I’ve got pieces of April but now I’ll be mourning in May! (To paraphrase David Loggins)
With the 2018-2019 Penguins’ season one week in the rear view mirror and all the kneejerk reacting out of the way, I thought I would dissect the remains and like Dr. Frankenstein, maybe look to see how it could be sewn back together for next season.
Rather than try and tackle the whole team at once, I will contain myself to one position at a time and start with a look at the Penguins’ Centers. After my last, less-than-flattering look at the Coach and GM, I wanted to start somewhere where I could find something positive to say without straining too hard.
For more than a decade, the Center position has been an area of strength for our tuxedo attired avians and this past season was no exception (at least during the regular season). However, just like the rest of the team, it sort of soured when the second season came around. If I had to give the position as a whole a grade, the Center position earned a B for the regular season and a D for the playoffs.
| Name | Regular Season | Post Season |
| Sidney Crosby | A | D- |
| Evgeni Malkin | B- | D+ |
| Nick Bjugstad | C+ | D+ |
| Teddy Blueger | C | Incomplete |
| Matt Cullen | C- | D |
Sidney Crosby started the season off a little slow (compared to the rest of his regular season) as Coach Mike Sullivan rotated failure after failure across his Right Wing (RW). However, the Penguins’ captain hit the 100 point total for the 6th time in his career. Adding to his offensive game, the Penguins’ 200’ game center played so well defensively as to get his name tossed about in the Selke trophy discussions. Unfortunately, like the rest of the skating sphenisciform seabirds he all but drowned trying to swim against the riptide of the Islanders’ clogging defense. Crosby only managed 1 point in 4 games and tied for the worst +/- at -4.
Evgeni Malkin started the season off with a roar but went out like a lamb. If the season ended November 1st I would have given the big Russian Center an A+ for his performance. Unfortunately, once Sullivan turned his attention (and revolving door) to Malkin’s line, frustration seemed to set in. During December and Dupuis-gate Malkin’s season dropped. He still put up fairly decent numbers when it came to points but his +/- was an abysmal -25. When the playoffs started, he did manage to lead the team in points with a paltry 3 and his +/- was at least a little better than Crosby’s.
After Derick Brassard failed as the Penguins’ 3rd line Center in what may go down as Jim Rutherford’s worst trade, the Penguins’ GM appeared to redeem himself a little by trading Riley Sheahan and Brassard to Florida in exchange for Jared McCann and Nick Bjugstad. McCann started off playing more Center than Wing but shifted to Wing while Bjugstad started playing more Wing but seemed to find his niche as the Penguins’ 3rd line Center. He managed to score as many goals as Brassard (9) in 8 less games and pick up 1 less point (14 to Brassard’s 15). However, unlike Brassard he meshed really well with his new teammates.
Perhaps it was his and McCann’s desire to be in Pittsburgh, evidenced by their epic odyssey to join the team – racing from the rink of their last game played for Florida to catch a plane to suit up just in time the next day for their first game as a Penguin that made their transition so seamless. Regardless of why, Bjugstad became a serious upgrade almost immediately.
Many People thought Teddy Blueger earned himself a spot on the Penguins’ opening night roster. Unfortunately for Blueger, Sullivan wasn’t one of those people. He banished the young Center to Wilkes Barre Scranton (WBS) to start the season, opting instead to play a laundry list of also-rans. For his part, Blueger made the most of his time when he got his chance.
After picking up 21 goals and 18 assists in WBS while posting a +20, Blueger came up and scored 6 goals and added 4 assists in 28 games, while notching a +7. His regular season numbers per game beat all other pylons that littered the Penguins’ pivot position. Unfortunately, he was never given a real chance come the second season, hence the incomplete grade.
Matt Cullen was a very integral part of the Penguins’ back-to-back Cups. He wasn’t much help, though, this season. Had the crafty veteran Center been deployed as an insurance policy while Blueger gained experience, then his season would have been a bonus for this team but as it stood his 7 goals in 72 games during the regular season and 0 points in the playoffs added very little to the team. Agreed, 7 goals from a 4th line Center isn’t the end of the world, if the Center is a young kid trying to grow into a bigger role on the roster, but he wasn’t a kid and the team got nothing but a delay in the development of its future.
