Pretty soon they’ll be calling us the Monongahela Ducks. Or referring to Anaheim as the Left Coast Penguins.
In the wee hours this morning, Pens GM Jim Rutherford and Ducks counterpart Bob Murray swung their third trade over the past four seasons. Almost three years to the day after the watershed David Perron-for-Carl Hagelin swap…a deal that propelled the Pens to the 2016 Stanley Cup…JR acquired peppery forward Joseph Blandisi in exchange for forward Derek Grant.
At first blush, this trade won’t have nearly the same impact. On the surface it appears to be pretty much tit-for-tat…one fringe forward being dealt for another. Both guys are centers by trade who can slide to the port side. Each has shown the ability to be nominally productive at the NHL level…Grant with 14 goals and 36 points in 177 career NHL games…Blandisi with eight goals and 26 points in 74 career big-league contests. Salaries are similar, too, with Blandisi ($680K) weighing in at a slightly higher average annual value than Grant ($650K).
However, that appears to be where the similarities end. Although strong on faceoffs (57.1 percent this season) and a decent penalty-killer, Grant…a sluggish skater…never really fit with the Pens’ up-tempo style. He’s likely to be more at home out west, where his size (6’3” 215) and style of play seem better suited for the heavier Western Conference game.
Although Blandisi figures to be little more than a fill-in, there are elements of his game that intrigue me. Feistiness, for one. The Hockey News describes him as a “versatile, agitating energy forward with some upside.”
Indeed, the Markham, Ontario native scored 52 goals and 112 points his final year in junior, which indicates at least a modicum of talent. During his rookie season, Blandisi scored a stunning, Crosby-esque between-the-legs-backhand goal from the side of the net against the Flyers that made the highlight reels. The Star, Canada’s largest online news site, described the 24 year old as a “quick, explosive skater.”
One thing Blandisi doesn’t bring to the table is size…he’s listed at 5’11” and 187 pounds. However, by the sounds of it, he’s a Mike Sullivan-type player who should blend in with the coach’s favored north-south game.
In my humble opinion, the black and gold still lack a little bite and aggression…especially with Patric Hornqvist and Zach Aston-Reese on the shelf. While Blandisi most assuredly ain’t the second coming of Ryan Reaves, he’s a guy who can at least stir the pot. Maybe even draw a penalty or two.
Whether the trade is a prelude to a larger swap involving rumored-to-be-on-the-move Derick Brassard is anybody’s guess. But, even if a small one, hopefully it’s another win for Rutherford.
Penguins are in trouble. Same ole lingering glaring issues. I blame the coaching staff. (Mike Sullivan) Bad line combos and not making great adjustments with a growing copycat league . Sloppy hockey , one and done every shift on the ice.
Same observations over and over again
• flat and disinterested starts/no urgency/energy to shift momentum their way.
•poor transition from defenseman/absolutely no connecting passing to fowards/Defensemen getting outmuscled
•No winning 50/50 puck battles
•one line generate offense/taking upon themselves to generate and not be defending in their zone. Guentzel and Crosby
•poor puck management/passing/cannot generate offensively/big turnovers from Defensemen
•bad pinches and odd man rushes
• giving up to many grade A chances and Other teams defenseman and foward are getting behind the defenseman.
•Fowards defending to much and waiting for Defensemen to connect to get through neutral zone to offensive zone. It isn’t happening.
•Atrocious Defensemen defense positioning and transition game
I can keep going on forever about this team. I hate the line combos and promotion where players simply doing fit with each other play style. Slotted wrong and really no chemistry is building through this team for consistency
Brassard and Johnson gotta go. It needs to be better trades and signing. Really be call-up for younger better players. Pens have a opportunity to call up different you players to help them. Blueger, A.Johnson and Angello.
True and believe Mike Sullivan is discussed every player he want be on this team and where he would like them to be slotted.
Blandisi Trade negates another Trade and they didn’t want to lose Grant for nothing on waivers..
