Why, it’s getting to be a regular routine. Each year around this time, the Penguins dip into their farm system and pluck out a youthful nugget or two to spice up the mix.
In 2016, they mined a veritable bonanza of kid forwards, not to mention goalie Matt Murray. Last season? Mid-season call-up Jake Guentzel lit up scoreboards around the league. This year Dominik Simon and Zach Aston-Reese are doing the honors.
Fellow PenguinPoop writer Other Rick, who’s championed playing the kids from the get-go (and provided inspiration for this article), must be pleased.
It’s a far cry from the late stages of the Ray Shero/Dan Bylsma era, when a steady stream of past-their-prime old timers such as Craig Adams, Chuck Kobasew and Taylor Pyatt held roster spots in lieu of kids. Not surprisingly, the well ran dry come playoff time, along with the team’s energy stores and enthusiasm.
That’s not to say there aren’t plenty of reasons–sound ones–for playing a more experienced hand over a raw rookie. Mistakes, for one. By nature, kids tend to make more of ‘em, while veterans generally are more bomb-proof. No less a hockey icon than Hall-of-Fame coach Scotty Bowman hated playing rookies. He felt they couldn’t be trusted in key situations.
Too, while a youngster might be awed by his surroundings, grizzled vets usually evince a been-there-done-that mentality. There’s something to be said for being even keel…especially during the emotional cauldron of postseason play. Plus, you certainly don’t want to rush kids along and run the risk of hindering their development over the long haul.
Still, there’s certainly room for youth on a Stanley Cup team. In the early ‘90s, wunderkind Jaromir Jagr and kid defensemen Jim Paek and Paul Stanton played prominent roles in the Pens’ inaugural Cup triumphs. With Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin pacing a youthful and gifted core, the ’09 champs reaped the benefits of building through the draft. During our recent back-to-back Cups, coach Mike Sullivan showed uncommon trust in kids like Guentzel, Murray and Bryan Rust. His faith was amply rewarded.
Which brings me to this season’s crop. While there doesn’t appear to be a bona fide game-breaker in the bunch, the Pens have received a decided lift from Simon and Aston-Reese.
Coincidence or not, the Pens’ turnaround began roughly the same time Simon arrived from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on January 1. In addition to his high-end playmaking skills, the Czech import possesses the smarts and hockey sense to mesh with Crosby…no easy feat. His presence also enabled Sullivan to sort out his line combinations and cease the frenetic juggling that served to disrupt chemistry during the team’s disheveled first half.
Likewise, Aston-Reese has made a favorable impression. Although not a speedster like most of the Pens’ call-ups, the hard-nosed youngster plays a surprisingly mature game. He’s good along the boards and in traffic and compensates for his lack of foot speed by reading the play well. And, as he demonstrated with a two-goal effort last night, Zach knows where the net is.
Simon and Reese aren’t the only kids to show their wares this season. Scoring sensation Daniel Sprong potted a pair of goals during an eight-game cameo. Although more of a long shot, Jean-Sebastien Dea displayed good wheels and a nose for the net. Teddy Blueger’s being groomed for duty at third-line center.
That’s a fair amount of talent for an organization that’s traded off so many draft picks in recent years. It also underscores the importance securing talent through college programs (Aston-Reese, Guentzel, Rust and Conor Sheary) and Europe (Simon).
For now, the pipeline is flowing. Our Pens are reaping the benefits.
Puckpourri
The Penguins defeated Ottawa last night at PPG Paints Arena, 6-3, in a rematch of last spring’s Eastern Conference Final. Aston-Reese and Guentzel paced the Pens with two goals apiece. Malkin and Kris Letang were the other black-and-gold scorers.
Crosby registered a game-high three assists. With 65 points, Sid moves into a sixth-place tie with Malkin in the NHL scoring race, one point behind club leader Phil Kessel, who’s tied for third. On the blue line, Brian Dumoulin (plus-4) and Justin Schultz tallied two assists each.
The Pens are currently in second place in the Metropolitan Division, three points behind Washington.
Welcome Derrick Brassard. So long to Ian Cole, Gustavsson and another #1 pick.
I hope we aren’t stuck with Hunwick. I sure hope they’re working another deal to replace Cole and/or Hunwick.
– 55
Not sure I like the deal. I feel like we are short a solid defenseman now. Probably gave up way too much.
