I’d written earlier this summer that erstwhile Montreal left wing Max Pacioretty would look awfully good in a Penguins uniform. As recently as a few nights ago I’d discussed the matter with Rich, a hockey buddy at the Pennsbury Pub & Grille, who assured me that a deal involving the New Canaan, Connecticut, native could still be in the works.
He was right…one was. It just didn’t involve the Penguins.
On Sunday, the Vegas Golden Knights…aka…Pittsburgh West acquired the high-scoring portsider from Montreal for forward Tomas Tatar, prospect Nick Suzuki and a second-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Golden Knights GM George McPhee promptly inked Pacioretty to a four-year extension worth $28 million…or a cool $7 million per season.
Truth be told, it would’ve taken some creative wheeling and dealing…not to mention financing…on GM Jim Rutherford’s part to accommodate the big forward at his existing cap rate ($4.5 million), let alone sign him to a long-term deal. In all likelihood, the five-time 30-goal man would’ve been a one-year rental. However, for a team stocked with a gifted but aging core and seeking perhaps its last and best shot at another Cup, I think he would’ve been the perfect pick-up.
Along with his well-documented scoring touch, ‘Patches’ would’ve added size (6’2” 206) and a physical bent (118 hits in ’17-18) to the Pens’ left flank, a position of need.
Oh well, no use in crying over spilled milk. Except that, on the eve of training camp, I’m still concerned over the Pens’ mix up front. More specifically, how we’re going to flesh out the left wing slot, which seems woefully undermanned.
By all appearances, Jake Guentzel’s the real deal. In addition to his Midas touch around the net, he’s feisty and competitive. Better still, he and Sidney Crosby have a sixth sense for each other. Last spring they combined for 19 of the Pens’ 42 playoff goals.
While Carl Hagelin isn’t your classic second-line left wing by any stretch, he brings world-class speed and a defensive conscience to the mix, much like Bob Errey did while skating alongside the incomparable Mario Lemieux back in the day.
After that, it’s a crapshoot. Bryan Rust, a right wing by trade, appears to have the inside track on the third line. While I love ‘Rusty’…he’s one of my favorite Penguins…there are challenges in playing the off-wing, especially along the boards where the Notre Dame grad normally excels.
“Try using your computer mouse with the opposite hand for an entire day,” wrote Sean Conboy of Pittsburgh Magazine while explaining the difficulties.
Ditto the fourth line, where centers Matt Cullen, Derek Grant and Riley Sheahan may see duty at left wing. All three are left-handed shots, which should mitigate the issues to an extent. Still, center is a vastly different position than wing, especially when it comes to defensive-zone responsibilities.
I worry about how it might affect the Pens’ team defense…not exactly stalwart last season. It’s a shortcoming that’s sure to be exaggerated by the full-time presence of right wing Daniel Sprong, a talented sniper who nonetheless is a graduate of the Phil Kessel School of Backchecking.
That’s a lot of ‘own-zone ifs’ for a team that ranked 20th in the league in goals allowed.
While I’m fretting over our team ‘d,’ I’ll toss another log on the fire. Don’t quote me on this, but I believe Matt Murray has the most stints on IR of any NHL starting goalie since his arrival in the league. Billy, a passionate and knowledgeable Pub hockey pal, likened him to a skilled but brittle Pens netminder from the past…Tom Barrasso. A spot-on comparison.
In addition to time spent on IR with various ailments, Barrasso missed practically two full seasons during his stay in the ‘Burgh. Fortunately, the black and gold had capable second starter Ken Wregget waiting in the wings.
With Marc-Andre Fleury guarding the twine in Vegas, our present Pens boast no such luxury. Indeed, backups Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith are largely unproven quantities. While that doesn’t mean they won’t eventually establish themselves as bona fide NHL goalies, pray Murray doesn’t go down for an extended stretch.
Last but certainly not least…the white elephant in the room. At age 31, will Kris Letang rebound from a troubling season and regain his All-Star form?
It’s anybody’s guess.
Maybe , it just me. Letang can have some points with turnovers ina game and people still will drooling over him. He doesn’t no harm. ( points giving to him by Crosby’s hard work)
Today’s Preseason Game:
Letang gave the puck away to 2-3 players in his own zone. Bad Turnovers or whatever.On the powerplay. Still Problems getting out his own zone. Bad moments behind his net. Bad decision-making . Suspect on the ice. Standing and cross checking.etc.. ( that his defense) waiting for defensive partner and Murray to bail him out. Same ole Letang. Inconsistent.