Hornqvist?
I don’t understand it. He should be resting not playing at all, tonight.
Sullivan put two right wingers with Malkin. It make no sense at all. Jack Johnson should be scratched. Jamie Oleskiak should be playing every game. Oleskiak is better than Jack Johnson , Rikkola and Patterson.
Certain Defenseman needs to be more aware , stop pinching and be better defensively in the offensive zone to not jumping high/careless with the puck /give countless breakdowns
Jack Johnson needs to be scratched. Rutherford gotta eat crow and fix his mistake with his contract.
5-10 odd man rushes for Vegas. Flat/disinterested starts and bad sloppy
Penguins tied the game. Vegas players behind their D and Crosby’s line only generate something with tab bit of Malkin’s line
Penguins seems to play down and act like they are getting a feel of the game in numerous games.. They can’t handle swarming forecheck, cohesion, structure, well prepared hockey teams.
Penguins probably win tonight.(Maybe ) season They still needs to be better and play like they are ready to be a contender with other teams. Get it together. Remove deadweight and be better defensively .
They needs to have better defensive schemes and ready to play hockey every game in this league. Take that given to them on the ice. Take a page from Guentzel and Crosby’s work ethics .Attention to details.
Tor&Rick
Hey Rick,
Interesting trade. One thing that I believe that has been holding Mike Sullivan back this year has been his ability to send guys up and down from the farm to get fresh guys in the room. Having a guy or two in the locker room who really appreciates just being able to be play in the NHL really puts the whole thing in perspective for the rest of the guys who may just be going through the motions.
On the upside, this Blandisi guy has almost the exact same pedigree as Daniel Sprong. He wasn’t drafted as high, but has a similar point total in the OHL as Sprong had in the offensive focused QMJHL league. If this guys plays with a chip on his shoulder and will do the tough things you need to do then it is almost like a wash with Sprong.
Blandisi does have some hefty negative +/- numbers from his time with the Devils, but he was middle of the pack of the +/-‘s on the Devil’s teams those two years. He has been know to play center & left wing. I would be interested to see if he could play with Malkin.
Hi Rick,
I didn’t mind Grant except, as you say, he wasn’t a perfect fit for Sullivan’s game plan. He was a good face off guy, a pretty good penalty killer, had a good stick, and I thought he was usually pretty smart with the puck. I’ve seen Blandisi skate a couple times but I don’t remember much about him. It’s fair to say this is an even trade but, perhaps, with Rutherford’s pinky on the scale.
Also, Hornqvist has flown out to AZ and may suit up tomorrow night. That’s a good thing. I’ve heard Blandisi is also a go-to-the-net guy so maybe we’ll have some net-front scrums back on the menu. This is a good thing too. There wasn’t enough of that in the last two losses.
Looking forward to seeing what washes out with Brassard. I think they’ll be lucky to get a number two, unless they package him, maybe with Jarry (?), or they decide to cull the defensive herd. I’m thinking with DeSmith now signed, Jarry may be an odd man out. He has NHL potential, which, baring injury, he won’t get here, but could make him a bargaining chip.
— 55
Hey 55,
Always good to hear from you. I hope and trust that all is well.
Since I posted my write-up, both the Trib and Post-Gazette came out with articles echoing your take on Grant…that it wasn’t so much the Pens were displeased with him as it was about their fear of losing him if they exposed him to waivers.
Blandisi doesn’t need to clear waivers if the Pens send him to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, which in turn opens up roster flexibility for guys like Garrett Wilson and Teddy Blueger, who’s having a solid season with the Baby Pens (17 goals and 31 points, plus-14 in 40 games) and has been touted as our future third-line center for quite a while.
I’m pleased Rutherford and the coaches seem to like Wilson. Maybe I’m old school, but I like having at least one forward in the lineup who plays a traditional physical game. Apparently, he’s got leadership qualities and is very well-liked in the locker room.
