Back in the 1970s, defenseman Larry Goodenough skated for six mostly nondescript seasons with the Flyers and Canucks. His nickname, appropriately, was “Izzy”… as in Is He Goodenough?
Entering a brand-new season, it’s a fair question to ask of the Penguins ‘d.’ Is it good enough? There are reasons to believe it is.
Any evaluation of the Pens’ blue line corps must start with Kris Letang. As “Tanger” goes, so goes the black-and-gold defense…or something like that.
Need proof? Three seasons ago, the quicksilver defender enjoyed arguably his finest season, racking up 16 goals and 67 points. He was equally splendid in the postseason, averaging a staggering 28:53 of ice time while becoming only the fourth player in NHL history to tally a point on each of his team’s game-winning goals in the Final.
The result? The Pens captured a Stanley Cup in thoroughly impressive fashion.
Last season? Not so good. While it’s unfair to pin the Pens’ failure to three-peat solely on the Montreal native, he was…to be kind…horrific, especially against the Capitals. His defensive reads were consistently awful and led directly to several costly goals against.
A source with ties to the team claims No. 58 never found his legs…or confidence…following the surgery to repair a herniated disc in his neck that caused him to miss the 2017 playoffs. With a full summer to train, apparently he’s hale and hearty and rarin’ to go. And while, at age 31, it may be too much to ask for a return to his pre-surgery form, even a reasonable facsimile would be huge.
I have no such concerns about Letang’s likely partner, Brian Dumoulin. Despite less-than-gaudy numbers (five goals, 18 points, minus-5 in ’17-18), the Maine native’s emerged over the past couple of seasons as perhaps the team’s best defensive defenseman. He showed signs of elevating his game even further…especially on the offensive side…last spring.
Again, no worries about “Dumo.”
I really like Justin Schultz, too. I was particularly impressed with his work in the defensive zone last season. Although his output took a surprising tumble (from a career-best 51 points in ‘16-17 to 27), he’s got big-time offensive abilities and instincts. With his shot and elite puck distribution skills, I’d like to see “Schultzie” get more time with the top power-play unit.
It isn’t clear who the Pens might pair with the British Columbia native. Newcomer Jack Johnson could be an option, especially if he can shore up the defensive side of his game following a lackluster season in Columbus.
Johnson still possesses the elements…good size, decent wheels and underrated offensive skills…that once made him a coveted prospect. If he can curb his penchant to gamble on the big hit and solidify his decision-making, he could be a bargain at $3.25 million.
Should Johnson prove too error-prone? Look for Olli Maatta to step up. A grizzled veteran at age 24, the baby-faced defender does a lot of good things. He’s heady, alert and sees the ice well. Olli makes crisp, accurate passes and possesses a decent shot to boot.
Defensively, he does a good job of getting his 206-pound frame in the way and even showed a physical side (131 hits last year) while rediscovering the scoring touch he displayed as a 19-year-old phenom.
His lone weakness…and it’s a glaring one…a lack of foot speed. When he gets turned, fagedaboudit. He’s toast.
At least for now, Jamie Oleksiak anchors the third pairing. While the features of his game are still coalescing, you see occasional flashes of the latent offensive skills and heavy shot that made him a 14th overall pick back in 2011. I have hopes that coach Sergei Gonchar can help “the Big Rig” tap his full potential.
Things you can’t teach? Jamie’s size (6’7” 255) and inclination to use it (138 hits in 47 games with the locals), elements in woefully short supply on the skill-oriented Pens.
Speaking of budding young talent. It appears GM Jim Rutherford nabbed a diamond in the rough when he inked Finnish defenseman Juuso Riikola to a one-year, entry-level contract in May. By all accounts, the 24-year-old rearguard and former teammate of Maatta’s plays an NHL-ready game with an accent on skating, solid positional play and a blistering shot. While hardly a hulk at 190 pounds, he’s displayed a willingness to get his nose dirty.
Tailor-made for coach Mike Sullivan’s retrieve-the-puck-and-move-it-to-the-forwards-in-a-hurry style.
Look for Riikola to open the season at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, where he figures to see plenty of ice time. However, should the inevitable injury occur, expect the youngster to be promoted ahead of veteran Chad Ruhwedel, the resident No. 7 d-man who does everything at least reasonably well.
