Here we are in another post-season, the Penguins’ 13th consecutive post-season appearance to be exact. So, what are our favorite flightless fowl’s prospects for a protracted play-off push?
If this were simply a question of “Do I think the team has the talent within the organization to make a little noise?” My answer would be an emphatic yes. I do think that there is enough talent to get the team to at least the Conference Finals. Any team that boasts Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Phil Kessel, Jake Guentzel, Kris Letang, and Matt Murray can never be counted out.
With Jim Rutherford swapping out of Derick Brassard and Riley Sheahan for Nick Bjugstad and Jared McCann as well as picking up Erik Gudbranson for Tanner Pearson, Pittsburgh’s GM most assuredly improved the talent from which Coach Mike Sullivan has to pick his lineup from. At least compared to last season, Sullivan will have better options to choose from.
However, for me, the question becomes, “Will he (Sullivan) pick the right players to dress and will he deploy them in a manner that will set them up to succeed?”
I wish I were a homer. I wish I was part of the rose colored glasses set. I wish I could honestly say I think that Sullivan will make at least most of the right calls. Unfortunately, at the risk of being called a negative Nellie, I can’t. My gut tells me that the Penguins may not even get to the division finals.
In 2015-2016 there was an air of destiny about our sea-faring sphenisciform. From January of that year and on, the team got better and better each week. Opponents were finding it hard to get out of their defensive zone and into their offensive zone. Those Penguins’ attacked with a ferocious fore check. They disrupted breakout after breakout. Those of you gentle readers that date back to those heady days will remember that I went enigmatically silent in my replies (I wasn’t quite contributing articles yet), lest I jinx the black-and-gold. I was pretty darn sure that team would win the Cup!
By 2016-2017 the defense started to degrade and I went on record as saying that I wasn’t all that confident anymore. I wrote that although I thought the offense and Goaltending was still probably the class of the league, defensively they were suspect. I wrote that the team would have to win on the strength of their Goalies and they did. It took a combined effort from Marc-Andre Fleury and Murray to weather the storm of shots assaulting the Penguins net. When opposing forwards wore Fleury down, Murray stepped back in and slammed the door shut. Fleury posted 2 shut outs that year, Murray posted 3.
Defensively the team got even worse last year. Exacerbating the situation even more, the Penguins‘ lost Fleury to the expansion draft. They had no one to hold the fort when Murray struggled with personal issues and wore down from the Capitals’ barrage. I didn’t have a good feeling about that team to begin with, so when they traded Ian Cole and Ryan Reaves for Brassard I gave them little chance of winning.
I did think that they would beat the Capitals but bow out in the Conference Finals. Unfortunately, Letang helped ruin my prediction by single handed giving the series to Washington with guffaw after guffaw.
It is this track record of a 4 year decline that fills me with the ambivalence and now blackens my optimism, turning me into a crape hanger.
Murray and Letang have certainly looked better than last year. (Letang still scares me when he is on the ice, but I have to concede he is playing light years better than last year). Unfortunately the defense looks even worse than last year. As a team, they have held opponents to less than 30 shots on only a handful of occasions. Three of Murray’s 4 shut outs were 30+ save efforts and Casey DeSmith had to stop over 40 shots in 1 of his 3. I don’t necessarily blame any individual Defenseman but all the Defensemen, and even more so the coaches. This is a team failure and the coaches bare the brunt of this for not adjusting.
Furthermore, Sullivan still is getting out-coached night-in and night-out just like he was in the Capitals’ series last year. After 3 years of the same exact break outs, all the teams in the league had time to adjust and did so, sitting back and making October thru part of December a nightmare. It took Sullivan over 2 months to make adjustments.
Team spin-doctors like to call this stubbornness, patience. Maybe. When it took Sullivan those 2 months to adjust his breakouts and the team still made the playoffs, some people may even believe the media obfuscation. However, last year when Sullivan was out-coached by the very same coach that he faces in this first round, Barry Trotz, and Sullivan kept deploying Conor Sheary despite the Wingers considerable lack of contribution and Letang, despite over half of all goals scored against came on the then struggling Defenseman, including 3 of the 4 game winning goals, I doubt anyone but the most naive home towner would by that pabulum.
