I hate to keep harping on the same issue. I really do. It’s kind of like hammering a nail that’s already been driven below the surface of a two by four. But I’m gonna’ keep on pounding.
It’s become increasingly apparent that Penguins GM Jim Rutherford messed up when he dealt hard-rock defenseman Ian Cole to Ottawa at the trade deadline. How big a mistake was it? The numbers are revealing.
In Cole’s final 11 games in a Pens jersey, the black and gold allowed 29 goals—a respectable goals against average of 2.63. In the 16 games since, the locals have yielded 53 goals, a bloated goals against of 3.31.
It’s enough to make Frank Selke roll over in his grave.
The effect of the bearded blueliner’s departure on penalty kill is even more glaring. During 47 games with Ian in the lineup, the Pens killed penalties at a respectable 81.9 percent clip. In the 30 games sans Cole? The PK percent sits at a watery 77.1 percent.
Since Ian left town it’s been worse…far worse. During their past 16 games, our boys have yielded a staggering 14 power play goals in 45 opportunities against. Their kill rate? A deplorable 68.8 percent. Suddenly, the PK is leakier than a thatch roof hut during the height of monsoon season.
Clearly, the kill-’em-with-skill approach ain’t working so well.
It’s hard to fault Rutherford for reaching for the stars. After all, JR’s displayed an incredible knack for making the right moves at precisely the right time. Without his astute wheeling and dealing? We wouldn’t have won back-to-back Cups.
However, the February 23 trade that added center Derick Brassard upset the club’s delicate balance, especially among the already thin defensive corps.
Lamenting the deal isn’t going to bring Cole back or help us come the postseason. Nor are moves like the one coach Mike Sullivan made Tuesday night during a thoroughly uninspired 5-2 loss to Detroit, an ‘effort’ that evoked memories of (blood) Red October.
In a real head scratcher, ‘Sully’ split up Justin Schultz and Jamie Oleksiak—far and away the team’s most effective tandem—partnering them with Brian Dumoulin and Kris Letang respectively. ‘Tanger’ and Oleksiak were okay; Dumoulin and Schultz struggled. Yet another case of trying to fix one of the few things that wasn’t broken.
So what can the Penguins do to shore up their porous defense, not to mention the rickety penalty kill? That’s a million dollar question, with precious few answers.
Logic dictates giving a more physical defenseman a look, one capable of clearing bodies away from beleaguered goalie Matt Murray.
Baby Pens d-man Andrey Pedan, recently returned from a lengthy stint on IR, has picked up right where he left off, tallying a pair of goals and an assist in four games. Overall, he’s had an excellent season, notching nine goals and 22 points in 46 games, along with a plus-18. Pedan’s big (6’5” 215), skates well for his size and, if push comes to shove, can fight.
Frankly, he gets my vote over Chad Ruhwedel, decent enough as a seventh defenseman but lacking in size and gristle, or off-season pickup Matt Hunwick, vulnerable to a forecheck and shaky with the puck.
If Pedan works out, it might lessen the Pens’ dependence on forward Tom Kuhnhackl, who in the finest Craig Adams tradition has been gritty and solid in the defensive zone and on the PK but largely invisible on the attack.
With five games to play and the team desperately in need of points, I doubt if the brass will make the switch. However, without some sort of upgrade to the defense and PK, it’ll surely be a Cup-less spring.
Not by coincidence, a Cole-less one, too.
Hi Rick,
Excellent. My sentiments, exactly. The numbers don’t lie. I believe blocked shots has waned, too.
I thought, from those first rumors in December, and the benching, dealing Cole would be an iffy proposition, but I didn’t think it would have been this apparent — that he was a more pivotal piece on defense than anyone gave him credit for. There’s no doubt in my mind it changed the dynamic of the team, upsetting the balance they finally reached after half a season looking for it. I also thought it was kind of telling how quickly they found that balance after the “Bad Boy” was pardoned.
It also makes me wonder what the players would say about it if they could/would speak their minds. They know, too.
Now it’s on to New Jersey, a team I don’t think they can beat without taking the body, early and often. These two points are important, very important, to both teams. Play “soff” tonight and it will be another car chase movie with a crash at the end. I hope to not see another play like the one against Philly when Vorachek entered their zone and skated right into the slot, surrounded by four black sweaters, and no one laid a glove on him. It looked like a penalty shot.
I don’t know where they find some D either, but they better find it, and fast. This isn’t November. But, my best guess is they will continue to “whip the horses’ eyes and make them see.” So, we shall see.