Throw in Zach Trotman, a sturdy 6’3″ 217-pounder who has 70 games of NHL experience? I’d say we’re in surprisingly good shape on the blue line.
https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/fantasy-hockey-rangers-fading-king-among-bust-candidates-for-2018-19/amp/
Hey ,
Your opinions
I’m old fashioned.
Penguins Defensemen needs to be defensive minded first, stop the bad pinching, bad communication,stop jumping the rush without defending their zone. Defenders should defend their zone and protect blue line first .
Penguins fowards should be committed to defend as well . Letang is the prime example)
Penguins are a offensive juggernaut team so they don’t always need a defenseman to join the rush and pinch on the boards.They should worry about making effective passes, breakouts and ready to back skate the zone if the puck goes back to their zone.
Penguins Last Preseason Game was bad ,imo
Penguins should D be defending every parts of their zone. Stronger on the boards.
I repeat, repeat that Letang leading this team D is very suspect and mind boggling.
Sully needs to retool his system. Hold Letang accountable and keep his minutes low. Letang should on be the second pairing. I don’t like Defensemen always pinching. Veryweak. To many old man rushes. Bad pinching and gaps . Teams are taking advantage of it.
I hate the pinching on the boards and defenseman not winning battles on the boards.
Dumoulin , Shultzy and MÄÄTTÄ seem to work hard to win battles and effectively skate fast out their zone to give the puck to the forwards to get to offensive zone . I look back at games and they were effective doing it.
Penguins transition game needs to be better.
Please read this. Your opinions.
https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/fantasy-hockey-rangers-fading-king-among-bust-candidates-for-2018-19/amp/
I agree with that assessment on Letang.
I believe some Penguins media have bad takes on Letang bounce back. He’s very risk and undisciplined. Stats can be misleading with the eye test , imo. He look the same to me. I didn’t see nothing significant to suggest they need him and he will great. He’s still defensively bad. Bad passing in own zone / blue line, trouble Winning battles, he can’t effectively get puck to the fowards, bad on the powerplay etc.. I believe s Jackets Player literally throw him to the ice and got the puck from him. He’s consistently pressured and throw the puck anywhere.
Honestly, I think he will be bad , it will continue to be down hill battles with him, he will throw temper tantrums , continue to lost a step and weigh his team Down..
Jesse Marshall’s article on Letang is ridiculous.
Hey Rick,
As I said in a post from a month or so ago, I’m not sold on this D. I want to be, and Riikola has elevated my opinion some, but as long as Letang is the defensive leader, this D is suspect for me. There he was again in pre-season getting burned several times one-on-one within 30 feet of his own net. And I get so weary of hearing how, after he scores a goal, that he “made up for that ugly turnover, or that blown coverage.” At this rate he’ll have to score 30 goals to make up for half of ‘em. I don’t see him doing that.
I think they’ve given up 20 goals in the six pre-season games, seven just last night against Columbus. That doesn’t sound so bad if you just say it. If you had to watch it, it’s a different story. Our netminders are already being accosted by opposing forwards essentially strolling down main street on a slow night and the season hasn’t even started. Okay. Yeah, that’s a little hyperbolic… But only a little, to illuminate the point.
Letang was a definite asset to this team when they had good shutdown defensive pairs to compliment his freewheelin’ style. They don’t anymore, and they obviously don’t care too. They have the guys who I think could do that, but I have a feeling they don’t let them. It’s not in the system. They don’t preach defense as much more than, “Oh, yeah, when you’re done moving the puck, we need to do a bit of this here.” I may be wrong about that, but that’s how it looks to me a good bit of the time.
Perhaps it’s just that I don’t understand the new defensive schemes. I’m old fashioned. I still think defense means defending first. As much fun as it is to watch puck moving defense, it’s not really defense. I think things should fit their name. How silly would it be if in football, a defense could recover a fumble, or intercept a pass, then pass the ball around until they opened an opportunity to heave a 50 yard bomb to a sprinting defensive back headed for the end zone? It would be weird. Right? It would be exciting, but it wouldn’t be defense. Yeah. I’m stretching credulity again, and wasting bandwidth. I’m chirpy this morning. But…
I find it upsetting every bit as their lack of toughness. That lack of toughness has a lot to do with the lack of detail on actual defending, you know, like getting in front of puck carriers instead of waiting outside for someone to move the puck up ice. And I think that happens a lot on this team. You have to get the puck first and the best way I know of to get it is to knock down the guy who has it. Yes, I do think it’s that simple, at least in theory, at least as in give it a try and see what happens. Several of our D men are fast enough to do that. Let them. Riikola is a fine example of that. Take a damn body instead of playing for that breakout. If you defend properly, the breakouts will happen. Defense should do that, without having to think about it, or ask permission.