Perhaps if the team hadn’t limped into the playoffs going 1-1-1 over their last 3 games I would have some confidence. Perhaps had I not witnessed a team reversion to the beginning of the year conceding odd-man break after odd-man break, break-away after break-away in that span, particularly the last game, the game against the Rangers, with a chance at home-ice against the Islanders at stake I have a hard time believing Sullivan learned anything over the last 12 months and we Penguins’ fans will be subjected to the same early exit.
I do think it will be a crime of the Penguins lose this series, since on paper, the only area in which New York can match the Penguins is in Goal when it comes to on ice factors. Robin Lehner is one of only 2 goalies to post a better Save Percentage (Sv%) since December 1st with Thomas Griess only 3 points lower than Murray at 0.927.
In the end, goaltending is a push. Although I think Murray is the better of the 3 goalies, the Penguins give up enough shots to make this a draw.
Although I may take New York’s Ryan Pullock, Nick Leddy, or Adam Petech over Zach Trotman, Olli Maatta, or Markus Pettersson, I certainly wouldn’t take them over the Penguins top 3; Brian Dumoulin, Justin Schultz, or Letang. Nor would I trade out the Penguins bottom 3 defensemen for the Islanders bottom 3. I have to give the Penguins the win on this match up
At Right Wing (RW) I may not mind having Josh Bailey to insert on one of my top 2 lines, despite his warts, Kessel still is a more lethal scorer and Bryan Rust may be better utility man. Jordan Eberle certainly isn’t in the same class as Patric Hornqvist. So, again, Penguins win this match up.
At Left Wing (LW), Guentzel beats out Anders Lee and McCann beats Anthony Beauvillier. Unfortunately for the Penguins, Dominik Simon is a weak link so the Islanders start to creep back into contention here. The Penguins only edge this one out. If Sullivan wasn’t so stubborn but would have the guts to keep Adam Johnson in the line-up and with a return of Zach Aston-Reese, I would give the Penguins a significant win here.
At Center it is no contest. With Crosby and Malkin on the roster the Penguins win this matchup hands down. Matthew Brazal, Brock Nelson, Casey Cizikas, and Valtteri Filppula are good centers, but none are in Malkin or Crosby’s class add Bjugstad and the way he is playing and it just widens the gap.
Where the Penguins can and may lose this series is with coaching. The Islanders‘ coaching beats the Penguins’ coaching and that can turn the tide for the bad guys.
Although, I say the Penguins win that match-up at Center who they deploy there can impact the series. With Lehner and Griess holding the fort the Penguins‘ advantage at Center may come to not due to Sullivan’s stubbornness and possibly fear of losing. Looking beyond the Penguins top 2 Centers; Matt Cullen only potted 7 goals in 71 games. His +/- was a respectable +6. However, Bjugstad potted 9 goals in 32 games in a Penguin uniform and Teddy Blueger deposited 6 in that back of the net in 23 games. Bjugstad’s +4 projects out to a +9 and Bleuger’s +7 in 23 games is already better than Cullen’s +6. In a series where scoring may come at a premium Cullen would be the logical odd man out.
Some may try to argue that Cullen’s experience is vital to winning the Cup and although in case of an emergency I would agree. However, if Crosby and Malkin after 3 Cups in 4 appearances can’t provide enough leadership, nothing Cullen can add will help anyway. Furthermore, the kids are also better defensively.
For the very same reason I state above – scoring, Simon has to be the odd man out at LW. Despite all the praise heaped upon him by the Simon fans, the young Penguin LW is not getting it done. I have made the analogy ad nauseum but the kid reminds me of the baseball player that all the scouts say has the sweetest swing but still manages to hit bat below the Mendoza line (hitting below 0.200).
It is true that during last year’s playoffs I was banging the Simon and Daniel Sprong drum. It is true that I wanted either of those players to replace Conor Sheary who was not getting it done. I believed and still believe that you don’t keep trying the same thing over and over again when it isn’t showing any success. However, last year, Simon was an unknown and worth a look. This year he got his look and it shows that he is a one trick pony (give-and-go) that other teams just sit back and wait on to exploit and go the other way. Now when someone argues with me that Simon is hardly a Sheary Redux, I don’t argue; Sheary could find the back of the net sometimes (just not in the playoffs). Simon only managed 8 goals all season (71 games), despite having several stints on Crosby’s line.
