A big welcome back to the ‘burgh to Marc-Andre Fleury.
Welcome back Fleury! You may be donning a different uniform tonight but you haven’t been forgotten. We Penguins’ fans still remember everything you did here for our team while wearing the Black-and-Gold. We also remember everything you did off the ice; your friendliness and generosity.
What a difference a year makes
With the return of Fleury to our fair city I am struck by the brilliance and success of “the Flower” this season. No, I am not surprised; not at all. If anybody remembers what I wrote about him last year, when doubters surfaced, I said, I thought he still was a number 1 goalie and that the Penguins were fortunate to have 2 goalies of that quality. But let us compare Fleury’s stats from last year at this time to this year at this time;
| Season | GP | W-L-OTL | Sv% | GAA |
| 2016-2017 | 28 | 14-7-4 | 0.906 | 3.26 |
| 2017-2018 | 21 | 15-4-2 | 0.939 | 1.84 |
Mr Fleury, you are one class act and deserve all of the success!
What does this mean about the current Penguins?
Okay, so after I satisfied my personal curiosity, a different agenda started to rear its head in my brain; “Is Fleury’s success just a random return to form? Or is there some other factor playing into Fleury’s success. Of course, I am choosing to suggest that there is something other factor playing into Fleury’s success. I am choosing to suggest that Fleury never really lost it but was the victim of bad defense; otherwise I wouldn’t have brought it up.
Last year in Pittsburgh, Fleury faced 33.38 shots on goal per 60 minutes (SOG/60min). This year, “the Flower” is facing 28.41 SOG/60min. In other words, Fleury is facing just about 5 less shots on goal per game. Question, how is it that Fleury is facing fewer SOG/60min while plying his trade on an expansion team? What does that say about the efficacy of the Penguins defense from last year? And since this years version of the Penguins defense is roughly the same as last years, what does that say about them? And the number of break-aways and odd man breaks they have given up this year?
Patric Hornqvist is out Week-to-Week
Coach Mike Sullivan initially said that he thought Hornqvist would not miss much time after sustaining a lower body injury from his collision against Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik. However, yesterday the Penguins’ right wing (RW) was listed week-to-week, pretty much ruling him out of this week’s contests. This is not good news. The team hasn’t won any of the games that Hornqvist has missed this season.
Tom Kuhnhackl has been practicing on Evgeni Malkin’s line, in Hornqvist’s place. Hopefully, with some practice time, the team will not experience the futility that it displayed in the loss to New Jersey when Sullivan first tried that line combination.
Question, how will this injury effect any possible trade talks?
The Trade Deadline Cometh
Tic-toc, tic-toc goes the clock as we wind down the precious few weeks left before the trade deadline. This seems to be one of our friend and fellow Penguin Poop contributor, James Arthurs, favorite times of the year. To some people it is almost as exciting as Christmas is for the kids as teams push and shove each other to try and pluck that last piece of the puzzle off of some other team’s roster.
It is also a good time of the year for teams on the outside looking in to shed players and salaries that they don’t see as part of their future for prices far in excess of said player’s talent. It has been suggested that this year, with visions of sugar-plum play-off berths for so many teams, that prices may be even more exorbitant. It has been suggested that there will be more buyers this year turning it into a seller’s market.
As the trade winds and rumors are about to begin in earnest, let me start them off with something interesting that I heard this past weekend.
(But please remember these are only rumors, I am not attesting to any veracity attributable to them, just starting some gossip)
It had come to my ear that Jim Rutherford had said that he actually had 2-trades all worked out already but his trading partners nixed the deals at the 11th hour. The names of the teams and players involved were not revealed.
(Take it for what it is worth. If you are one of those that swears that everything that they read on the internet is true, well……)
To add more logs on the fire of trade rumors, I came across a couple of new names associated with the Penguins; Rick Nash and Max Domi.
Even before the Rangers’ play-off hopes started to fade, there were rumors that New York may opt to be a seller at the dead-line. With a price tag of nearly $8 million, I have a hard time believing our Penguins would bite on a trade for Nash. New York would have to eat a huge amount of that salary to make it workable. The Penguins have less than $2 million to work with under the Cap, last time I checked Cap Friendly.
Max Domi, son of former NHLer Tie Domi, on the other hand, is a more interesting name. Domi had a strong rookie season notching 18 goals and 52 points but he has been struggling the last 2 seasons. He has only scored 12 goals since that first campaign. However, Domi’s struggles may be more attributable to overall team struggles that Arizona has had to fight through.
