You’ve just dined on a full course Thanksgiving dinner. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, crescent rolls…the works. Indulged in seconds, too.
You’re lounging on the couch, trying to get comfortable, perhaps even watching your favorite local hockey team on the tube.
“Hungry for dessert?” someone calls from the kitchen. “We’ve got fresh-baked pumpkin pie with whipped cream.”
Ugh. While you sure would like to say “yes,” the truth is you’re stuffed. Can’t eat another bite.
Excuse the clunky holiday analogy. But perhaps you’ve guessed where I’m going with this.
Having scaled the very pinnacle of the hockey world with back-to-back Stanley Cups, are the Penguins still hungry? Or has the fire gone out?
I realize it’s awfully early to be shoveling dirt over our Cup aspirations. After all, the Pens still boast a handful of the game’s elite talents, including sure-fire future Hall of Famers Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and sniper Phil Kessel. Most teams would consider themselves fortunate to have one of those guys let alone all three. And two wobbly games most assuredly do not a season make. Mike Sullivan and his staff are plenty experienced…and have plenty of time to iron out the kinks. Even if those kinks appear to be more substantial than in years past.
The one thing you can’t manufacture?
Hunger. You’re either hungry or you’re not.
Let’s dial the calendar back a few years. Entering the 2015-16 campaign, the Pens had been knocked out of the playoff hunt six years running. What looked at the very least like a mini-dynasty back in 2009 had morphed into one of the NHL’s biggest disappointments.
Think that didn’t weigh heavily on the hearts and minds of warriors like Crosby and Malkin, not to mention Chris Kunitz, Marc-Andre Fleury and Kris Letang? When GM Jim Rutherford arrived on the scene and assembled a strong supporting cast, all that pent up frustration, disappointment and heartache fused into positive energy that fueled the team’s competitive fires and produced the dual Cup triumphs.
Maybe I’m being a tad critical. And yes, I know, it’s October. We still have six months of regular season games to grind through. But I’m not seeing that kind of energy or intensity from our boys. Quite the opposite, in fact. Lazy line changes, precious little urgency in getting back to help out in the defensive zone, not to mention a plethora of bone-head decisions as Other Rick’s so duly noted.
In brief…guys are taking shortcuts. You don’t win titles by taking shortcuts. You win by paying a price. Nobody knows that more than our Pens. They have the battle scars to prove it.
So how do you reinvigorate a fading champion? That’s a million-dollar question…a tough one, too. If there was a formula for it, you’d see a lot more teams capturing multiple Cups.
Perhaps we start with the blueprint Rutherford used when he first arrived. To aid and abet our gifted but overtaxed core, he imported character guys like Nick Bonino, Matt Cullen, Trevor Daley and Patric Hornqvist…players whose hunger to win a Cup matched Sid and Geno’s. He acquired Kessel, who endured six mostly miserable seasons north of the border while serving as a media punching bag and no doubt was thrilled to join a contender. And he added a spate of speedy, energetic kids who’d skate through the end boards to make an impression.
A volatile mix. Pure nitro on ice.
The nature of that group…fluid and fresh…contrasts sharply with this season’s squad, which experienced precious little turnover. Indeed, most of the changes were cosmetic, with very little alteration of substance.
We’ve all heard the adage about familiarity and what it breeds.
I’m not suggesting JR blow up the Pens and hold a fire sale, Lord knows. However, if the embers continue to fade, he’ll need to stoke the woodpile. Maybe even toss on a new log or two.
Hi Rick,
I don’t know if it’s gone out, but it does appear to be flickering a bit. I’m not going to say up front it’s disinterest, or lethargy. I’m looking at it more as perhaps the magic is gone, as in the tricks have been performed too many times, and seen too many times. They don’t surprise anyone these days, even themselves, in spite of a few new faces. I think the “system” is tired and maybe the players are tired of it, or feeling they’ve bled it for all there is.
That’s on the coaches. Sully needs to find some new wrinkles to inspire or reignite their motivation or it will quickly become a matter of suffering through a season of musical chairs. This is not a time for further coaching intransigence. It’s time to put scorers on scoring lines, begin paying more than lip service to defense, and start knocking some heads. Whether or not this is a cup-worthy team, it is still a viable team that, for the moment, is again struggling to find its identity. Maybe it’s an identity that no longer fits. They aren’t as fast as they used to be and the sooner they admit it, and adjust, the better, before this becomes Dan Bylsma redux.
They have talent on this team many franchises would kill for. I’m thinking what’s troubling this team is beneath the surface. That, too, is on the coaches. If you want to keep going to the dance, you gotta change your underwear once in a while or you ain’t gonna get the girl at the end of the movie. It’s time, now, before the reeking becomes profound.
