I confess I was a bit surprised to read on Saturday that the Penguins had re-signed restricted free agent defenseman Juuso Riikola to a new two-year deal at an average annual value of $1.15 million.
Not that I don’t applaud the move. I do. I like Riikola…a lot. He’s mobile, plays with a bit of edge and possesses a hard if underutilized shot. It’s just that the coaching staff, or at least the former staff, didn’t seem too enamored of him.
Could this be another instance where there’s a disconnect between coach Mike Sullivan and general manager Jim Rutherford regarding matters of personnel?
Based on Rutherford’s comments when announcing the move, it’s very likely.
“He’s (Riikola’s) done a good job when he’s gone in,” JR said. “I like him. I like him as a person and a player. Maybe this year, he gets more playing time and we can assess him a little more. But he’s a capable NHL player.”
The knock on the 6’0” 189-pounder is that he tends to lose focus in his own end. Which is reportedly why the coaching staff soured on him to the extent that they occasionally played right-hand shots Chad Ruhwedel and Zach Trotman, journeymen both, over the 26-year-old Finn on the left side.
Yet Riikola’s advanced stats tell a very different story. Here’s his rank among the Pens’ top eight time-on-ice defensemen during the past season.
Corsi For%: 53.1% (2nd)
Goals For%: 58.3% (1st)
xGF%: 58.7% (1st)
Scoring Chance %: 57.9% (1st)
High Danger Scoring Chance%: 59% (1st)
5v5 on-ice shooting%: 6.51% (8th)
On-ice save%: 94.6% (1st)
Yes, he received sheltered minutes (a team-low 13:53 ATOI among defensemen) while skating mostly beside Ruhwedel on the third pairing. But his numbers were impressive to say the least.
Perhaps incoming coach Todd Reirden will be able to aid in his development. Too, here’s hoping that sanity wins out and Sullivan and the revamped coaching staff give him a fair shot at regular duty. Which would likely come at the expense of veteran Jack Johnson.
Puckpourri
Trade rumors continue to swirl around Pens goalie Matt Murray. At various times Calgary, Colorado, Minnesota and Toronto have been mentioned as possible destinations for the two-time Cup winner. Edmonton could be a sleeper suitor as well.
Austin Lemieux, Mario’s son, has announced his retirement from hockey to pursue a career in golf.
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