Howdy to All,
Speaking of youth…I was hoping they’d give Blueger a look in Rowney’s slot while he was here. Sure, Rowney is good on the PK, but would the PK suffer much if he wasn’t there? He, and the fourth line, had a good game against the Leafs, and they’ve had a bit of life lately, but Rowney is inconsistent beyond the PK. He’s not awful, but if there’s someone at hand who may be better…Why not have a look? I doubt they’d risk a loss just because Bluegar suited up for a game or two. A little more scoring potential from the bottom six couldn’t hurt. Admittedly, I don’t know enough about Blueger to know why he sat while here, but he has decent numbers in WBS – 12g, 14a, +10 in 45 games – and he got some good ink in the preseason as a potential 3 or 4C. He looked good in camp. But, I guess Hornqvist is coming back, so he’s been sent down. I look at it as a missed opportunity, but maybe that’s just me.
– 55
Why they bring up a guy and don’t have him play (other than a back-up goalie) I will never know.
The thing that is killing me right now is hearing Letestu’s name in rumors. If they bring him back I may scream. Even if the Olilers put him on waivers the Penguins shouldn’t go after him.
I am not saying I know the answer as to why the team brought up Bleuger to sit the bench, I am just trying to reason through some possibilities that I would bring up a guy and not have him play;
1. If I were on a road trip to the West Coast, with games back-to-back, I would rather not risk having and injury and then trying to call a player up from my farm team and have him not make it to the game because of travel issues.
2. If I had a lot of veteran players that I would rather force to skate in every practice. So that I may still give some older players a rest during the season, I may carry an extra body so that I could run effective practices for the younger players.
I hear what you are saying 55 on Point. I like Rowney, but I think he plays better on the Wing than at Center, so I would rather the Penguins get another Center. I know the Penguins brain trust was high on Bleuger in the preseason and he is having a pretty good season down in WBS, however, I was not as impressed with Bleuger from what I saw of him in the Prospects Tournament or preseason. Still, things change over time, so I wouldn’t have minded seeing what he could have done in a real NHL game.
Phil, I didn’t mind Letestu all those years ago when he was in Pgh, but he was never a great player and has only gotten older. So, I agree with you, when I read some people suggesting that the Pens trade for him, I shuddered. What is worse, some of the ones suggesting the Pens trade for him where bigger name talking heads.
I really would like to see if the Penguins could get another Center in Pgh as insurance for the playoffs, however, I am very cautious as to the team should look at. I don’t think Sheahan is really consistent enough to be satisfied with him as the 3rd line Center, but I don’t think anyone would argue that he is making a strong case for himself right now. So The team could get away with a solid 4th liner. Maybe Bleuger could be that player but I would rather see the Pens get Cullen (although I doubt Minnesota would really want to give up Cullen).
I think the biggest thing I would like to see the Pens do is not get too caught up in the hysteria of the trade deadline and make a bad move. Next season Center may become a position of strength again without having to trade for anyone. I am liking what I am seeing from Bellerive and Angello and with Sheahan already here (he is in the last year of his contract but he is RFA). Bleuger and DiPauli may find themselves being pushed even for to line positions in WBS.
Part of me still likes the Russian kid in Penn State Pavlychev, but he isn’t having all that strong of a season and I think he still has 1 more year of collegiate eligibility.
Just read an interesting rumor; according to Dan Kingerski, Winnipeg has been scouting the Pens since mid Jan with an eye on a cheap top 6 forward with the possibility of giving up a 1st round pick in exchange.
Question, I wonder who the player is that at which they are looking? If the Jets flip a 1st rounder will the Pens hold it or trade it for Grabner, Kane, or Bressard?
I find it hard to believe that the Jets would part with a 1st round pick for Sheary (He is back on Crosby’s line) but I would take that trade in a heart beat. Maybe JR can channel the same midichlorian driven force that clouded Yoda’s eyes and led him to send Anakin to Palpatine/Darth Sidious so he could be turned to the dark side, maybe JR could swindle a 1st round pick for Sheary like he swindled Chi for Daley a couple of years back.
Honestly I still wouldn’t flip that pick for Kane or Grabner unless I could sign them to an extension.
Hey Rick,
You know I am smiling like a butcher’s dog watching these kids breathing life into the team. It is the kids on this team that are muting my anticipation for the trade deadline.