I’ll be interested to watch Blandisi, too. Sounds like he’s a buzz-saw type. In my mind, the Pens could use a pure energy guy. So, innocuous as it seems, this trade could reap some significant dividends.
On the flip side, I’ve heard rumblings (not from any official source) that Oleksiak may be dealt when Schultz comes back and we go eight-deep on defense (not counting Ruhwedel). I’m not saying the “Big Rig’s” an all-star, but man I’d hate to part with him.
Unlike most folks, I’m not a Jack Johnson hater. But if you gave me my choice of who I’d want my “physical defenseman” to be going forward…Johnson or Oleksiak…of course I’d choose the latter.
Anyway, it’ll be interesting to see what JR does. Sounds like it’s pretty much a done deal Brassard (and maybe Jarry as you suggest) will be dealt.
Rick
Hey Rick,
Everything’s great here. Thanks. Hope all is well with you, too. When my current rush is over I’d like to hook up and get your book, and maybe catch up with Murphy while I’m at it.
I also agree with you about Wilson. I don’t have a problem with him either. Of course, I wish he’d net a few, but he’s solid and I like his size and toughness. It never hurts to have a bit of that on hand.
I’m not a Johnson hater, either, but rather a Johnson skeptic. I did think, and say, earlier in the season, I didn’t believe it was a great deal, and I thought he should have sat a few games when things weren’t clicking. But, since Pettersson arrived, Johnson has been better. His new partner seems to give him some freedom to be more of a shutdown guy – a role I believe he’s more accustomed, and suited, to. On the whole, the defense has been better since Pettersson’s acquisition. I’d still be reticent to call it a cup defense, but they’re close.
My biggest concern, and concern is maybe too strong a word, is Malkin. We’ve seen him go through the doldrums before, but this may be the worst I’ve ever seen. He was never one to lose so many puck battles, or have the puck stolen from him so easily. He did have a six-game scoring streak recently, but, man, he’s been absolutely lackadaisical with the puck. His head just isn’t in the game this last month or so. He’s been a disaster at the blue line with D-I-Y turnovers and terrible passes. He needs to simplify, and stop thinking. Start shooting every time the opportunity arises and stop trying to do everything himself on rushes. Throw it deep if you can’t find an open man and go get it.
I also would hate to lose Oleksiak, but a d-man is going to go. That’s a foregone conclusion from where I sit. I can’t see them holding nine d-men. I am wondering, though, if they’d have the cajones to trade Maatta? I don’t think they’d cut loose Riikola. He’s got a solid upside. He’s the future. I don’t envy Rutherford having to make this call. If I had to guess, I’d say it’s “see you on down the road, Jack,” for the Big Rig. Hey, I wouldn’t mind if they traded Johnson, but I don’t think he’s all that attractive – age, cap hit, and he obviously needs a solid partner to be who he is.
And Brassard… Unfortunately, that was the worst deal at the worst time for JR. I spite of all the ink that’s been spent on that issue, pro and con, it changed the dynamic of a team that was firing on all cylinders at the time. It’s time to try to make it right. I hope there’s someone worthwhile available when the time comes.
– 55
Hi Rick,
I’m little apathetic and kind somewhat lost with the Penguins assessment to play players/insert players on this team.
Boy. I miss Rick Tocchet!!!!
These things have coming up and have been discuss a lot about these players…
So…
They want Garett Wilson to play in the lineup and drop the group like Ryan Reaves.. Laughable.. Wilson isn’t a Nhl player that will help this team win a game and stanley cup..
Reaves was better and more effective without a strong chance to get more minutes..
Jamie Oleskiak seems to be in a trade talks. Odd man out .
I understand they want to get rid of Sprong and showed that they are better without him..Rikkola and Pettersson should be playing in WBS.. Bottom pairing defenseman..