Now for the Future:
Going into next year, the Center position will still be the strongest position on the team.
Some fans, in their frustration over last season, have wanted to offer up Malkin as a scapegoat and trade bait. Granted, I am of the mind that everyone is tradeable, even Malkin and Crosby, but let’s face it; no team is going be asking about the availability of either player with Matt Duchene, Kevin Hayes, Brock Nelson,Joe Pavelski, Joe Thorton, and Brian Boyle available on the free agent market. Chances are no team will want to pay the price to get them.
Some fans have suggested that Bjugstad at $4.1 million per season for the next 2 seasons could be trade bait, to free up some cap space. I wouldn’t be one of them, at least not until I could see how, Jordy Bellerive, Nikita Pavlychev, and Justin Almeida have developed and/or in the case of Pavlychev, untested as yet in professional hockey waters.
Bellerive’s scoring dropped a little last season in the WHL (down from 92 points to 83) but that may have been because he was working on his defense, his +/- climbed from a -2 up to a +27. However, his first professional regular season’s games were less dynamic not picking up any points in 3 games while posting a -3.
Almeida added more scoring to his resume (Bumping up from 98 points up to 111). However, he was sort of the opposite of Bellerive, who dropped in scoring while increase his +/- while Almeida increased his scoring while his +/- dropped (42 down to 28).
Pavlychev had 14 goals in 39 games at Penn State but has 1 more year of college eligibility. A friend of mine, a Penn State alum who follows the team told me that Pavlychev was not given the captaincy, so maybe he will turn pro, but he is still an unknown quantity for the most part.
If the Penguins start the season with Crosby, Malkin, Bjugstad, and Blueger as their Centers, the Center position will once again carry the forwards. If Bellerive or one of the other prospects can step it up and pass one of those 4 then the team may be able to once again push deep into the playoffs. (I must confess I am hoping Bellerive wows the team again, like he did during his first training camp, and shows he has totally recovered as well as matured.) However, unless the team makes a coaching move, I am not holding my breath. Although the position would still be a strength, Crosby and Malkin may waste another season under Sullivan’s line-tampering.
Odds and Sods
While writing this piece, I looked online to see that the Penguins signed Oula Palve from the Finnish Elite League. I am impressed. He was a player I was looking at last weekend along with along with Jakob Lilja (LW), Jesse Virtanen (LD), b (G), Ville Leskinen (RW), and Otto Leskinen (LD). Palve is a 27 year old 6’-0” tall, 176 lb Center who shoots left. He notched 16 goals adding 35 assists in 53 games. He also picked up 79 penalty minutes and was a +5. Welcome to the ‘burgh, Oula!
Hello ToR,
Absolutely
Couldn’t agree more.. I thought Crosby and Guentzel played absolutely incredible in both side of the puck from start to finish of the regular season, imo. Early on they didn’t have a lot giveaways..
I hope to see Blueger in his regular natural position so he can show case everything he showed he could to help the Stars..
I don’t have no problem with Bjugstad.. Agree I wouldn’t trade him until other young seasons in the pool are ready to play in the league. Bjugstad do have to show more and deserving of better wingers that can score goals and defensively help him.. Either way .. Bellerive or Nikita came have him as right winger if necessary.. I think..
Sullivan did same thing he did with Crosby last season and this season..So I’m not mad with Malkin.. He needs help and consistency through contributing..
I can’t wait to see Crosby, Malkin, Bjugstad, Blueger with some other centers call ups..
Palve isn’t that bad.. Training camp is crucial to see what he bring..
I will always argue players live and creatures of habit. They need consistency and very dependable on their lines..
I think it completely fine to load up on your top lines for your stars to shine and have that chemistry to be the line in the league.. It’s so crazy Crosby and Malkin never have that.
Mike Sullivan will never win award in the league and consider to be high with coach like Trotz and Gallant..