Some may argue that Simon is still young. To them I say, Daniel Sprong is younger and scored 14 goals in the 47 games he played out from under Sullivan but on a team that finished dead last in goal scoring (meaning he had very little help on his 14 goals while Simon had the benefit of skating with a player that generated 100 points). Yet he was run out of town on the rails rather than try and re-mediate any personality issues.
However, despite all of this, when Zach Aston-Reese comes back, Simon will still be taking up time and space on the Penguins’ LW and Cullen, although playing as hard as he could, will still be a lesser version of a center because of Sullivan’s stubbornness.
The only way I would consider playing Cullen is over Garrett Wilson, sliding Blueger to RW. Although, I wouldn’t do that in any Metro division match-up. The physical nature of the Islanders and the Capitals would make lean toward the grit of Wilson.
Another place I can see Sullivan losing the Islander series is on Defense. In his stubbornness I can see Sullivan sitting Gudbranson when Dumoulin gets back and keeping Maatta in the lineup. I don’t Dislike Maatta but he is slow and not physical enough to handle Anders Lee. In fact, outside of Letang who isn’t all that big, no other Penguins Defenseman really ever seems to take bodies in front of Murray or DeSmith. Although Jack Johnson does have some good hits to his stats, he doesn’t really seem to handle too many players in front. Therefore, if Gudbranson doesn’t play, I could Lee having a field day and possibly even injuring Murray.
In the end, I have to agree with an assessment that I read elsewhere. That prediction was that our Penguins’ best chance to win the series will be to win it quickly in 5 games or less. If Crosby and crew get on the board early for a couple of quick goals in the first 2 or 3 games and get/keep the Islanders playing from behind, then the Penguins will probably regain some of their old swagger and roll. However, if the Penguins give up early goals in the first 2 or 3 games and have to try and fight their way back, they will start getting frustrated and players like Malkin, Simon, and Letang will make stupid drop passes trying to get cute when entering the attacking zone and New York will give Murray nightmares with break-away after break-away.
I can’t bring myself to predict anything but a Penguin win so I will not make any stronger prediction than above.
But I will say Go Pens.
Odds and Sods
Congratulations to Calen Addison who received a 3 year Entry Level Contract from the Penguins (to go into effect when he turns pro.
Addison and Jordy Bellerive played their first professional game in Wilkes Barre – Scranton. It was an inauspicious start for both players with the Baby Penguins losing, neither playing getting on the score sheet and only managing to reach the stat sheet with -1 s on their +/-.
Penguins needs to have better anticipation , better energy, urgency and aggressiveness that shows that they hard to play against and can take anything from Isles attacks..
Everything starts with coaching and preparing a hockey team. Sullivan is hampering this team. They look unprepared and lifeless all the time and let Isles do what they want..
It needs be better support and emphasis on Defensive schemes that leads to down low play with effective pressure to stay in Isles zone..
Rust needs to be off Crosby’s line. I do want to see fourth line shut down a top line and Rust dragging Crosby-Guentzel. McCann is bett.
Letang needs minutes reduced with second powerplay duties.. check him in the place to play defense first on the ice..
Blueger needs to play and Adam Johnson deserves to play and bring that spark that win battles..
Better fourth line ..
Mike Sullivan needs to load up..
That’s why players want to play for Galant, Trotz and Cooper..
I will go load my top lines and give unique way to create a cohesion bottom lines to free top lines.. imo..
Penguins needs to win puck battles.. Bring puck management and Patience etc..
Matheus are doing everything Isles want and Sullivan needs to adjust to play players att their best..
5 man unit and attention to details.. small mistakes here and there that doesn’t take momentum from them.
Their enemy is them with bad coaching..
I’m completely fine with Jacques Martin being head coach next season with full time Gochar as defense coach with new coach for fowards..
Agreed Dee,
Adam Johnson needs to be brought back up (if they can; not sure how this works with WBS still fighting for a playoff spot) and Johnson and Blueger need to play to give the Pens their best chance of winning.
I am not sure what I would do next year but I know I would have changed the coach or I would have had to change the coach early in the season, this is 2019 not 2016, the league knows us know. It is past time for the team to make changes to stay ahead.
