. Agreed, Rowney is much better on the Wing. And as I said, although Cullen is not having that great of a season, statistically, like you I feel that it is because he doesn’t fit Minn. So, I do think Cullen could be a great low end addition to the team for a playoff run. And best off all the Pens wouldn’t be tied down next year so that Bellerive has a chance to step in and be part of the team (If he is ready, like looks like he will be).

         I am not a fan of picking up Plekanec or Domi right now. I don’t either really would improve the team for a play-off run.

         I am a wondering how many teams are shying away from trading at the deadline this year. Everything seems so quite. Is it just a question of teams asking more for players than contenders want to part with or is a question of teams thinking that the price is too steep?

         If I am the Pens, I would try and get Cullen on the cheap, then look to see what the asking price is for Grabner, Kane, and maybe Nick Holden.

         Watching the way the refs just turned a blind eye to the cheap stuff Dallas employed, I wouldn’t mind seeing the Pens have Kane, Hornqvist, Aston-Reese, and Reaves to spread out through the 4 lines in a final series against teams with that strategy and refs pulled straight from the set of the movie “Slap Shot”. Conversely, if the team can’t get Kane, Grabner could look like a good veteran fit at wing. In the process the team could get rid of Sheary.

         But wait, I really am dreaming, the team wouldn’t trade Sheary if Edmonton offered McDavid and Draisaitl and to pick up the roughly $18 mil of salary difference.

         1. Hey Other Rick,

            I would positively, absolutely love to get Grabner. With his speed and ability to finish…especially off the rush…and (I’m thinking) Sid head manning the puck to him, I think it would be a downright lethal combination.

            Rick

Comments are closed.