I hope this is the end for Mike Sullivan and some stars can be free to players to their strengths to succeed with new defensive schemes through two way defenseman..
BTW I’m rooting for the canes and stars to go to the next round.. ??
Agreed Dee,
Crosby and Malkin need to be given real top 6 Wingers. Before you have a 3 headed monster, you have to have 2 heads or at least 1. Maybe McCann can continue to grow into a top 6 at Wing so that the team will finally have 5 top 6 forwards, but the team doesn’t have enough talent to support 2 lines let alone 3 at this moment. It is asinine for the Coach to try and make 3 lines with the pieces he has. The obstinance of forcing 3 lines explains why the team often goes through periods where it can’t score.
I have already confessed that I was one of those who in the inebriation of back-to-back Cup wins was incredulous that Sullivan wasn’t given Jack Adams consideration. Now however that I have sobered up from those heady days of revelry and can see his warts and why the rest of the league never put his name in those circles. He is nothing more than a passenger on the bus, at best the bench doorman shuffling lines – nothing more.
In my heart of hearts I want the canes to top the great ape and his crew but I have Washington in my bracket. I do have Dallas. I also have Bos and SJ, so despite calling NYI, CBJ and Col, my bracket could get blown up.
The Other Rick
My take for whatever it’s worth. First I wasn’t impressed by the lack of in game adjustments made by Mike Sullivan – I will say in a lot of ways and not by his doing he’s screwed when it comes to wingers. Malkin, Crosby, and Letang are aging and eating up a majority of the Pen’s cap space – i also realize that JR is being accused of over paying certain players – just an example and I think a lot of people fail to realize is in another year Johnson’s salary will be in line with a 5th or 6th defenseman. It’s the number of years on his contract that concern me and not the salary it self.
Getting back to Sullivan – i really don’t think his line juggling is without merit – Malkin and Kessel together form one of the poorest defensive forward duo’s in the NHL. For 3/4 of the season only one player in the league had a worse plus/minus rating than Malkin. For me personally I would not be bothered at all if the Pen’s move both Malkin & Letang. It’s gotten to the point where there skill level doesn’t over-ride there liabilities defensively (plus decision making). To many people want to place the blame on the Pen’s defense when many of their problems are the lack of commitment defensively from their forwards.
A perfect example is how well the Isles forwards back checked in the series with the Pen’s. The Islanders came in as the lowest ranked defensive unit to make the Playoffs (by ESPN) – Ranked 16th.
Malkin is still a great player – If you just want to sneak into the playoffs then its wise to keep Malkin, Crosby & Letang – If your goal is to make a run at another Cup then Letang and Malkin need to go.
Your Thoughts – Go Pen’s
My apologies for jumping around – I was driving and dictating. There were so many things I wanted to hit on. Anyway have a
great day/week.
Hey Mike,
you and agree on many subjects (ie we both would love to see a little more sand on the team) however, in the case of Malkin we diverge. Malkin did wear a -25 on his +/- but I do remember in the not so distant past (Particularly during the Pens 2 Cup runs and even last year and the beginning of this year) people outside of Pittsburgh extolling Malkin’s commitment to a 200′ game.
Let’s remember, Malkin was named player of the Month in October when he scored 7 goals and had 13 assists for 20 points in his first 11 games. His point total was only 1 less than Rantanen even though the Avs Winger played 3 more games. His +/- during that stretch was a +3; not too shabby.
It would seem to me that Malkin’s liability comes when he loses trust in his wingers and tries to do it all himself and coughs up the puck in the neutral zone or the attacking blue line, sending other players racing back for odd man breaks, rather than in any lack of defensive acumen once inside his own zone.
I realize that my statement is anecdotal at best but I do offer as evidence the break down of the team goals against when Malkin is on the ice. He was on the ice for 12 of the teams SHG against. which is almost half of his negative total. And I don’t blame him for those SHG against as much as I blame the idiot on the staff that would way too often have Malkin and Kessel, 2 – Forwards lugging the puck up ice on the PPG while Letang, the lone defender was already up ice waiting at the blue line. You know opposing PK Fs were licking their chops at the prospect of turning an offensive minded forward playing back on D.