Hello Good Morning Rick and Other Rick,
Penguins desperately need new coaching tactics/strategies/better retool system, some hungry youth, grit , that can help Geno and Sid. Sullivan only changed the speed game and not the all -round game of the team to not be looking this way .(Offensively)
Penguins lost fresh legs , hard workers , grit and overall players give their support to Penguins whole team..
Penguins are the same team from last season. It starts with Mike Sullivan who philosophy and 2016 / 2017 speeding system is fading away. I truly believe Mike Sullivan did well with Rick Tocchet behind the bench. Reechi is no no.
Sullivan has poor players management, favoritism and terrible line combos. (Other things too)
Penguins VS Montreal was really bad and concerning: Players are not responding well together on the ice, line changes and overall opposition imitation of them. Teams are more prepared and dictating the game. (Start to finish)
Penguins are not playing full 60 minutes . Only 5-15 minutes good hockey. They are look disengaged, uninterested,frustrated and doing to much to win. Penguins are too talent to be losing against Montreal like that.
Derick Brassard Shouldn’t Be on the top line with Jake Guentzel playing on his off wing.Brassard was traded to be pens 3rd line center. He needs to do that. I don’t mind Guentzel-Crosby-Sheahan. They were fine together.
Players look confused and no urgency. Completely struggles and bad all round hockey. Except for good Pk and Sprong looking good with some confidence.
I will continue to defend Sid’s top line because Sully doesn’t know what he doing with that line and insisted on players that don’t fit very well. Giving Sid different Wingers. Sid likes to play down low and in sync with Jake Guentzel . He needs a winger that support his style of play and open up space . He plays against top lines and defenders every game . His line needs to be supported and constructed . Etc.. IMHO. Sullivan is losing Sidney Crosby ad the Penguins.
No. I’m not buying Letang redemption tour. Never. Him crossing checking (close to getting penalties)and throwing players together ice to show can you play defensively well. BS. Penguins don’t need him offensively nor do they need his inconsistency. I don’t like him playing over 20 minutes a game . Defensive/Leadership liability . He did some ok blocking the puck for DeSmith. I give him that.
I don’t wish anyone to be hurt on this team. But I wish Letang got hurt than Shultz getting hurt.. Penguins need Justin Shultz rather than Kris Letang in the lineup.
Fact.
Hoping Speed for Justin Shultz.
D Corp is worsens and more out of sorts.
No solid RHD.
I don’t like Jack Johnson on the second pairing. He’s a poor man’s Letang. He ok good on the Pk. Bad on O to D . He’s slow to react, gets out of position, bad contextual awareness,not that good defensively/offensively, doesn’t help that well when players are underwhelming and outnumbered. He might do better as season go. I doubt it. Sid support hard to get the play out zone while getting bodied and outnumbered. Johnson cross checks a guy behind him and didn’t support more to get the puck out. Canadiens scored on that . Sid will help and defend then other players are not supporting to get puck ou their zone.
Mike Sullivan needs to do be better with Daniel Sprong. Daniel Sprong isn’t the complete player. I understand it.
He deserves to get rewarded moving up and down lineup if he does something good . He help get first goal in that game. He seem to be working hard. I thought it was a perfect opportunity to give him little extra 4-6 minutes in the top 6. Give Sprong more minutes with Cullen to let him help..
If Sid and Geno look up and out sort then it should be known that coaching staff and players are not playing harder. Everything can Be relied on them.
Penguins D, Puck management/Decisions, coaching staff inability, line changes/line combos, passing/breakouts and overall driven urgency needs to be better. Etc.
Penguins need some coaching changes and useful Hungry ready players to play behind their stars.
Resemblance of last season??
It so more to say.. I will leave it at that..
Hey Rick,
Interesting question. It does seem that they have lost some of the players that brought playoff grit. Toss that in with the major loss of speed, fire or no fire the team doesn’t seem as competitive as it one was. Who knows, maybe they will surprise us.
Rick
Great article – My 1st suggestion would be to blow up the
4th line – convince Cullen to take a job as an assistant
Coach.
The 4th line needs to be physical / energy guys that get the
team excited and the crowd going. Cullen / Sprong / Sheahan.
“Dont see it” – Sprong is not a good fit for the 4th line – if he
cant crack one of your top 3 lines he needs to sit.
2nd suggestion is to play the kid Riikola – everything I’ve watched
says he is one of the Pens top 6 defenseman. “Play him” –
Personally I would look to trade Maata – I’ve always been a fan but
his lack of recovery speed is concerning. Pick up a good 4th line
winger with size & toughness.
I’m slightly frustrated – even with Sullivan – no in game adjustments
in strategy – teams know we’re pinching and its leading to a ton of
odd man breaks. The difference I see from our back to back cups years
is every team took a page out of the Pens book “speed game” teams
are beating the Pens at there own game – not only have teams improved
there speed there bigger and tougher than our speed guys. This is a
problem.
I apologize for rambling – had to get this off my chest. I look forward to
your thoughts.