Penguins Update: Could Sam Bennett Be the Answer at Third-Line Center?

It’s mid-January. The Penguins are locked in a tight 1-1 battle against Washington in a key divisional match-up at PPG Paints Arena. The bitter rivals entered the game tied for third place in the Metro, five points behind the front-running Flyers and three behind the Islanders. Points are critical.

As he is wont to do, Capitals marauder Tom Wilson is circling like a shark in the neutral zone. He spies Pens defenseman Brian Dumoulin battling for a loose puck along the side boards.

Like a heat-seeking missile, Wilson locks onto his target. In a matter of strides he accelerates to full speed. Timing his hit perfectly, he buries his shoulder into Dumoulin’s chest just as the black-and-gold defender retrieves the puck and turns to skate up ice.

Dumoulin goes down in a heap.

Wilson hovers nearby, admiring his handiwork. No penalty is called. Dumoulin needs to be helped to his skates before being escorted off the ice.  

Scenario 1

While the rest of the Pens avoid eye contact, an agitated Kris Letang skates toward Wilson and tries to engage the big winger before being restrained by a linesman. While Letang continues to chirp, Wilson laughs.

Five minutes later, with the Pens down a defenseman and the Caps’ heavyweight providing a screen, Alex Ovechkin blows the puck past goalie Tristan Jarry from the high slot. Momentum firmly on their side, the Caps pound two more shots past Jarry and coast to an easy 4-1 victory.

Wilson finishes the game a plus-three, with seven hits and two assists. He’s named the No. 2 star.

Scenario 2

Suddenly, Wilson’s struck in the side of the head by a gloved fist. Momentarily stunned, he turns and catches a punch…this one bare-knuckled…square on the chin. He quickly sheds his gloves and stick and returns fire, but can’t gain a clear-cut advantage. Finally, he and his assailant tumble to the ice.

As Wilson and his foe regain their skates and are separated by the linesmen, he catches the jersey number and name of his antagonist. Ninety-three. Bennett.

The Pens’ bench erupts, banging their sticks against the boards in appreciation. The crowd roars. Suitably inspired, the black and gold strikes for three goals in a little over eight minutes to snatch a 4-1 lead. T.J. Oshie scores in the final period to add a dash of drama, but the outcome is long since decided.

The fight was the turning point.

Why I am playing out these rather elaborate and divergent fantasy scenarios?

All of the teams that made it to conference finals this season employed a more balanced style that includes a heavier, physical element. It continues a trend that began with the Caps winning the Cup in 2017-18, and the Blues grinding down the opposition last year. Among their victims, a skilled, tough Bruins squad.

Scanning the Pens’ roster, it doesn’t require a degree in rocket science to discern that we’re still trying to win with the speed game that carried us a Cup back in 2015-16. Not that there’s anything wrong with being fast, Lord knows. But you gotta have some grind to go with the jets. In that area, the Pens fall woefully short.

I’m not saying our boys are timid. We did finish fourth in the league in hits with 1884, so we do have guys who’ll stick their nose in. But our lack of size and snarl when push comes to shove mitigates those numbers to an extent.

To digress, a hit from Brandon Tanev is going to exact less of a toll than a hit from, say, Ryan Reaves.

That’s where Sam Bennett or a player of his ilk would help. No, the 24-year-old Ontario native wouldn’t have the Wilson’s of the world quaking in their skates. But he does have a documented history of coming to the aid of a teammate. In one of those instances, he put a pretty fair whupping on ex-Pen Ian Cole. In another…present Pen Marcus Pettersson.

Although hardly a behemoth at 6’1” and 195 pounds, Bennett throws ‘em pretty fair for a guy his size. And he’s fearless.

Why Bennett? He’s affordable, for one. He’s signed for $2.55 million through the coming season, or roughly what you might expect to pay for Jared McCann. He might be a nice fit at third-line center. Perhaps the elusive, long-sought replacement for Nick Bonino.

Is Bennett a bit of a gamble? Yes. His production has declined since he netted 18 goals as a 19-year-old rookie in 2015-16 (only eight in 52 games this season). Since 2016-17, he’s seen split duty at wing and center.

Still, his faceoff work has improved (53.6 percent) over the past three seasons, along with his possession numbers. He’s skilled…you don’t get drafted fourth overall by accident. And he has sand.

Plus, come playoff time he finds the net. Bennett led the Flames in postseason scoring in each of the past two years. He has 11 goals in 30 career playoff games, a 30-goal pace over 82 games. You can’t coach that. Guys either elevate their game in the postseason or they don’t.

How to land him? Perhaps an even-up swap for McCann would work. Ironically, Jared also made the NHL as a 19-year-old.

Just supposin’.

Kudos for PenguinPoop

I’m pleased to announce that PenguinPoop has been included on a list sponsored by Feedspot titled Top 50 Ice Hockey Blogs.

On behalf of founding fathers and early contributors Phil Krundle, Reg Dunlop, Disco Stu, Horse, Southside Shultzie, Art Vandelay, Coach Bombay, Doug MacRay, Champ Kind and Joey Wales and present contributors Other Rick and James Arthurs, not to mention our faithful readers and commenters (wish I could name you all), we’re truly honored to be included.