Although listed as a winger Domi has been playing a fair amount of center and he carries a reasonable price tag, less than $1 million. The cost in trade according to the source would be a prospect. The source tossed the names of Brian Rust, Conor Sheary, and Daniel Sprong. Personally, the only one of those players I would risk trading for Domi is Sheary but he is on IR right now. Furthermore, Domi really hasn’t been enjoying a great deal of success in the face-off circle.
Truth be told, I am wondering what rumors may be swirling North of the Border. If you hear anyhting Jim or any of our other friends from Canada hear anything, please don’t hesitate to pass it along. Maybe I am one of those who is like a kid before Christmas waiting in anticipation.
Well I haven’t heard too many Pen’s rumours up here …. mostly Canadian teams.
How about Derek Ryan from Carolina and a Nick Holden for depth on d?
Hey pens4ever,
Interesting names
Ryan is a little small for my liking but he does have an offensive upside. I am not sure if Carolina would be willing to deal since they are in the play-off hunt themselves.
Holden is bigger and more defensive in nature and New York is in sale mode.
Both are going UFA and have reasonable Cap Hits, less than $2 mil.
What would you say for packaging a deal to NYR for both Holden and Michael Grabner? Both are UFA and would add up to less than $4mil. I hate to get rent-a-players. I would be disposed to trading them Sheary however, if for no other reason than to cut him from the team. I always fear that Sullivan et al will keep using him regardless of how many better players are around as an option.
Looking at yesterday’s events (Kuhnhackl and Hornqvist going on IR) and Sheary practicing with the team, I fear the team will undergo subtraction by addition this weekend. Putting Sheary back in to the line-up always makes me cringe, when there are still better players around, down in WBS to be had.
Defense wins championships and out bottom two pairings make me a little skiddish if you hope to 3-Peat…
Hey Shoham,
Welcome to the Board.
Agreed defense does win championships, particularly in the NHL, when referees pocket their whistles and let anything short of murder go without a call. And even in the case of murder, I would think some of the more cement headed referees would make it an even up call sending the corpse to the penalty box on a coincidental roughing call, so as not to give the team playing by the rules an advantage.
When Letang is on the ice I am always nervous, when Hunwick is out there I am down right afraid. I don’t think any lead would be safe if you paired the 2 of them together.
I don’t know what the answer is. I hate to dump on Maatta and Dumoulin when both have been crushed under the weight of covering for others.
I would love to see what Pedan could bring to the team but he is a Left D man and the team really needs a consistent Right D man to step up and compliment Schultz and Oleksiak. But then again, sometimes I wonder if Pedan could settle Letang down like Paul Martin did. At least he (Pedan) may keep the cheap hits against Letang down a fraction.
Hi Other Rick and Rick Buker,
Thank You. Nice. Great Read. I love me and miss Fluery a lot. It will be a emotional night like it was for Kunitz.
I don’t know about Domi but I like Michael Grabner that’s a cheap left winger goal scoring winger who can help and I rather see Lowry,Pageau or Bozak. I know it may be tough to get one of them but I think it can work with Sheary and whatever it takes. Lowry is fairly cheap great big body who can’t take teams top players away.I still believe maybe during offseason Rutherford might still aim for Matt Duchene probably Bozak. I know he wanted both of them at some point. If Cullen comes back he can be Depth for 4C
Can you guys do a season grade on all the players, coaches and who you think should be traded to help further this team overall for next 5-7 years of Malkin and Crosby era with Kessel who I think is the core with them. He deserves to there with them. IMO. Hornqvist as well.
Do you believe 72,81,59,4 ,3 ,8 are the core behind Malkin and Crosby? Do you add number 17 ?
Hey Dee,
Lowry can be a great bottom line C. He is big, he hits, and is good in the face off circle. He is also very young, 24. I doubt Winnipeg would be willing to part with him though. They are in the hunt for the top spot in their division and no doubt would want a C like him come play-offs.
Interesting question about Duchene and Bozak. I can’t help wonder if Duchene was simply a bad fit for Ottawa; they certainly fell apart this year with him. Maybe they will look to deal in the off-season, I am not sure that we will be looking at him. If they do trade for him, they definitely will not be able to sign Hornqvist, and probably not be able to sign Rust, Simon, Kuhnhackl, Oleksiak, or Sheahan (all RFA’s) or Reaves, Rowney, or Col (UFAs).
We are approaching the 3/4 point of the season for the Penguins. I’ll take a look at the team and do something round that point to grade the team.