At the moment I am even getting a little nervous about the idea of trading for a 3rd line Center. I would think that trading for a player like Cullen, if Minnesota could be talked into it (with the Wild making a Cup run themselves, I doubt it though), would be the smartest type of mood. That doesn’t mean I am sold on Sheahan as a 3rd line Center. I still think he is a better 4th liner. I just don’t think the price would be right and I would rather the team not take on a long term contract at this time. Apparently I am not the only one following Bellerive, I read another site that has been tracking that kid and they seem to have a similar idea that he may be at worst 2 years away and maybe ready next year; and that he could easily be a 3rd line Center with potential to play 2nd line.
I also, still would live to see the team move Letang, but I am not holding my breath. I did read a couple of interesting talking heads saying that A. Justin Faulk could be available, despite Carolina being in the hunt, due to the development of Hanifin and others, and that he would be a good fit for the Pens. I am not necessarily on board with the idea, just ruminating at the moment. I just thought I would throw that out there to see what type of reaction it gets.
I am still of the opinion that the only adjustment the roster needs is putting Sprong back in the line up.
I know you are down on him Phil, as you keep bringing up his +/- in WBS, but consider this, he is a +2 in the NHL and until he was sent back down to WBS he had the best +/- for the big Penguins. Another thing to consider is that WBS averages 4 PP opp/game and 4.7 PKs/game and since Sprong is the main stay on the PP and the team has to PK almost 5/game he doesn’t get as many EV strength opp as others may get. The last point I want to bring up is that WBS is almost always winning, so when Sprong is on the ice, the team is more than likely playing a lot more prevent rather than attack. I am not concerned about him.
At this point I would rather try and hold onto players until the post season and then try and trade up in the draft.
Hey tOR,
I’m am down on Sprong that is 100% true.
At the same time, I only want to see him succeed and be an integral part of the Penguins team. Every Pens fan does.
The +/- is a fickle mistress. You can be a negative -10 and be the best on the team. That would be good, you are the one bringing the team up. When you have the worst +/- on the team, no matter how you look at it, you are the one dragging the team down.
Hockey is a simple game. You can score ten goals in a game but if the other scores 11 then you lose. The team with the most points wins every time, no matter what, no exceptions.
If your team scores more points when you are on the ice, you did your job.
Face it, Sprong will never see the light of day on the Pens powerplay. There are not many players in the league that could break into that lineup. He may see a few minutes on the second pplay and that’s even a maybe. Take that away and he is bad for the team. When you look at Aston-Reese who is a +21 in WBS, 22 points better than Sprong, it is a no brainer who stays up.
Sprong is in WBS for a reason and it isn’t to learn how to score. It’s to prevent the other team from scoring more than he does when he is on the ice. He hasn’t done it. In fact, he is the only one on the entire team who hasn’t. The ONLY one.
I only want what is best for the Pens. I don’t play favorites. Sprong doesn’t need to just get into the plus column, he needs to get at least in the middle of the pack on WBS. Otherwise he is the problem because the fact is, the team with the most points wins every time, no matter what, no exceptions.
I pointed out Guentzel as having problems also, I’m not singling out Sprong.
I love them bringing up the youngsters, I’m also very glad they gave them about half a season to develop in the minors before throwing them into the fire. I’ve said that all season.
They need to keep pushing Sprong and I’m sure he will be better for it. The guy has skill and he will end up a mainstay in the NHL if he wants to, of that I have no doubt. He just needs to play/hustle on both ends of the ice.
My point Phil was that Sprong had the Best +/- and the best CORSI for the PArent Club when he was sent back down to WBS, the best by a country mile. When he was sent down to WBS every Penguin on the Parent club was a – while he was a +. That total and completely negates any argument about his – +/- in WBS.
My bringing up about the PP and PK was just an attempt to understand how Sprong had the best +/- on the Parent club while having a – on the Farm club. It has to be the simple fact that you pointed out; Sprong wasn’t about to get PP time with the Parent club with all of the veteran fire power here in the Burgh. All of his ice time was even strength. Since his ice time was mainly at even strength and while the club was pressing to either gain the lead or extend it and not protect the lead, he was a +. While in WBS Sprong gets loads of ice time on the PP where the goals scored while he is on the ice do not count as pluses. When he is getting the bulk of the ice time on 4 PP per game which cuts into the amount of ice time he could possibly get at even strength to build a +/-. Again to further complicate gauging Sprong by his +/-, in WBS, the team has had success all season and has gotten big leads early in games, often from the PP, Sprong has more than likely been asked to simply protect big leads, one of the toughest ways to build a +/-, rather than score.