Penguins D will always be suspect if Letang on the top paring every season.
I think Letang best days are behind him and albatross contract needs to go.
I think Shultz should be Pens top Penguins powerplay quarterback.
Dksports wrote that he was mad that Schultz practiced on the top power-play too. He wants to be ‘the guy’ on the ice . He doesn’t want to listen to the coach staff. ( adjust him/ simplify his game.He don’twant to play less minutes nor adjust his game for the better.. etc.. he doesn’t get it.
Pgh media still making excuses for him.
I still hope and praying during the TDL Penguins will trade him.
Please read it.
Article: http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/penguins/2018/09/21/Penguins-Kris-Letang-neck-relaxed-back-training-camp-pittsburgh-surgery-hockey-nhl/stories/201809210135
Very telling.
I think it will be rift between him and Sullivan.
Elite players adjust their game no matter what.
Angello, Johnson and Riikola has Been great on the ice.
I’m very happy Cullen is back.
Hello Rick and The Other Rick,
I agree on everything. I love your honest and willingness to tell it like it is in these articles.
I think you guys know opinions surrounding them. Especially Kris Letang. Brassard too.
I’m very upset. I would love Karlsson or Pacioretty on this team . I wish them the best!! 🙁
Hockey is back!!! (sort of)
Like I said, Sidney and Jake needs a RW to get dirty, heavy backing checking/forechecking and bring consistency to that line. He needs someone to help with the heavy lifting. IMHO, Crosby shouldn’t be carrying all the load his line like last year. He needs help like Geno did last year. He needs to be free and be able to get 100 points again. I know Guentzel will give all to contribute on Sid’s line . I like that Sprong got a opportunity to be with them. Consistent RW is a questionable to me. I’m happy for Sprong and know he will be great . Great Shooter.
Sidney Crosby’s post interview comments resonates with me. Reading between the lines. It isn’t the first time he say it or express it. I like that he was very open and candid about his line, particularly on his right side, i know he always want someone like Dupi on RW and to help help to do his best in his line. Guentzel-Crosby-Sprong look great today. I’m not sold that coaching staff will let Sprong stay there. Penguins needs RW for Sid and New LW to even out the LW position.
Last year Crosby’s CF % and face reactions tell you:
•Wingers wasn’t finishing there chances ( Sid’s unbelievable passing)
•snakebitten team
•No consistency on his line(Sheary saddling his line)( different wingers every game)
•Below -low average goaltending
• on the ice when goals happened
• always on the ice covering defensive woes in his zone.
Dee,
Sorry for the delayed response.
Your comments are spot-on. In fact, almost on cue, Mark Madden wrote an article for the “Pittsburgh Tribune-Review” echoing many of your sentiments.
You make especially good points about Sid having to do all the heavy lifting in the defensive zone. He could definitely use some help in that regard.
Great observation about Sheary, too. Sandwiched between a pair of two-goal games, he netted just four goals over a 46-game mid-season stretch despite spending a decent chunk of time beside Sid. It wasn’t for a lack of open looks, either. Crosby was constantly springing him for glorious chances. Conor just couldn’t finish.
Let’s hope whoever fills that slot this season does a better job.
Rick
Hey Rick,
I too would have loved to see the Penguins deal for Pacioretty.
Furthermore, like you, I have some concerns about the what the Penguins will do up front. Most particularly, as much as I like Cullen, and think had JR signed him last year, things may have been different last year, this year, at best, I see him as a bottle neck for younger, faster, forwards. When the Penguins won the Cup, Sullivan liberally spread youth throughout the line-up. Last year, Trotz borrowed Sullivan’s scheme and relied heavily on younger players (out of necessity due to off season defections but those kids were instrumental none-the-less.
I also worry about the lack of true Left Wingers. The only players who are listed as LWs by NHL.com are Carl Hagelin and Garrett Wilson. Every other LW is a converted C or RW.
And the team’s D ability to help in the offensive zone and the lack of heavy shots from the blue line. I will get into that deeper when I can focus on finishing my previews, but regardless of how much talent the team may accumulate upfront, it gets tough to score when opposing teams collapse their wingers down low to help support the D because no one has any respect for our point shots. Opposing teams know they have ample time to either get back up to the point to get a stick on the shot or in a worst case scenario, the shots are so weak that even without goalie pads they won’t hurt that bad if those forwards threw their bodies in front of them.