Hello Everyone,
I have not read no new articles yet.
I just want to say this. I have been holding on to it . I wanted to see how Penguins do for the rest of the season and first playoff game with Islanders.
I tried hard to stay away here . I did not want to come off negative and harsh about this team. I observed so many things that eating this team alive all season. Repeating the same old things that ailing this team .
It starts with Mike Sullivan’s coaching and inability to objectively give this team a better chance to succeed together and reach their peak together to be very strong cohesion team together.
I can only give credit to Mike Sullivan for finally scratching Jack Johnson.
Penguins are a one line team that are not being put in the position to suceed and to bring the best out players that’s very talent with pets that have no business playing on this team. Murray plays good hockey a little bit because he wasn’t being that coddling that much anymore and still giving up weak goals.. He very shaky at times and stop playing to stop plsyers goals. He’s isn’t a stud goalie to count on to be solid in his net on angles to stop the puck. He had play good enough hockey since coming back from injury December.
I don’t think he can Penguins over the hump with Penguins completely discombobulated weak D in front of him. They get forecheck hard, can’t clear the zone and having bad transition hockey game. Defensive schemes are weak and weak D core.
He cannot be counted on in many situations and Penguins gotta score 4 -5 goals with him in the net.
He can’t save Penguins breakdowns and defensive lapses from players there are cute and take bait to give teams opportunities to capitalize in the back of the net.
I don’t know I can fully trust Murray. I know Penguins do need better D core and consistency to be Patience with puck without giving up chances to teams in front of him. (Islanders)
Murray cannot take shooters tendencies. Penguins D gotta keep the puck out their zone near himsnd limit more shots in front him.
I still believe and will repeat all time . Penguins biggest detriment of this team. Will be?
Mike Sullivan
Kris Letang
Weak D
Murray
PASSengers.
Mike Sullivan cannot objectively evaluating players nor counter attack heavy forecheck on this team. He has no tactics and strategies to get the team at the next level. No great adjustments and he thinks line shuffling is the solution. Bad playyusages. He believes constantly line shuffling and give roster spot to players that cannot help them win. Sullivan has low hockey coaching players iq and way overthinks to have abilities to coach young to older veteran players. He overestimates his pets and do not give players who show the thst spark to team to having a identity. Mike Sullivan has been badly coaching for a lot of games and he don’t have no effective defensive schemes as Penguins top priority .
Defense wins championships with aggressively offense.
Penguins often come out to play discombobulated, sleep and no energy against heavy forecheck and hungry teams that are playing for one another and love their coach game plan to win the game. Defense is never ready to transition to fowards .
Letang? Letang is Letang. Same ole Letang. Nothing evolving a bout him. Nothing Norris about him.
He too cute and aggressively pinching and thinks he’s Sidney Crosby on the ice. He’s not. Low hockey iq . Pewee hockey and temper tantrums that hurts the team momentum. He needs to be defensive mind and more aware on the ice. Be a leader and play quality defense. It time move on from him. With bad or good results in this playoffs from him.
Penguins D needs a over haul and more young reliable defenseman.
Rust, Simon, Wilson and Zar Should not be in line up .
Rust ? He needs to play on the bottom 4 line. He serve no purpose for top lines and a lot times he make bad plays that hurt the team. He do not not finish and dragging Crosby’s line. He doesn’t win battles nor do he open space to have two best player on the team get opener to drive to the net. Crosby and Guentzel get swarmed a lot and have limited space while he completely does nothing. He get long leash and really overestimated in key situations that he should not be on the ice. Rutherford should have let him walk when he tryna get Domi and Alex Galchencyk.
Adam Johnson, Blueger, McCann has taken his place . Rust should not be playing on top lines at all. Fact.
Wilson and Zar ? They serve no purpose and play really bad a lot with long leash that quite baffling to see. They both are slow and don’t fit the mold to quick fast hockey to help the centermen. I was completely disturbing and unhappy to see that he was getting double shifting with Cullen and Crosby for no reason. Adam Johnson should have been giving opportunity to play along side Crosby or Malkin. I mean it would help Malkin. He needs a long term LW . He has been missing all season.
