Penguins Update: How Do You Spell Defense? C-O-L-E

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.