— 55
Hey 55,
Always good to hear from you.
Agree, 100 percent with your assessment of the impact the Cole trade had on us. When he returned to the lineup in late January, everything just seemed to fall into place. The forward combinations, too. Suddenly, the Pens looked like a juggernaut. I actually thought we had a really good shot at another Cup.
Then we traded Cole, our (very) delicate balance evaporated, and everything went to h-e-double-hockey-sticks in a hurry.
If Rutherford had to trade Cole, it was absolutely imperative that he acquire another defenseman. Sidenote…Brendan Smith, a physical Cole-type d-man, totally fell out of favor with the Rangers mid-season and was actually sent to the minors. He makes $4.3 mil, but perhaps JR could’ve coaxed New York into eating part of his salary.
Anyway, not adding a defenseman…or being willing to roll the dice on a player like Pedan…is going to cost us come playoff time.
Rick
Right there with you Rick, I want to be an optimist. I want to see the bright side of life, but I am not feeling it right now. There has to be roster adjustments. If none are forth coming the chances of getting different results (losing road game after road game) will just continue.
No matter what the company line is on Letang, he isn’t the same Letang. He has always been a good offensive defenseman and seems to be getting a lot of that backk, However, he never was the best defensive defenseman to begin with, now he is a liability and although I like Ruhwedel, he is a 6/7 man.
At this point, I am having a hard time finding a silver lining.
Hey Other Rick,
I made a comment to a hockey buddy the other night that, at times, it looks like Letang’s never played defense in his life.
In particular, his reads in the d-zone sometimes defy explanation.
Although it kind of ruined his season to an extent, I thought Dumoulin finally started getting used to Letang over the past couple of months.
Unless Sullivan sees something I don’t, it’s a bad time to throw Oleksiak into that unenviable situation.
Rick
Speaking of Dumo, how about that move he made to score that disallowed goal. You kind of wonder how he would develop if he had a more solid partner that could allow him to explore his offensive abilities.
Also, can’t help but wonder what the ceiling would be to that Oleksiak – Schultz pairing you noted. Both appear to have above average offensive instincts, but they have two different shot types. Schultz uses that quick wrist shot and has great vision and Oleksiak has a hammer of a shot.
When Letang missed a game or two midseason, I purposefully kept an eye on Dumoulin. His game seemed to elevate a notch.
Then he gets thrown back into the fire. Letang’s just so unpredictable.
Rick
A A Amen to that Rick!
You aren’t the only one who is beating the Cole dead horse, my next post that I will be making, later today will also address this glaring blunder!
Thinking a little bit more of what you said; particularly about Pedan, I agree with you, but for reasons addressed in my post, I am not holding my breath waiting to see Sullivan summon Pedan. I would love to see it, but he hasn’t shown a willingness to give kids a break like he did when he stormed to the title 2-years ago. He has slipped into the fossil hunting mentality of MJ, leaning on veterans, even when they weren’t doing the job.
Another name to toss out is Jarred Tinordi. While he hasn’t matched Pedan’s output, he’s quietly had a pretty solid season with the Baby Pens (5 goals, 12 assists in 54 games, plus-11).
He’s also had a rebirth, physically, and has smoked a couple of guys in fights (Liam O’Brien and Ben Wittchow).
Tinordi’s even bigger than Pedan…6’6″ 230…and is regarded as a good skater for his size with a good shot. The hole in his game is puckhandling…he’s not that creative.
A bit of a long shot. Still, if we’re looking for options…
Rick
I do like Tinordi’s size and physicality, but Phil has brought up a name in the past that should get some air too, Kevin Czuczman. He isn’t as physical as Pedan or Tinordi but he isn’t small either. My personal preference would be Pedan, Tinordi, then Czuczman, but I suspect that Sullivan, if he were to look at WBS for answers would start with Czuczman.
I wouldn’t be all that upset if he Sullie started here and gave Czuczman a tryout. Let’s face it, the D did its best to give the game away again last night.
On the 1st goal, Murray was weak, but Palmeri was in behind the D again.
On the second goal, I can’t remember who, but someone was right in front of Murray’s face, totally blocking his sight so he didn’t even know Hall was about to shoot. Hunwick was way up into the circle looking to try and block the chot rather than giving his net minder a chance to see the puck and I think it was Maatta was near the back door partially covering a Devil trying to sneak in there.
On the third goal, Coleman cut straight across the crease while the Pens D just looked at him take the initial shot that Murray stopped, and then the D again just stood idly by watching Coleman deposit the rebound in.
There is a glaring need for change here!!!!