He show he can do everything he need for this team. That go Malkin and Kessel who needs speed great winger to disrupt everything to create space. Zar can’t do that . Zar isnt long term fit. A Johnson-Malkin-Kessel would be a great line. A fldam Johnson is project to be top 6 foward. It amazingly funny. He did everything in that game with Carolina and other games and still did get more minutes.
Simon? He garbage. He plays like he thinks he can be Sidney Crosby on the ice. Not. I understand that you want positive possessions, But Simon needs to play like a winger and finish grade A chances with ability to stop thinking that he needs to be playing like a center on the ice. Simon is Ahl player and very vanilla on the ice.
Simon gonna playing the line up. I would put him with Blueger and right winger
Penguins look like a team where they are not playing together and tired of repetitive Sullivan behind the bench. With all this talent and great two generational centers ( one in lifetime ) struggle to win games and play sloppy hockey with no cohesion identity that let them play hard against every game.
I really want Penguins to go far this season in the playoffs. I believe they can win due the players reverting back to resilience hockey that got them back to back cup. With Crosby, Guentzel, Kessel ,Malkin with McCann and Bjugstad bring their spark. Murray being more unflappable and completely more better wall in the net. He often too shaky .
I think Schultz , Dumoulin, Gudbranson will be the key on defense with them. It will have not do with coaching.
I don’t believe/trust in Mike Sullivan and Mark Reechi. I trust believe in Martin And Gochar.
I think Mike Sullivan and Mark Reechi make Penguins players be their own enemy beyond putting them in adversity in games. Tactics, Lineups, Strategies,Adjustments among other things that has not been adjusted nor evolving to keep them tough team on the ice.
Penguins seems to be tired of them.
I see a coach hiding behind stars and I thought firing him November or January was the best option to do so.
To late. Coach Q is with Florida.
Penguins should’ve home ice advantage and better coaching on the ice..
My ideal playoff lineup
Guentzel-Crosby-McCann/Hornqvist
Adam Johnson-Malkin-Kessel/Hornqvist
Cullen-Bjugstad-Hornqvist
Zar/SimonLW/Blueger/Rust
Penguins need a better fourth line and third line should become a checking line with scoring to free top line ups ..
Game 1 analysis
Penguins D is often weak to heavy forecheck and cannot transition under attack all the time. Islanders 5 man unit attack them and wait for every mistake to capitalize on .
Penguins play the same way all season. Jake and Sid swarmed / shutdown from Isles fourth line with no help from Rust and D .
McCann , Bjugstad , Gudbranson, Schultz and Kessel stood out.
Hornqvist was getting close to finishing chance.
Spending to much in their zone. Bad Pk. To cute with passing up shots. Pewee sloop hockey.
Penguins are not rolling 4 cohesion lines, Crosby needs better RW And Malkin needs better LW/RW to get think in the mentality to shoot with better help.
I want D overhaul on Penguins DCore. Keep Gudbranson, Dumoulin,Schultz .
Riikola, Pettersson, Wideman Depth D defenseman.
I hope game 2 is better. I really hope Johnson stay out the lineup. Mike Sullivan and Reechi needs to be better. I have sneak idea and sources that Martin always have right adjustments, But Mike Sullivan doesn’t take heed and use it to help Penguins win games.
Crosby -Guentzel-McCann And /Rust/Johnson-Malkin-Kessel should be together. Have two great lines and make your bottom lines in checking scoring lines to free up top lines..
I want the best on the ice. I just see the same ole stuff…
Hey Dee,
Good to hear from you.
I understand about not wanting to sound like a negative Nellie, that is in part of why I haven’t written much. I suppose, at least part of that negativity is based on expectations. If the Penguins were climbing and still had a weaker over-achieving team, we would probably be celebrating their taking NYI into OT, but they are an under-achieving team at best treading water, more likely sinking,
And you know, you and I are pretty much on the same page about Sullivan. The reason a team with Crosby, Malkin, Guentzel, Kessel, etc are sinking has to be coaching.
One of the rare points where we may diverge a little is over J Johnson. No, I don’t think he is necessarily all that good. I could think of 3 very recent players in the Penguins organization that I would rather have out there than Johnson; Cole, Oleksiak, and Pedan. If I opened my view to players on other teams that list would surely grow.
