Anatomy of Frustration – The 2018-2019 Penguins Review Part Two

” One fist of iron, the other of steel
If the right one don’t a-get you….”

If you had asked me at the beginning of the 2018-2019 season what I thought of the Penguins‘ starboard side, I would have “thunk” that it would have been close to the pivot position. And despite some injuries to Patric Hornqvist and Brian Rust, and some excuse me defense from Phil Kessel, let’s face it, it still was pretty darn good. The Right Wings (RW) weren’t a problem during the regular season ant their failure in the playoffs may be more a question of losing faith in their coach as opponents always seemed to know where they were going.

Using the Centers as my benchmark, since I gave that position a B, for the regular season, I would have to give the Penguins‘ RW position a B- for the regular season and like the Centers a D in the playoffs. For a team to get 100 points in a season isn’t as big of a deal as it was in the 1970s but it still is nothing to sneeze at and the Penguins did hit that 100 point mark again. Like the Centers, the RWs contributed their part to that success.

Identifying exactly who to list as a RW for this list was a bit of a challenge since the Penguins‘ Coach couldn’t make up his mind where to deploy his players. Hockey is a very fluid sport, so some flexibility is required but constant change does distract. So if you don’t see a forward here, he will be talked about when I look at the Left Wings (LW). So, ignoring players no longer in a Penguins’ sweater;

Kessel struggled defensively but he notched 27 goals and 82 points and piled up 10 game winning goals (WGs). All in all, I do say that all comes out to a B+. Phil the Thrill was still an asset to this team.

Despite Jared McCann being a natural Center, I placed him here among the RWs because he played his best on Sidney Crosby‘s right flank. As I mentioned in Part One of this series he impressed me with his desire to be a Penguin. With fellow former Florida Panther Nick Bjugstad, he tried re-enacting a late 1970s rental car commercial, racing through an airport to get from his last game as a Panther one night to be in the Black-and-Gold the next day.

The young-gun potted 11 goals in just 32 games as a Penguin, with 3 of them occurring while his fellow flightless fowl were short-handed. Defensively his Corsi numbers were a little low at 48.9% but when adjusted for blocked shots (Fenwick) is climbed back over even (50.6%). His +/- was +8. Since he didn’t play even half of a season for the Penguins, part of me was a bit hesitant to give McCann a B, but projecting his numbers across a season his numbers do look good and he brought a great attitude with him.

Patric Hornqvist struggled this past season. A lot of his struggles was with his health. It seemed every time you turned around another freak accident befell the tough-as-nails RW. Concussions and other injuries limited Hornqvist to 69 game played. Through it all, in true lunch-pail fashion he still managed 18 goals and 19 assists. However, he struggled through to the end of the season, therefore the C+ rather than a higher grade.

Bryan Rust started the season off struggling. The speedy RW attributed it to him putting too much pressure on himself; it does sound reasonable. He earned himself a hefty raise and may have pushed too hard. In the end he almost tipped the 20 (18) goal mark in 72 games. Come playoff time though he was a no show like the rest of his team.

Now for the future;

I think it is still to early to look at next year but it can be fun to try and look and some of our readers have already started looking ahead, so here are my thoughts on RW;

Phil Kessel didn’t have the kind of regular season that he had last year, leading some kneejerk reactionaries to call for the fan favorite to be traded. Seriously? With whom would you replace his 10 WGs. Agreed, he is not going to win a Selke trophy anytime in the near future, but that is not what he gets paid to do. I am not going to say Phil the thrill is untouchable but I am not for shopping the high flying RW.

Barring a block-buster trade I expect Kessel to thrill the ‘burgh with more offensive fireworks. I am not holding out any hope, but a coaching could potentiate Kessel‘s output and even his defense. When the season started, he and Evgeni Malkin were flying and even playing well in the defensive zone (at least as well as Kessel can play in the defensive zone) but then coaching unraveled it (Dupuis-gate).

I am looking forward to seeing what McCann can do on Crosby‘s RW for a full season. I am not a fan of 3 left handed shots on the same line but a lefty to the right of the Penguins’ Captain could spell big things. McCann may have the opportunity of getting a ton of one time shots. History would also support this idea. Pasqual Dupuis was a left handed RW for Crosby and put a big numbers there.

As for Patric Hornqvist, I am sorry, but if there is a change, as much as part of me would hate to see it but here could be a place for the Penguins to not so much upgrade as hedge their bets. Although I don’t see Jim Rutherford moving him, with all of the injuries and multiple concussions and age, the veteran RWs $5.3 million contract looks rather ominous right now and could make him a tough sell. Furthermore, with Rutherford talking about going back to a speed game and Hornqvist not exactly fleet of foot, he would seem rather expendable.

Bryan Rust is also an interesting case. Rust didn’t have a consistent season after signing his relatively big contract ($3.5 million). He also would appear easier to move than Hornqvist. So despite his speed, Rust could be on the trading block. I like the kid, particularly in 3rd or 4th line role and killing penalties but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he is moved.

Possible in house promotions to help next season;

If you could guarantee me that Hornqvist and Rust can play like they have in the past and stay healthy, I would be very happy to see this position stay intact but if is a big word.

Anthony Angello impressed me in the preseason. I wasn’t completely upset to see him demoted to Wilkes Barre – Scranton, but I was hoping to see him get a call up during one of Hornqvist injuries. The 6′-5″, 209lb RW potted 16 goals in 65 games during his first professional season. His +17 was 3rd on the team in that department. If Hornqvist is moved or injured, I could see Angello filling the veterans shoes. I would be most excited to see what Angello could do as the Penguins‘ power play specialist, parked in front of opposing goalies. He has good hands and is bigger than Hornqvist.

Kasper Björkqvist could also make some waves if he chooses to fore-go his senior season. Björkqvist can play either wing and is a left handed shot, so he could be a plan B when McCann may have to miss some games on Crosby‘s flank. He notched 17 goals in 42 games for Providence and was a +13.

Filip Hållander could also put some pressure on the Penguins’ RW. He didn’t put up the numbers that some players did but he could be a dark horse candidate. He only had 7 goals in 45 regular season SHL games. However, in post-season play he notched 5 goals in 7 games.

Looking outside of the organization;

Getting swept out of the playoffs makes it hard not to see if the grass is greener elsewhere. Looking at NHL free agents; Wayne Simmons, Jordan Eberle, Mats Zuccarello, Gustav Nyquist, and Jason Pominville leaves me less than excited, due to age and probably Cap space. So, I went looking around other leagues.

The first player of interest that I found was Ilya Mikheyev, the 24 year old 6′-2″, 194lb RW of the KHL. He probably isn’t the next Artemi Panarin but he potted 23 goals, added 22 helpers, and was a +21 in 62 games for Avangard Omsk. Unfortunately, rumor has it that this possible gem will be following Nikita Gusev in signing with Vegas.

I would love to see the Rutherford beat out the Knights on this signing, especially if he really is entertaining moving Kessel.

An alternative to signing Mikheyev for me would be Ville Leskinen. I do like the Penguins signing Oula Palve but with the depth the Penguins have at Center I would have rather they signed this kid. He is 25 years old, 6′-1″ 185 lb right handed shot that can play either wing.. He scored 29 goals and had 28 assists in 58 games for Kärpät “A” in the Finnish league Liiga.

As I wrote above, I know we have several readers, like me, who like to play arm-chair GM. If it is me I would like to see the Penguins go with McCann, Kessel, either Mikheyev or Leskinen, and Angello and Rust. With the flexibility of McCann, Leskinen, and Rust, they should all get plenty of ice time.