Be forewarned. I’m breaking the promise I made in my previous article. Yes, I’m going to mention Dominik Kahun again. Bear with me.
Based on Kahun signing with Edmonton at a very reasonable rate and an article on Pittsburgh Hockey Now where an NHL scout pans recent free-agent addition Mark Jankowski, it begs a question.
Was Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford in too big of a hurry to flesh out his roster? Perhaps unnecessarily so?
Beginning with overpaying for Kasperi Kapanen (who I like) way back in August, I’d say the answer is resounding yes.
While other clubs are still making meaningful additions to their rosters, the Pens appear to have been set in terms of major moves since inking defenseman Cody Ceci to a one-year deal on October 17. Eight days after free agency began.
Indeed, the clang of the opening bell on free-agent season had scarcely faded when JR signed Jankowski and Evan Rodrigues, forwards of modest pedigree, to fill out the worrisome third line. Meanwhile, potential bottom-six impact players like Kahun, ex-Ranger Jesper Fast and former 29-goal man Erik Haula were still available. As of this article, Haula remains unsigned.
Perhaps it would have been prudent for JR to wait a bit before making his moves. Counter to his aggressive nature.
I fully realize he was working under serious cap constraints that restricted his options. And I’m certainly not trying to suggest Rutherford could’ve signed all three of the aforementioned players or even two of them.
But one?
Yeah, I think it was doable. Fast signed with Carolina on October 11 at a very reasonable cap hit of $2 million. Kahun with the Oilers on Monday at a bargain-basement rate of $975,000. Yes, that one still chafes me.
For the record, the Pens have $1.3 million of cap space left. Cushion for a rainy day in case something goes awry.
It goes without saying JR would need to do some creative financing. To my eye, the most obvious piece to jettison is Colton Sceviour, acquired from Florida in the Mike Matheson deal. Nothing against Sceviour, a gritty 31-year-old defensive forward who’s twice reached 11 goals in a season. But at a cap hit of $1.2 million, I think it’s money better spent elsewhere.
Shedding Sceviour’s salary or a portion of it, either via trade or by sending him to the minors, could help free up the requisite cap space to add a legit player for the third line.
Based on early reviews of Jankowski…tepid at best…we might need one. Calgary took quite a bit of heat for selecting him 21st overall in 2012…heat that may be warranted. When evaluating free-agent forwards that could help the black and gold, Pittsburgh Hockey Now listed Jankowski among the “No Thank You’s,” citing his precipitous decline in production and minus-12 rating on a good Flames team.
“He’s a soft center with a little bit of offense,” wrote Dan Kingerski.
A little bit is right (five goals, seven points in 56 games in ’19-20).
As Other Rick mentioned, heaven forbid if Jankowski has to slot up and fill in for Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin for any length of time. A very distinct possibility.
In the meantime, Haula’s still out there. He earned $2.75 million with Carolina and Florida last season while notching a dozen goals and 24 points in 48 games (54.1 percent on faceoffs). It’s estimated the 29-year-old Finn will fetch around $3 million.
I’d do whatever it takes to reel Haula in. It could mean the difference between icing a pretender or a contender.
Rick
Not sure how I missed your article about the Penguins lack
of a tough guy.
I made this point to a friend after the Lightning won the
Stanley Cup. I referenced the fact that Maroon played
for the last two Stanley Cup Champions but he can’t
play for the Pen’s.
Something’s not right here. You should post your article
on Pensburgh. Those guys are against anyone that plays
a physical game.
Hey Mike,
Yes, my now weekly rant about our lack of toughness … lol
But seriously, I’m concerned, too. It isn’t even so much about grafting a tough guy onto the fourth line as it is about having toughness woven into the fabric of the team. Useful players who compete in a physical, hard-nosed fashion. Players like Maroon.
There’s hope that Samuel Poulin might be that kind of player, and Nathan Legare and Drew O’Connor if they make it. And if Sam Lafferty and Anthony Angello find their way into the lineup on a regular basis, they can bring at least some of that element. Whether they’ll have that opportunity…or bring enough physicality if they do get that chance…remains to be seen. While it would be a step in the right direction, even with them in the lineup I think we’d be short on muscle.
And, at least to my eye, we have nobody on ‘d’ with any real physicality to their game. Ceci will hit, but he’s also garnered Lady Byng votes during the course of his career. The second coming of Erik Gudbranson he ain’t.
Again, as you and 55 on Point and Other Rick and I have espoused on so many occasions, it’s very necessary to have some sort of a physical element in order to go all the way. I don’t know why the Pens’ organization seems to wear blinders in that regard, although I think a lot of it stems from Sullivan.
Rick
Rick
Totally agree that JR should figure out away to sign Haula.
You know me I’m still trying to figure out where our grit and
toughness is coming from? That concerns me.
i like Kahun but in JR’s defense the longer he stayed on the
board “Kahun” the cheaper he got as you know. I’m just
not sure you can wait in the Pen’s situation.
My two cents for whatever it’s worth.
Hey Rick,
I have been on board with the idea of signing Haula for several weeks now. I can’t say it was an original idea. In fact, I think Caleb mentioned something about it before the 1st day of FA and I still had not thought about it.
However, with, as you mention, the realization that the team really didn’t have anyone capable of sliding up from 3rd line to 2nd line when Crosby or Malkin have to miss a game hit me.
With the thought of injuries always simmering in the back of my mind, and me ever watchful of what Penguins prospects are doing, a second thought began to take shape – “What if Bjorkqvist and Puustanen really keep improving and putting up big numbers in Liiga” (Bjorkqvist 4G, 5A, and +6 in 10GP for Kookoo and Puustinen 3G, 5A, and +3 in 6GP) having a Finn Center to Pivot them, could ease their transition and facilitate them staying hot – effectively making them a great boost when they would be eligible to come back to the NHL.
Granted, the odds aren’t all that high to have Bjorkqvist and Puustinen to keep up their paces and have that translate to NA, but even if we don’t get an all Finn line rollin’ Haula would still be the 3rd line Center the team has been missing since Bonino departed.
Oh and if Sullivan isn’t fired by the time the team could get their players back from Liiga, Puustinen is a Sully man – he is only 5′-9. He would fit right in, here in Smurf City USA