Hey Other Rick,
Very astute points (no pun intended). Especially the part about opposing teams collapsing their wingers down low to support their ‘d.’ That’s what the Capitals did last spring, and we really had a hard time getting shots through to the net…especially later in the series.
Too, by then, we were pretty worn down from previous Cup runs. The Caps’ physical game took a toll as well.
Excellent observation regarding fast, young kids sprinkled throughout the lineup. I really didn’t think Washington would be a factor last season…they’d bled off a lot of veteran talent. But the fresh legs really helped.
While it’s understandable the Pens would load up with veterans, I agree it’s probably a mistake. Our post-Cup teams of the early ’90s (circa ’93-’97) boasted tons of veteran talent…a lot like our present team. But they were aging and lacked youthful hop and enthusiasm. When a kid like Martin Straka did make the grade, then-GM Craig Patrick used him as trade bait to acquire more veterans.
We appear to be following the same approach…right down to bringing back a “team dad” type (Matt Cullen/Bryan Trottier) following a one-year absence.
Rick
Sharks stole my defenseman lol.
Hey Phil,
Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson on the same defense? Wow.
That’s a lot of points (129 combined). A lot of giveaways (210), too.
Rick
HI Rick,
I also share your concerns on the left side. My take, overall and without any eye testing, is they, again, will be a squad highly dependent on being a goal scoring machine. I think, without anything much to go on at this point other than gut, they will need 7 or 8 forwards to pot 20+ goals to stay in the hunt.
That’s also a reference to an as yet unproven defense. I still have little faith in it. If it gels, great. If it doesn’t it’s anyone’s guess as to the outcome but I doubt it will be stellar. Either way, they will need some help from all their offensive-minded D-men. Another 25-30 goals from the D would be a big plus.
Murray has to be not only healthier, but better, much better. If he can’t bat .925+, it may indeed be a long, torturous season. I like Jarry and DeSmith. I think DeSmith is a bit better – more athletic with better reflexes – but Id have to assume Jarry has the inside track on being the full-time back up. Like Murray, it’s also a big year for Jarry to prove he’s who and what they need him to be. Between the pipes is where the future of this team begins. You simply don’t replace Crosbys, Malkins, Kessels and Hornqvists as a matter of course. You need first round draft picks to do that.
I don’t doubt they will see the post season, but another cup is another matter… entirely.
Anyone heading to camp? I can’t make it tomorrow (Friday/opening day), and I try to avoid weekends, but I’ll be checking it out a few days next week.
– 55
Hey 55,
Always great to hear from you. As usual, you and I pretty much seem to agree right down the line, with some slight differences.
I confess, I’m a little more hopeful than you about the defense. One of our gym members has close ties to the Penguins, and he says Letang’s in much better condition–physically and mentally–heading into camp. He opined that ‘Tanger’ was tired come the playoffs, not to mention a little hesitant to jump into scrums because of his neck (hard to blame him), which could’ve contributed some to the ghastly mental lapses against the Caps.
Apparently, Jack Johnson hasn’t stopped smiling since he arrived in town. I know he’s 31 and has some mileage on him, but once-upon-a-time he was touted as a potential top-tier defenseman. If he can reclaim even a degree of his initial promise, I think he might prove to be an astute addition.
I’m looking at him as kind of an Ian Cole-plus. Maybe not as solid defensively, but more of an offensive upside.
It seems the Pens are reasonably high on a Finnish kid and former teammate of Olli Maatta’s…Juuso Riikola.
Agree with your assessment of DeSmith. He’s extremely cool under fire…perhaps even more so than Murray…and very economical in his movements. The only flaw I see is something he can’t fix…at least not unless he’s outfitted with ‘elevator’ skates. At 6’0″ and 180, there’s a lot of upper net to shoot at when he goes into his crouch.
Having said that, the same was true of Chris Osgood. And he won three Cups for Detroit.
I’m not as sold on Jarry. He has an awkward style, and at times looked very wide open and exposed last season. Again, he’s just a kid, so there’s every chance he’ll learn and develop into a solid NHL goalie.
Regarding Murray and a .925 save percentage…I’m not holding my breath…especially given that the team ‘d’ in front of him is liable to be iffy at times. If he’s in the .915-.920 range, I’ll be happy.
It’ll be interesting to see how he does.
I, too, think there are a few too many holes to reclaim the Cup. I hope they prove me wrong.
GO PENS!
Rick