As I said many times before, to me everyone is trade able at the right price, even Crosby and Malkin, so I wouldn’t get upset if the Penguins traded him, if they got equal value in return and in this case getting a Center of 1b quality is hard to come by, so the team would probably not be getting it from the team they traded Malkin too and more and more evidence is mounting to show that teams need 2 high, high quality Centers if they want to advance.
To me the real problem this past season was never giving Malkin a good quality LW after Hagelin was traded and often times stealing Kessel off of him. The pressures of having to deal with bottom 6 wingers forced the big Center to try and do too much himself. Had Sullivan benched his own ego and brought Adam Johnson up and deployed him on Malkin’s flank after the Hagelin trade, I think the season turns out much different.
But I will hold off talking more about the Penguins LW and the D (J Johnson) until I get to those positions.
And no worries about the order in which you present. I think we all get that way at least once in a while during a reply, they are always from the heart and raw with no real time for polishing.
It is always good to hear your thoughts regardless of whether or not you had time to edit.
Oh and I do like the Palve signing but with the Centers on the team I didn’t think the team would go after him. Or at least I would have been scouring for LD, LWs and RWs, and a possible goalie.
Hello Tor,
Absolutely,
I kind do think Palve signing was out left field…
I agree.
Hey Mike,
I disagree on Malkin…
Like ToR said,
Most of his negative came from ShG and at times he was struggling because he did not have trust wingers and he was always deploying with Jack Johnson who is a big negative and very bad players..
Everyone keep tryna say fowards cant get back..
That’s bs. Defenseman do not give the puck correct to fowards they often turning it over and not communicating to let the foward get in position to get nor to know when they are responsibly pinching to have them transition quickly to defend in their zone..
Penguins defenseman are weak, their transition sucks, zone exit/ entry is , bad , they constantly panicking under pressure, they use the boards to much with winning puck battles, they don’t win puck battles, they throw the puck anyway in vulnerable positions where team fowards and defense take advantage of them, pens D wait to much to pass the puck in front and behind the neck, their passing are not short crisp passes to have quick up, they do not skate out effectively to transition correctly or effectively understand to get puck deep and stand the blue line with aggressively pinching, defenseman have hard time get out of their zone while turning the puck over to much and Sullivan is completely fine with that.
PEns lose series because big stars were not getting the puck and they defend sucked, bad support cast and not rolling fourth lines correctly with great confidence transition D that were simple to get job with nice simple adjustments to defend hard and get puck to cycle in o zone to make Lehner work hard ..
Penguins D is weak and bad transition game has been for more than two years..
some points on Defensemen
•no transition game
•nothing off the rush
•bad passing
•do not win puck battles
•aggressively pinch
•panicky under pressure
•bad skaters that can move the puck on the back end
•throw the puck anywhere
•do give pressure in neutral zone
•very predictable
•fowards are skating hard to relieve pressure to get puck out the zone while defenseman take to make time waiting with puck and constantly passing to the other teams..
Letang , Johnson do that a lot..
Jack Johnson has no business being deployed with top lines and getting that much minutes. He was a negative effect on this team and Malkin / Crosby /Kesse/Hornqvist/Guentzel didn’t like that all the time..
I won’t trade Kessel , Crosby, Malkin, Guentzel
Penguins needs to add some small pieces in the bottom 6 .. I wouldn’t overpaid anyway.. Let Simon , Wilson, Zar go.. Bring Adam Johnson, Blueger, Angello,
Find another two cheap LW 750, 000 to 3 million to help effectively on bottom 6 with Angello on the fourth line..
Penguins needs to work about getting solid Defensemen ..
Top LHD and RHD for top pairing..
I love Määttä, But he needs go somewhere he’s appreciated and can benefit of his skill set that partner should take for granted without scapegoat among other things.. I do not want to see him go.. I think it the best to help remove Johnston contract.. I won’t be surprised he might stay..
Dumoulin and Schultz needs sTrong LHD and RHD to be heavy at the back end to be effective with moving puck around with defense minded first..