However, I don’t think he is the worst LHD on the team. In fact with the Trading of Oleksiak he may be the 2nd best LHD on the team. Next year or the year after, Pettersson could very well pass him by, but he is still a bit raw and needs more seasoning.
As for Maatta, I am sorry, Maatta is odd man out here. There is a very good reason why he was a -2 last night. The Isles just took the puck right off of his stick on that first goal. He is weak on the puck, doesn’t take the body, and slow. Honestly, I am not sure that next year, Riikola would pass Maatta.
We also diverge on Murray. Lehner was the only goalie last night to face more shots than Murray,. If the D doesn’t give up a 2 on 1 the Pens may have won that game last night. A 2 on 1 set up by Letang trying to forcibly skate the puck into the Isles end against 3 NY back-checkers (just as I alluded to above in my article) instead of dumping the puck deep. His only support was Bjugstad. The lack of patience that Letang showed on that play was what I feared when I wrote this article.
So I do agree that Sullivan is the biggest hindrance to the team he enables the passengers that you note as well as the weak D. You are spot on with your assessment of him.
Hey ,
Well … Like I said…
Penguins needs to keep Gudbranson, Dumoulin, Schultz..
Trading
Letang
Johnson
Määttä
I love Määttä, But Penguins needs to bring some younger speed reliable moving two way defenseman that can skate the puck out the zone very well with pressure.. I don’t see Sullivan put him and other in spots they belong to suceed and do their best on the ice.
Määttä can help remove Jack Johnson..
Penguins should stop using the boards, support one another, do quick up to skate hard out the zone.. That means stop using the boards and making blind passes to fowards that get them caught skating back after they help defensively and think D man have the puck out to get to them on transition..
Penguins D needs to skate out win the puck with unison to fowards , get puck and stop aggressively pinching and being under attack a lot to give hits to get the puck..
Use the glass.. Get the puck deep , better stretch quick passes, stop waiting long behind the net..
I guess we agree to disagree on Jack Johnson… I won’t go further with anyone who thinks that Jack Johnson is great player and deserves to be on this team let alone on this team.. Jack Johnson is in the same turns like Johnson although Määttä is better in a a lot of areas .. Määttä biggest problem is skating .. He got exploited last night ..
Jack Johnson has a lot of problems including his skating.. All Penguins D did except Gudbranson and Schultz.. Schultz was looking and felt better.. last night
Jack Johnson is not a great hockey player and do not play a way Penguins need and give them nothing to stay in the line up..
He hurts top lines and everyone on this team. He would get exploit on the ice too.
Määttä is a better option and had rough game among other D ..
I wouldn’t keep going back and forth about Johnson.. He did not play good at all . Not this season and any season in his career.. Schultz and Goaltending has bailed him out..
They do not need that at all. Living and pinned up in their zone ..
Määttä and Pettersson have some problems, But that coaching from mike Sullivan that hamper them..
Sullivan has to many different D on the ice together.. Bad defensive line shuffling and changes.. Määttä- Dumoulin , Dumoulin-Gudbranson, Letang-Gudbranson, Määttä-Pettersson..
Bad from coaching…
Johnson needs to stay scratched and is not the best LHD on the team..Everything dies on his sticks.. He drags this team down on the ice.
They get outmuscled, out shot , out chance, very, very vulnerable offensively and defensively with him.. pinned in their zone and to many problems with him that holds players..
That’s why it took Crosby and Guentzel a long time to reach their milestones.. 10 Games without points..
Penguins D is better without him. That’s with better coaching and better break
Everything dies with his stick . Jack Johnson is anchor and does nothing that beneficial to this team..
Määttä and Pettersson May have their woes and not the best at times. They are better than Jack Johnson.. Better Defenseman in the line up..
I do not want to see Malkin , Kessel and Crosby , Guentzel and Schultz among others to suffer with him on the ice..
Nothing will make Jack Johnson better at this time in his career . He had one Toto two games where he was decent and that was that..
I already gave complete list on his biggest weakest problems that hampers this team..
Penguins D is weak . However, they have a weaker D with Jack Johnson on the ice with stars and Schultz who cannot get anything done..
