Penguins Update: We Have a Hockey Team?!

To borrow from the Penguins’ slogan for the 1982-83 season, We have a hockey team?! As you may infer from my purposefully ambiguous punctuation, I’m now cautiously optimistic about our playoff chances. A far cry from where I stood only a couple of weeks ago.

Shows what a 4-0-1 run can do for your outlook.

Seemingly out of the blue, we’re resembling a team not far removed from back-to-back Cups, rather than the languid collection of underachievers that muddled through the majority of the campaign. Not coincidentally, the troops are displaying a crispness and chemistry that hasn’t been evident since the ill-fated trade that brought Derick Brassard to town over a year ago.

Following Sidney Crosby’s impassioned lead (my word has Sid been amazing) our Pens are oozing fire and purpose. They’ve displayed more than a cursory interest in their defensive chores. Thanks in no small part to the muscular presence of newly acquired Erik Gudbranson, we’re more showing considerably more backbone, too.

Indeed, Gudbranson’s symbolic flattening of brawny Blue Jacket Boone Jenner during Thursday night’s impressive 3-0 whitewashing of Columbus represented a paradigm shift between the bitter Metro Division rivals in terms of physical play. A point reinforced by our 48 hits and Garrett Wilson’s tete-a-tete with Jackets’ captain Nick Foligno.

To lift a line from the comedy flick “Johnny Dangerously,” we got spunk…we got spirit…we got verve.

Give general manager Jim Rutherford credit. Yeah, he’s made some clunkers. However, following a string of questionable deals and signings, he appears to have regained his touch. Trades that sent Brassard, Tanner Pearson and Riley Sheahan packing effectively stripped the passengers from the Pens’ lineup–a luxury we could ill-afford–while energizing a heretofore moribund bunch.

Ditto the deal that sent problem prodigy Daniel Sprong to Anaheim for defenseman Marcus Pettersson, a solid addition to the blue line.

Although Jamie Oleksiak didn’t exactly fit in the passenger group, I rate Gudbranson an upgrade thus far in terms of consistency and intensity. He’s vocal and a leader to boot. You can never have enough of those guys in your dressing room.

Speaking of the defense, I really like the look of our current group. Justin Schultz and Jack Johnson have blended like peas and carrots. While the former enjoys a Lazarus-like recovery from a broken leg, the latter continues a remarkable resurgence from a rocky start in the ‘Burgh, leading the club in hits (199) and blocked shots (124). Since December 4, Johnson’s a plus-10. Highly respectable.

Gudbranson and Pettersson look comfortable, too.

“He’s a steady guy and very easy to play with,” Pettersson said of his newest partner. “He adjusted very well to our style of play. We can build off that.”

Heck, Zach Trotman–arguably our No. 10 d-man–hasn’t looked the least bit out of place while nudging rookie Juuso Riikola to the press box. I rate Trotman ahead of both Riikola and the injured Chad Ruhwedel in terms of overall effectiveness.

Up front, Jared McCann has added youth, scoring punch (six goals in 17 games) and aggression to the mix, along with some much-needed speed. Nick Bjugstad hasn’t had the same impact, but he’s provided size and a certain dogged determination, not to mention the versatility to play wing or center, as does McCann.

When Bryan Rust returns, hopefully dislodging a slumping Dominik Simon (four assists in his past 16 games), I like our forward group. Thanks in no small part to JR’s moves, it’s a nice blend of skill and grunt, youth and experience. If we could add a dash more speed…perhaps in the form of blazing Baby Pen Adam Johnson…I’d really be pleased.

I’ll save the best for last. And tip my hat to PenguinPoop colleague, Other Rick, for his unwavering support of Matt Murray. Since returning from the IR on December 15, Murray’s quietly regained his Cup-winning form to the tune of a stunning .931 save percentage.

If he stays healthy?

Suddenly, I’m excited about our chances to make a little hay come the postseason.