Well, anyway, that’s why I’ve said what I said before. This year’s team, without seeing exactly what they’ll do in the regular season re: defense, will again need to be an offensive juggernaut because they ain’t stopping anyone.
— 55
Määttä – He’s solid second pairing defenseman . It’s not always pretty But he’s consistent and battle hard.
Riikola- he’s showing he can play Penguins style of play. He battles hard, he’s everyw, physical and can help Penguins win games.( injuries/ most likely on the team in the future)
Johnson-I will give him 20 regular season games to give full assessment.
Lol.
Did you guys read my comment in the other article??!!
Letang is same ole Letang. Point Blank. Period
Watch Jackets vs Penguins and Read Boring Post-Gazette ‘s article with Letang.
He got 2 points in that game because Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel hard work down low to fool defenders.
RickB, Letang will never change nor adjust his game . He hurting D Corp and bringing it down.
. Confidence hasn’t nothing to do with it. Letang play over 26 minutes, bad from start to finish,over extending himself, doesn’t understand he isn’t that guy anymore and put his team in bad positions.. He will do it again.
From my eye test, he was doing the same thing and he isn’t a defenseman.
-boneheaded plays -ill-advise passes -bad in his own zone-can’t defend-bad turnovers/passes-bad pinches-bad shots-bad powerplay quarterback-listgoes on
I guess. Play big minutes and get points from othersmake you a elite top tier defenseman..
Letang days should be numbered..
Penguins D isn’t good enough. Because Letang is on the top pairing and makes boneheaded plays and his bad decision – making etc.. Coaching staff catering to him..Letang wanting to be that guy.. he isn’t…
Letang hasn’t been good for the past 2 years.. years..so I don’t get optimism on him.. he wasn’t that good.. before 2016 either..
Shultz and Dumoulin can be Penguins top pairing Defensemen. If Dumoulin stop babysitting Letang’s horrible plays and have room to showcase his underrated offensive abilities. Shultz staying healthy with confidence from coaching staff that he should be that guy they are betting on ..
Big Rig has shown improvement to me. He did make some little mistakes with Elliott. I don’t know about Stefan Elliott. From eye test, Rig brought physical pressure, he play good D, great gaps, use his stick well, great reach with stick, he was quick to get the puck out zone better than Letang, he had some great shifts on the ice with Crosby’s line. He has improved tremendously. He does has ways to go. I don’t mod him being in the top 4 on some nights.
I think Määttä needs a great consistency partner and someone physical to let him keep his good defensive work and branch out more offensively.
Penguins D will be good enough and top best in league.. retool D..if they remove Letang and coaching staff consistently let the LHD and RhD play on their natural position.
By the way, I miss you guys!
Hey Dee,
Glad somebody misses us … 🙂
Great observations about our ‘d’ (both of your posts). I agree with pretty much everything you say.
I may be a bit overly optimistic in my hopes that Letang can return to his ’15-16 form…or at least something close. I’m hoping his defensive play…almost uniformly shaky last season…will improve, at least to a degree.
There’s no question he put a lot of stress on Dumoulin and the Pens’ goalies last season with his frequent misplays.
Just my opinion, but I think he tries a little too hard to make things happen sometimes, instead of allowing the game come to him. Perhaps a common trait with high-risk, high-reward guys.
Rick
Agree.
Rick
Where have you been?? I’ve been growing weary reading articles by Mackey,
Orpik and a few others – I swear Rutherford writes the article and they publish
it!!. Lol
Couple of early observations:
1) ZAR – (1) hit in 2 games. i dont see him starting the season in Pittsburgh – I
realize he still can be sent down without clearing waivers – this may seal his
fate.
2) Still not drinking the Kris Letang “Cool-aid”
3) Sprong just cant seem to get it going when the lights come on – Not giving
up on him but he needs to make a splash.
4) I recently saw our 4th line “it made me sick” – Cullen-Sheahan-Sprong
I’m looking forward to your thoughts.
Hey Mike,
Lol. Sorry I’ve been so absent. Of course, some of our faithful readers might wish I’d stayed away after reading this article … 🙂
I hear ya’ about Letang. As I commented on your other post, he’s a key. I guess I’m trusting my connection has given me solid information concerning ‘Tanger’s’ conditioning and confidence level. There’s no doubt he needs to improve his decision-making, too…especially in the d-zone…to help steer the ship in the right direction. If not, Dumoulin and the goalies could be in for a world of hurt.
