Here’s a look at how former Penguins have fared around the league prior to the season pause. Stats are updated through games played as of March 11.
The Blues’ David Perron continues to lead the pack in goals (25), assists (35) and points (60). Vancouver’s Tanner Pearson is second in goals (21) and points (45).
Arizona’s Phil Kessel ranks third on the scoring list with 38 points, including 14 goals. Although he has the worst plus-minus among the expatriates (minus-21), “Phil the Thrill’s” improved of late, registering a plus-1 over his last 17 games. The Oilers’ James Neal is third in goals with 19. Following a jack-rabbit start, he’s goalless in his last 13 games and has only five in his last 29, including a hat trick.
Josh Archibald (Edmonton), Nick Bonino (Nashville), Derick Brassard (NY Islanders), Kasperi Kapanen (Toronto), Dominik Kahun (Buffalo), Oskar Sundqvist (St. Louis) and surprising Derek Grant (Philadelphia) round out the double-figure goal scorers. Grant’s numbers are especially intriguing…he’s a plus-1 and has 15 goals despite dreadful advanced stats (39.8 Corsi and a -220 5-vs-5 shot attempts differential).
The top possession drivers? Jordan Staal of the Hurricanes leads in 5-vs-5 shot attempts differential (216) and Corsi (55.9). Perron, Carl Hagelin (Washington), Jake Muzzin (Toronto), Jamie Oleksiak (Dallas), Ryan Reaves (Vegas) and Matt Niskanen of the Flyers are among the leaders.
Niskanen leads ex-Pens defensemen in scoring with eight goals and 33 points, one ahead of Arizona’s Alex Goligoski. A plus-16 in his last 10 games, Matt’s been one of the driving forces behind Philly’s recent hot streak.
Colorado’s rock-steady Ian Cole leads all former Pens with a plus-21.
Between the pipes, Thomas Greiss of the Islanders still leads in most major categories, including save percentage, goals against average and quality starts percentage. Mirroring his team’s woes, he hasn’t recorded a quality start since the All-Star break. Marc-Andre Fleury (Vegas) continues to rebound from a midseason funk no doubt influenced by the untimely death of his father. “Flower’s” posted three shutouts since the All-Star break.
| SCORING | |||||||||||
| Player | Team | Pos | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM | +/- | 5v5SD | Corsi | |
| David Perron | STL | LW | 71 | 25 | 35 | 60 | 52 | 2 | 79 | 52.5 | |
| Tanner Pearson | VAN | LW | 69 | 21 | 24 | 45 | 27 | -4 | -41 | 47.7 | |
| Phil Kessel | ARI | RW | 70 | 14 | 24 | 38 | 22 | -21 | -7 | 51.4 | |
| * Kasperi Kapanen | TOR | RW | 69 | 13 | 23 | 36 | 22 | 0 | 53 | 52.0 | |
| Nick Bonino | NSH | C | 67 | 18 | 17 | 35 | 16 | 17 | -6 | 50.4 | |
| Matt Niskanen | PHI | D | 68 | 8 | 25 | 33 | 29 | 15 | 82 | 52.6 | |
| Derick Brassard | NYI | C | 66 | 10 | 22 | 32 | 16 | -2 | -125 | 45.1 | |
| Alex Goligoski | ARI | D | 70 | 4 | 28 | 32 | 24 | 8 | -52 | 48.4 | |
| James Neal | EDM | LW | 55 | 19 | 12 | 31 | 12 | -20 | -3 | 49.2 | |
| Dominik Kahun | PIT-BUF | C | 56 | 12 | 19 | 31 | 8 | 8 | -6 | 51.2 | |
| Jordan Staal | CAR | C | 68 | 8 | 19 | 27 | 40 | 3 | 216 | 55.9 | |
| Ian Cole | COL | D | 65 | 4 | 22 | 26 | 36 | 21 | 66 | 51.7 | |
| Derek Grant | ANA-PHI | C | 56 | 15 | 10 | 25 | 30 | 1 | -220 | 39.8 | |
| Carl Hagelin | WSH | LW | 58 | 8 | 17 | 25 | 16 | 12 | 93 | 53.6 | |
| Alex Galchenyuk | PIT-MIN | C | 59 | 8 | 16 | 24 | 16 | -5 | -41 | 49.2 | |
| Oskar Sundqvist | STL | C | 57 | 12 | 11 | 23 | 28 | 5 | -45 | 48.5 | |
| * Jake Muzzin | TOR | D | 53 | 6 | 17 | 23 | 40 | 12 | 135 | 52.8 | |
| Josh Archibald | EDM | RW | 62 | 12 | 9 | 21 | 12 | -8 | -127 | 44.2 | |
| Carter Rowney | ANA | RW | 71 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 14 | 5 | -219 | 41.6 | |
| Brandon Sutter | VAN | C | 44 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 25 | 1 | -91 | 44.1 | |
| Olli Maatta | CHI | D | 65 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 20 | 0 | -54 | 49.2 | |
| Blake Comeau | DAL | RW | 55 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 36 | -6 | -8 | 48.5 | |
| Ryan Reaves | VEG | RW | 71 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 47 | -5 | 70 | 54.4 | |
| Riley Sheahan | EDM | C | 66 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 6 | -13 | -138 | 43.7 | |
| Ron Hainsey | OTT | D | 64 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 10 | -108 | 46.3 | |
| Jamie Oleksiak | DAL | D | 69 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 41 | -6 | 83 | 53.4 | |
| Stefan Noesen | PIT-SJS | RW | 40 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 32 | -1 | 3 | 50.6 | |
| Greg McKegg | NYR | C | 53 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 17 | -2 | -130 | 40.8 | |
| Erik Gudbranson | PIT-ANA | D | 51 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 95 | 0 | -13 | 50.0 | |
| Scott Harrington | CBJ | D | 39 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 16 | -3 | -69 | 46.8 | |
| Trevor Daley | DET | D | 43 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 20 | -22 | -186 | 40.1 | |
| Tom Kuhnhackl | NYI | RW | 28 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 | -4 | -98 | 43.2 | |
| Robert Bortuzzo | STL | D | 42 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 21 | 12 | 28 | 50.8 | |
| Deryk Engelland | VEG | D | 49 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 37 | 6 | 26 | 52.6 | |
| Cameron Gaunce | TBL | D | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 51.9 | |
| Andrew Agozzino | PIT-ANA | LW | 22 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 56.2 | |