I know I am not going to convince you that Sprong should be on the team. However, since Sprong was the best on the team in +/- and CORSI when he was sent down, it invalidates any attempt to dis him defensively, it renders any pointing to his +/- in the AHL as inconsequential since his NHL +/- was best on the club at the time. It makes any discussion of +/- as reasons for Sprong being in WBS as not worth considering.
Still not seeing it. Sprong had one good game up here where he was a plus. He was non existent or a negative in the rest of the games. Even Reaves had the same +/- over the span of games Sprong was here. Letang had a better +/- during that time. The Penguins schedule after December went from hardest in the league to easiest in the league the rest of the way. There is no magic there on plus minuses.
Everyone on WBS plays under the same conditions as Sprong. On top of that, he knows why he is there. The coaches, the GM, the newspaper articles have spelled it out for him. He needs to play both ends of the ice.
I’ve seen him play 1/2 the ice here. In his “good” game, the second goal he got against the Islanders was because he was slow behind the play when the Islanders were breaking out and Shultz made a great play to keep the puck on-sides and get it to him behind the defense.
The Penguins have the luxury of sending a player down to fix his game. There is no need to bring up a one dimensional player like other teams have to.
I really really really want him to succeed. Supposedly he is a playoff performer also, so we have that to look forward to.
Sorry Phil,
Your +/- argument is falling on deaf ears. Sprong and Simon were tied for the team lead in +/- at +2 during the 8 games Sprong was here in Pgh. Crosby was a -1. Sheahan who has a reputation of being defensively responsible was a -2.
Sprong’s CORSI backed up that +/- by also being the highest on the team at 66.67%. HIs Fenwick numbers were also best on the team at 68.5%.
These numbers were against NHL level competition.
Before Sprong got here to Pgh, Crosby was struggling mightily at a -11.
Philadelphia was 6-3-1 in there previous 10 games before the Sprong version of the Penguins beat them. Granted the Penguins beat them in their previous meeting but it took them into OT to do it. With Sprong in the line up they beat them 5-1.
Carolina was 7-2-1 when the Sprong Penguins played them.
The Islanders were not playing all that well in the 10 games leading up to their loss to the Sprong Pens, but in their previous meeting against the Sprongless Pens the Pens had to go into OT to beat them, the Sprong Pens beat them 4-0.
When the Sprong Penguins beat Boston in OT they were unbeaten in regulation in their previous 10 games with only NYR beating them in OT and Was beating them in a Shootout.
Anaheim was 6-3-1 in their previous 10 games.
Only Detroit and the 2 NY teams could be considered somewhat easy games, but considering what Pgh record was going into those games, no one would have thought even those games were sure things for the Penguins since the Pens were playing worse than at least the 2 NY teams.
On top of it all 4 of those game that Sprong played in were played on the road where the Penguins are 11-15-3, yet in those road games the Penguins were 2-2.
No matter how you slice it, the argument that Sprong is a one way player just doesn;t cut it with me, particularly since when he was here in Pgh, I do remember him playing a 200′ game and even commented on at least one of several of his defensive plays in my posts over that span.
However I did see a whole lot more than just 1 but then again I was looking for them to see if the scouting reports had merit. In the end, what I saw from the limited ice time (~13min/gp) Sprong showed me that the rap against him had little merit. Perhaps if he was getting more TOI, but there is no objective evidence to support the that rap.
Hey Phil,
Sorry, as I was writing the above, I was starting to get worried that I had written way too much and stopped short of acknowledging that there could be other reasons besides the +/-, that may be a good reason for keeping Sprong in the minors. In fact I can think of some reasons that may not actually be good ones, but realistic reasons, reasons that I may not like but have exist regardless, like the old numbers game. I do understand that a team may not want to risk simply losing a Conor Sheary by exposing him to waivers to send him down to WBS when they could possibly get something in return for him.
There even may be reasons within Sprong’s game to which my zeal to see his enthusiasm on the Parent club may blind me. I am only human and like every other human, there is the possibility that I over look somethings.
Letang and Dumoulin each +4 last night has sat Jake Guentzel all alone with the worst +/- on the team at -15. Letang and Dumoulin runners up at -11 each.
Bringing up the youth has seemed to lit a fire under Guentzel also. He seems to be going into the high traffic areas once again. I really think Guentzel will end up one of those big playoff players. The way he plays and the hits he endures to play his game would be really hard to do all season.
Sprong is the only guy on the WBS Pens roster with a negative +/-. He is leading WBS in goals and points though.