I don’t get it at all. There was no reason to sign him and sign Jack Johnson on this team. Jamie Oleskiak is a far better player than Jack Johnson with a bigger upside.. He was improving and was a double digit plus minus rating with help Penguins blueline with Dumoulin.. He was making significant strides and offensively/defensively improving with all the fowards..
I stated to it many times Penguins seem to have a habit of trading and signing the wrong guys that push out the right guys that belong on this team. (To other Rick) (lately) ( think they are better fit when they are not)Not replace legit players compliments the once ‘identity’ that was their greatest assets that make harder/speedy to play against every game.. It back fires and haunt them.. often pick the wrong guys.. Look back at Cole/Hunwick situation.. Sheary/Guentzel situation.. They finally realized it when it was too late..
I understand they are not happy and thrilled with Jack Johnson.. So I don’t understand to axe a young player for 12 year nhl career veteran that won’t simplify/strengthening your defense with your fowards on the ice.
Jack Johnson is the new Rob Scuderi. It’s painful..
I don’t think it right to lose Jamie Oleskiak, I don’t like that they are tryna change his aggressive approach to that makes him play hard against.. He seems be timid to do anything that will leaving him to be a undeserving scratched ..
I believe Penguins scratch Johnson for some games and retool around pairings with Shultz’s return..Penguins will probably be much better and Malkin/Crosby will have better defense pairing swap after Dumoulin top pairing..
Other trades coming.. I hope a LW for Malkin that make him more happily comfortable since they won’t keep Pearson there to build something sustainable or give Adam Johnson a chance on third line to see if he can can More up with Malkin.. Johnson do have great speed, win battles , create time and space and to me he legit top 6 fowards.. Better than Bottom liners Simon and ZAR.. Simon and Zar isn’t gonna help Malkin and Crosby at all. (Mike Sullivan’s boys)
It would be nice swing one of them in a deal with Brassard..
Thoughts?
I hope they go after Charlie Coyle. I really want him here in Black and Yellow!!!
Agree?
Hey Dee,
Excellent and insightful comments as always.
I like Wilson, or at least what he brings to the table. I’m kind of an old-school guy, and I want at least one forward on my team who’ll bang and chip and drop the gloves if necessary…especially with teams like Columbus and Washington in our division.
I also agree that Wilson isn’t Ryan Reaves, who’s having a really strong season with Vegas…and pretty much demolishes the Caps’ Tom Wilson each time they meet.
Not only has the Brassard trade not worked out, but I think it prevented us from going at least to the conference finals last season.
Regarding Oleksiak and Johnson…I very much agree. I don’t hate Johnson the way most people do. But if my choice going forward is to have one or the other as my physical defenseman, it really is a no-brainer as to who I’d pick. And you’re right…before all is said and done Johnson may very well morph into Rob Scuderi…unless JR can pull off another miracle and ship him to a bottom-feeder with loads of cap space.
Somehow that doesn’t seem too likely, although you never know. Occasional clunker aside, JR’s a pretty astute horse trader. And he’s pretty good at fixing his mistakes.
We’ll see what happens…
Rick
Hey Rick,
Thank you.
Absolutely.
I have no problem with physicality and hard nose guys that can get it done on the ice . Hard -old school hockey.
I don’t like it. Because I never see Wilson fight at all. Wilson is ok. I prefer someone better and speedy two way players with scrappy aggressive tactics on the ice. They had Reaves to do that. Miss opportunity to keep him. Mike Sullivan seem to don’t like guys fighting and stand up for teammates with penalties..
I will take it. It is what it is.
I have talk to different close people (to Penguins)about possible scenarios/ read a little from text messages about Rutherford on his Defensemen and on Brassard’s saga .. There’s people just spitballing and Rutherford isn’t giving up to much about what he gonna do .. He claims he loves the defenseman depth..So we will see.. I know trading Brassard will get them back to solid adjustments for 3C and put stable Third line wingers there..
I looking forward to seeing scrappy Blandisi and Geno -Phil duo tonight vs Coyotes..