Penguins want to win this series and win the cup in the sunset. Sullivan needs to keep Johnson scratched with better D schemes that help breakouts to stop heavy forecheck that pins them with vulnerability ..
Plus give Better line combos with consistency that hungry on the ice..
Sullivan has not changed D schemes and work hard to attack heavy forecheck that get them in trouble with sloop hockey and quality chance to teams in their zone..
Bad Game 1 .. I will still take Dumoulin-Schultz, Määttä-Letang, Petterson-Gudbranson or Määttä-Schultz, Dumoulin-Schultz, Pettersson-Gudbranson
Penguins gotta roll with that and have better plans to take heavy forecheck on their D..
I don’t wanna see a play chasing hits, bad awareness, low hockey, bad pivots, bad passing among other things that hurt this team..
Hey Dee,
Again, I am no where near a member let alone head of the J Johnson fan club. I would not have signed him to begin with. My only take is that from the left side, once past Dumoulin, there really isn’t much there on the left side (here or anywhere in the system).
Although there are things I like about Maatta, I think he is odd man out. I can see Riikola passing Maatta up on the depth chart. Even though I think Pettersson still needs some seasoning, I think he is better than Maatta.
I would offer the following qualifying statement; my thoughts on Maatta are limited to how Sullivan and Martin deploy their D.
Perhaps under a different defensive system I may feel otherwise, but within the current Penguin environment (Players and System) on the left side I rank the D this way – Dumoulin, Johnson, Pettersson, Maatta, Riikola, from 1 to 5.
With the overarching emphases on speed in what could be called Sullivan’s team strategy/personality a player as slow as Maatta really is not a good fit.
But I do agree that Sullivan et al exacerbate player deficiencies by being way to slow to adapt to opposing teams fore-check with the same-old, same-old, hackneyed breakouts.
As you wrote in your earlier reply, shuffling lines and defensive pairings is not coaching. To me shuffling the deck makes the coach as much as a passenger on the team as the under-producing players. It is nothing more than glorified baby-sitting. It tells me the coach doesn’t have any answers and is looking to make it look like he is doing something but the only thing he is doing is demonstrating he hasn’t a clue.
Hi TOR!
Pretty long article here! You were very inspired TOR! 🙂
You pointed out very interesting points and the one that preoccupies me the most is the Pens’ coaching. I don’t know why but I don’t feel confident in their ability to play their cards well. As you rightly stressed, HCMS was outcoached very often this year. His inability to adjust to the opponents’ strategies was so discouraging. It drove me nuts a couple of times!
I also question Sully’s choice of players for certain situations. I’ve always wondered why Malkin and Kessel were always playing together in OT. They stay way to long on the ice and I think that part of their bad +/- record was due to these long shifts. Is Sully responsible for this or that Malkin and Kessel want to stay on the ice? There will be no 3-on-3 in the playoffs but that strategy drove me up the wall for sure!
I also worry about the D-squad. As you mentioned, I am afraid that MS could bench Gudbranson. We definitely need the physicality during the playoffs. Gudbranson is very good in cleaning up the crease. The D was hammered quite often this year. Letang is vulnerable in every way; defensively, offensively (when he is going too deep in the zone) and for the involuntary releases of stupidity at the least opportune time! If the Islanders really want to give the Pens trouble, they can piss Letang off by exercising pressure.
I am moderately confident for this playoff run. I just hope that Sidney Crosby won’t be the only one to carry this team on his shoulders as it was the case last year. The Pens need the contribution of everybody.
Hi Jorenz,
I didn’t start out to write such a long article. However, before I could post it, I had several discussions with people that had different opinions so I included some of the point counter point to those discussions.
I like Malkin and Kessel, I even like them together if you get the right LW for them. Hagelin may not have scored much but he was the perfect fit. He covered the back of the front of those 2 rovers and gave them the chance to freelance. With Hagelin gone it becomes a question mark.
As for OT, it would seem to me to Sullivan’s stubbornness to hold on to the past. In 2017-2018 Malkin – Kessel were lethal in OT; this past season, well that was another story.
Last night’s game was only 1 game, I still would like to think that if the Pens could win the next one they could run the table. The players are there on the roster, it is just a question of forgetting about the past and play the right ones for the here and now and deploy them in the right combinations.