I haven’t seen enough of Zach Aston-Reese this fall to comment. But I’ll agree one hit in two games ain’t enough…especially for a guy being touted as our “physical forward.” Still wish we had somebody…anybody…up front who could employ an effective physical style.
Where have you gone, Gary Roberts? And do you have any kids currently in junior? If so, I’d draft ’em sight unseen on genes alone.
I, too, noted that Sprong was dropped to the fourth line. Talk about being totally miscast. It appears he hasn’t done anything to sway Sullivan’s opinion. The only thing I can figure…and it’s a reach…they’re hoping Cullen can perhaps serve as an on-ice mentor and rub off on the kid a little.
Like I said…a stretch.
Rick
Sorry Rick,
On this point, you and me, we just disagree. The Penguins D is not good enough. If things settle down and I get the chance to actually write the rest of of my previews I may be able to get into more detail but the quick and dirty for me any way is;
Letang is not a Defenseman and should not ever be called a Defenseman. If the league still used the 7 skater position, the rover position, he would be an all world player, but as a Defenseman he is clueless and a severe liability to any Goalie in the league. He is one of the best offensive weapons for both teams that take the ice. If a team has absolutely no offensive Defensemen to QB their powerplay, then he could be essential but on a team made up of almost exclusively all puck moving Defensemen he is way below the realm of a luxury and into the netherworld of a nightmare.
Schultz is the only player that truly can be considered as a top pairing D. Dumoulin may be able to achieve top pairing status if he is ever allowed to escape the dubious honor of baby sitting Letang, but until he is is freed from that ball and chain we may never know what his potential is as he is forced to cover up Letangs many and glaring defensive guffaws.
Maatta is also a limited D man. He is smart and has shown flashes of Offensive talent but he is slow to turn and heavy of foot. He needs a fleet-footed partner with spider sense to help him out too. Look at the first preseason game this year on the Sabres’ Eichel SHG. When the Sabres’ clearing attempt dirfted over Maatta’s head he had a significant gap between him and Eichel, however, Eichel blew past the Lumbering Fin gathered in the loose puck and raced in unmolested on the Penguins goal.
I was willing to give Jack Johnson the benefit of the doubt and still will afford him some latitude since I really haven’t had the time to watch him but the box scores seem to prove out his naysayers.
I like Ruhwedel but he is at best a 7th man.
That leaves Oleksiak and Riikola. In my mind these two are your 2nd and 3rd best defensemen. From what I have seen in the limited amount of real time games and high lights that I have watched, I fear the Penguins’ goalies will be subjected to the same assault they had to endure last year. And the less versed Penguins fans will try and blame the goalies when the can’t stop break away after break away and/or hulking bodies like Anders Lee and JVR taking their eyes away because of useless defenders.
While I am ranting; to all of the Sprong haters who ignore the visual truth (Coach Sullivan?) look at Bjorkstrand’s 3rd goal from that CBJ game. Elliott and Oleksiak both were in the RW corner playing 6yr old hockey both chasing the puck instead of playing positional hockey, while Crosby was along the boards high waiting for a breakout pass and Sprong was working his tail off to help support his D and was the closest player to covering the front of the net when Oleksiak lost control of the puck and Bjorkstrand raced in behind the Pens D for an open, crossing the front of the net shot on goal.
Same Old Song and Dance from the Penguins D – Absentee ism!
The other Rick
I do agree our Defense is not near good enough – If the kid from Sweden is
as good as he’s been looking then make room for him.
I get so tired of these idiots saying our defense is set “HOW”? – they sucked
last year. Make a trade if it means putting Riikola in the rotation.
Rick – no offense with the idiot comment – not meant for you – You understand
hockey.
Hey Mike,
No offense taken, my friend … 🙂
I realize I took a bit of a pollyanna view of our ‘d’ in this article. I guess I’m trying to look on the bright side.
A lot hinges on Letang and whether he’s able to bounce back. If not, then it causes a negative chain reaction…with an especially onerous effect on Dumoulin as Other Rick suggests.
Johnson’s a key, too. Against Detroit he turned the puck over high in the offensive zone, which led to a 3-on-1 against. Oops.
For now, I’m remaining hopeful … 🙂
Rick