I still feel the Penguins could use a true 3rd Line C. I would think that Pageau could fill that bill if they could work a deal with Ottawa. I also think the Penguins D could use an upgrade. Looking at the numbers between last year and this year would suggest that the team’s D could use an overhaul. However, I am not holding my breath on any count that the Penguins will make a big trade. Anything is possible but I have a little nagging tug at the back of my mind that is telling me that the team not do much more than they did last year.
However, I do believe the team has enough within the orgainization to still challenge for the Cup as is, providing that they use the right players and sit those that hurt the team. So, making a big trade may not be as critical as some may think. If Sheary and Hunwick really don’t see much ice at all, and Letang’s ice time starts shifting more toward Schultz and Oleksiak, I do think the team could take on any team right now, particularly with Murray, Jarry, and DeSmith being rotated on which was hot. All three of them have received a true baptism of fire from all of the defensive lapses this team has made so far. The only problem is that they eventually tire from not just the volume but the quality of the shots against.
As for my take on the Supporting cast for Malkin and Crosby; Kessel is a big definite. Actually, I don’t thin he is a supporting cast member, I would say he is part of the core. Hornqvist is a big factor on this team too. Last year, between Bonino and Cullen, they had enough heart guys to step up when Hornqvist went down in the play-offs, this year, they don’t seem to have any heart guys to step up and fill the gap until he can get back; (not yet anyway – maybe Aston-Reese or Kuhnhackl in an expanded role). I would count Rust and Guentzel as important, but I would have to really look down the forwards to give a better assesment.
On D, quite frankly, I have been under-whelmed by this group. Only late season edition, Oleksiak has really impressed me this season. Maatta, Dumoulin, Cole, and Schultz have all been hurt to varying degrees by having to cover up for Hunwick and Letang so I won’t really complain about any of them, I will just say that I don’t see them as indespensible right now. It would take far more than the bag of pucks that I would accept for Hunwick to pry one of those 4 off me, but I would listen to all deals. I may take Schultz out of that group at some point, I still remember how good he was last year, I am just acknowledging that he has been the same this year.
Thank you ,I love your honesty!!
Agree Dumoulin, Shultzy, Maatta have been overcompensating for Hunwick and Letang. I truly believe Shultzy, Maatta , Dumoulin and Oleksiak in that order has been ok great for the Pens but I know they can be greater without Letang and Hunwick with upgraded serviceable cheap D that shapes D core better. Pedan and Rudewedeel as extras . Rotating in games. Yes it has been overwhelming to watch this season. When I see Shultzy , Maatta and Oleksiak even Cole creating offense and great passing for breakouts it reminds that D core isn’t that bad to some type of degree .Yes. I always thought Shultzy and Oleksiak are very capable to go against top lines , it evident and it shows in games. If Letang minutes get reduced I would like Maatta and Shultzy stay together then rotate Shultzy with Dumoulin.
I don’t how know how lines will be once Hornqvist and Sheary comes back at this point. It’s seems to me Sullivan doesn’t like nor wants Sprong with the Pens right now . Very worry about Sheary situation because the hard on for him by Sullivan , he always let him find his way on the top line while Guentzel is on the third line with bottom minutes . I don’t like to question coaches ( he’s become Johnston-Blysma to me in a sense)but i kind happen to since Tocchet is gone and bad lines combinations . I can’t understand the logic on him with players now on Kuhnhackl being on the second line when he kills penalties and Sullivan still keep line shuffling every game. I thought I would see Kessel -Malkin then Guentzel -Crosby while Rust and Kuhnhackl flanks Sheahan for better lines against teams. Maybe I have to stop questioning but it can be better than this before 3C comes along.
It has been two lines carrying the team. Crosby and Malkin can’t keep doing it and time is running out . I don’t like long minutes for Crosby he often frustrated in games.
It has been like this all season and if Sheary comes back on his line it will worse than it was. I still wonder if Guentzel or Sprong were playing with him before All Star Weekend that he would have his 400th goal right now especially when he surpassed Jagr in all – time Penguins points leader while playing Minnesota.He deserved one in that game. No seems to care to set him up that often except for Guentzel. No goal since Rangers game.
Yes . I think Rutherford hasn’t do that more to shape up the team. I can agree with you as well I believe teams are stubborn and at some point I think he will do something unbelievable to change the team before the playoffs then off-season will be totally different story.
I can’t wait til you guys elaborate more 3/4 season grade of team.