| Daniel Sprong | ANA-WAS | RW | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | -2 | 30 | 55.7 | |
| Scott Wilson | BUF | LW | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 53.2 | |
| Jean-Sebastien Dea | BUF | C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -4 | 43.5 | |
| Marc-Andre Fleury | VEG | G | 49 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |||
| Brian Gibbons | CAR | C | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -7 | -21 | 46.9 | |
| Thomas Greiss | NYI | G | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||
| Mark Letestu | WPG | C | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -23 | 42.0 | |
| Jayson Megna | COL | C | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -1 | -10 | 43.3 | |
| Derrick Pouliot | STL | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -1 | 7 | 62.5 | |
| GOALTENDING | |||||||||||
| Player | Team | GP | GA | SH | AVE | SV% | QS% | QS | W-L-OT | ||
| Thomas Greiss | NYI | 31 | 73 | 0 | 2.74 | .913 | .536 | 15 | 16-9-4 | ||
| Marc-Andre Fleury | VEG | 49 | 133 | 5 | 2.77 | .905 | .500 | 24 | 27-16-5 | ||
| Italics—Draft pick or free agent who began his NHL career with the Penguins
Asterisk—Draft pick who didn’t appear in a regular season or postseason game for the Penguins |
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Rick
I still feel like in some cases the Pen’s pull the plug on players way
to soon. Even guys we brought in who they’ve kept struggled
early on to grasp Sullivan’s system.
To me the Kessel trade by JR has had the greatest impact on the
Pen’s as a team – sure Galchenyuk didn’t work out but I would make
that trade again tomorrow. “Addition by subtraction” Phil had to go.
Right now he has 38pts (14) goals and is a – 21 and the Pen’s team
chemistry has done a 360 since his departure.
Knowing what we know now I wouldn’t mind having a couple of those
guys back in the Black & Gold.
Hey Mike,
I agree with you. I think the Pens under Mike Sullivan have a very quick gag reflex on some guys. Tim Benz, a writer for the Tribune-Review seems to agree as well. A couple of weeks ago he wrote:
“…I feel the Penguins have been a little too quick when it comes to giving up on new players. Or, at the very least, they see the negatives in those guys awfully fast and tend to avoid giving them the optimum chance to succeed. It’s almost as if the coaching staff and/or management focus on what new players can’t do, as opposed to how they hoped those new skaters would aid the team when they were acquired in the first place.”
I really do think it boils down to Sullivan. You’re either a “Sully guy” or you’re not. For the record, he seems to favor small, swift, skilled players who possess some grit and heart. And I get it…they fit the system he’s trying to play.
Last spring we saw what happens when he doesn’t have a team tailored to his preferred style. I guess most coaches are like that. But I do wish Sullivan’s system had room for a little push-back in the form of a Reaves or an Oleksiak or a Gudbranson or even an Ian Cole.
Speaking of push-back. Sometimes I wish Rutherford would push back a little at Sullivan when it comes to personnel matters.
For the record, Oleksiak actually leads Dallas in 5-vs-5 shot attempts differential. So he’s not exactly a drag on puck possession. Same with Reaves.
Rick
Rick
Couldn’t agree more. One quick comment – when I watch the Pen’s
I can’t help but think this team is structured to win in the regular
season and secure a playoff spot. Instead of being built to win another
Cup.
I mean look with Crosby and Malikin you’ll always be competitive and
make the playoffs – we have enough skill to win one playoff round and
with a few breaks two – but I think that’s where it ends.
Man it’s really boring without Hockey and Hoops.
Hey Mike,
I hear ya about boring. This should be the time of year when things are heating up. Instead…cue the crickets.
Despite the lack of a bona fide banger or two, I really liked the character and makeup of the Pens earlier this season. Now I’m not so sure. Other teams like the Caps, Flyers, Bruins and Lightning combine speed and skill with a liberal dose of toughness and sand. We simply don’t match up.
Save for Sam Lafferty and Anthony Angello, two guys Sullivan seems reluctant to play (there’s a surprise), we’re pretty much lacking in the size/toughness department. And it’s a stretch to label either one of those guys a deterrent. It’s just that they’re at least willing to mix it up and play a physical game.
I guess we’ll see how it goes if and when the NHL resumes play.
In the meantime, the only comforting thought for a Pittsburgh sports fan? The postponement might prevent the Pirates from losing 120 games … 🙁
If only Mark Cuban had been able to pry them away from Bob Nutting as was rumored a couple of years ago…
Rick
Rick
Good points as always. This is sort of random but i
wanted to get your thoughts. If the NHL season had
not been interrupted by the virus it would of ended
with more fighting majors since I believe the 2014-15
season. Here’s a look at the numbers.
2018 – 2019 224
2017 – 2018 280
2016 – 2017 372
2015 – 2016 344
This year with 10 or more games remaining to be played
the number for fighting majors was sitting at 338.
I think this is a strong indication that there will always be
some level of fighting in Hockey and every team needs to
have a certain level of toughness in the lineup.
Hope your well – I look forward to your thoughts.