Time for a little hockey quiz. What do Zach Bogosian, Blake Coleman, Pat Maroon and Luke Schenn have in common?
Well, let’s see. They’re all physical players. Oh, and they all played for Tampa Bay and hoisted the Stanley Cup this year.
Very good. Now quick. Name their Penguins counterparts.
Well, there’s…uh… And then there’s…uh… Uhhhhh…
You see where I’m going. Yes, it’s my annual (okay, monthly) rant about the Penguins’ lack of toughness. Courtesy of head coach Mike Sullivan, with an assist to GM Jim Rutherford.
Hard to believe that once upon a time in the not-too-distant past the Pens were one of the toughest teams in the league. Indeed, for a seven-season stretch between 2007 and 2014 the black-and-gold boasted such rugged performers as Arron Asham, Deryk Engelland, Eric Godard, heavyweight champ “Big” Georges Laraque, Ryan “Bugsy” Malone, “Scary” Gary Roberts, Mike Rupp and Chris Thorburn. Aided and abetted by second-tier toughies like Craig Adams, Matt Cooke, Hal Gill, Tyler Kennedy, Brooks Orpik, Jarkko Ruutu and “Mad Max” Talbot. Even backup goalie Brent Johnson could throw ‘em.
A virtual roll call of the toughest players ever to don the black and gold.
If I seem a bit wistful, I am. What I wouldn’t give to have even a couple of those guys skating for our present-day Pens.
Needless to say, we weren’t a whole lot of fun to play against back then. We could beat you with supreme skill or beat you in the alley. Think Montreal would’ve said that about the current crop they dusted in the qualifying round of the recent postseason?
In hindsight, winning the Cup the way we did in 2016 may have been the worst thing that happened to us. We keep trying to recreate that dynamic. Given that the last three Cup winners, Washington, St. Louis and the Lightning, all embraced a more balanced approach that melded high-end skill with a physical bent, the Pens’ triumph in ’16 looks like an anomaly. Even our ’17 squad won with more of a hybrid style.
Putting it another way, the “kill ‘em with skill” approach may work well on a Thursday night in January against Minnesota. But in the cauldron of the Stanley Cup playoffs…not so well.
Why Don’t the Penguins Value Toughness?
That’s a good question. One I really can’t answer. Some of the more successful teams in franchise history, from the 1969-70 “Pesky Pens” to the star-crossed ’74-75 squad and on through the first three Stanley Cup champions could hold their own when the going got tough.
Indeed, the fortunes of the early 70’s teams turned dramatically with the acquisition of rugged types like Bryan Hextall, Tracy Pratt, Glen Sather and Bryan Watson…and a few years later Steve Durbano, Bob “Battleship” Kelly and Bob Paradise.
In 1991, the in-your-face hitting of Robocop defenseman Ulf Samuelsson provided a bedrock foundation for the Pens’ first Cup winner. The following season it was the inspirational play of tough-as-nails winger Rick Tocchet, who battled his way through the playoffs with a fractured jaw and tallied his share of points to boot. Both were late-season acquisitions.
In 2009, Talbot’s spirited albeit losing tussle with former Pens farmhand Daniel Carcillo (in Philly no less) was arguably the turning point of the playoffs. Unless it was Orpik’s four hits in 15 seconds during Game Three against Detroit.
Then came the “Fight Night” brawl with the Islanders on February 11, 2011, when the teams combined for 15 fighting majors, 21 game misconducts and a total of 346 penalty minutes. Shortly thereafter, the Pens’ organizational philosophy began to shift. Suddenly, dropping the gloves seemed taboo.
Too, the game was evolving. Teams began accenting speed and skill over size and brawn, a transformation driven in part by the Penguins’ success. Fighting began to wane.
Still, a willingness to battle and compete in the dirty areas is as important as ever, whether it’s being hard on the puck on the forecheck or along the boards or clearing an opposing forward from the slot.
As I noted in previous articles, the teams that went to the conference finals this year…Dallas, the Islanders, Vegas and Cup winner Tampa Bay…employ a style that blends talent and skill with a physical element. And when push comes to shove, it’s still necessary to have a player or two who can stick their nose in and protect their mates from the likes of DC marauder Tom Wilson.
We Need a Tough Guy…No We Don’t
During recent seasons, the Pens have displayed a knee-jerk approach to employing tough guys. Usually driven by a specific incident or series of events.
Tom Sestito was in the lineup for the 2016-17 season opener against Washington for the express purpose of fighting Wilson, who blatantly took out Conor Sheary’s leg during the previous postseason.
Ryan Reaves was acquired in the summer of 2017 as a direct response to the rough treatment Sidney Crosby and the other black-and-gold stars received during the ’17 Cup run.
Erik Gudbranson arrived on the scene shortly after our No. 1 defense pairing of Brian Dumoulin and Kris Letang was wiped out by the Flyers during a 2019 Stadium Series matchup.
However, once the immediate need passes? Or more to the point, when Sullivan finds a way to weed them out of the lineup? Pfft…these guys are gone.
Out of curiosity, I took a gander at the length of stay for our tough guys during the Rutherford era. It ain’t too long.
|
Player |
Years |
Regular Season Games |
Reg. Season ATOI |
Playoff Games |
Playoff ATOI |
|
Robert Bortuzzo |
2011-15 |
113 |
14:56 |
8 |
13:14 |
|
Zach Sill |
2013-15 |
62 |
9:06 |
NA |
NA |
|
Steve Downie |
2014-15 |
72 |
12:26 |
5 |
10:40 |
|
Bobby Farnham |
2014-15 |
14 |
7:04 |
NA |
NA |
|
Tom Sestito |
2016-17 |
17 |
5:36 |
NA |
NA |
|
Steve Oleksy |
2016-17 |
11 |
13:42 |
NA |
NA |
|
Ryan Reaves |
2017-18 |
58 |
6:45 |
NA |
NA |
|
Jamie Oleksiak |
2017-19 |
83 |
16:44 |
12 |
13:43 |
|
Garrett Wilson |
2018-19 |
50 |
7:37 |
4 |
8:03 |
|
Erik Gudbranson |
2019 |
26 |
17:56 |
4 |
16:14 |
By contrast, Wilson has played 522 games…all with Washington…over the course of his seven-year NHL career. Sixteen more than the aforementioned Pens tough guys combined.
There’s something to be said for continuity…and packing a punch.
If only the Pens’ braintrust agreed.
You would be a hit over at Hockeysfuture where there is the constant refrain is that Wilson lives rent free in in Rutherford’s head. I guess he does with you too. The trade to get Reeves left a much worse whole in the Penguin organization than the trade that shipped him out. I would have preferred keeping Gudbranson since was playing well on a regular shift. It’s also better to have your tough guy play defense so he can be on the ice with the top lines if need be
Anyway, you must be happy that the Pens got Matheson. While he isn’t a bit hitter, he has a mean streak and sometimes goes a bit beserk and causes real damage.
Hey Stratton,
Yeah, I guess you could say Wilson lives in my head. From besting Zach Sill, a pretty tough cookie, in 2015 to taking out Conor Sheary’s leg in the ’16 playoffs (a really despicable act), to injuring Brian Dumoulin and Zach Aston-Reese in ’18, to his kayo of Jamie Oleksiak in ’19…he’s wreaked more than his share of havoc against the black and gold.
Rubbing salt in the wound, Wilson can play.
Nor will I disagree that Oskar Sundqvist (potential third-line center) and a first-round pick was a steep price to pay for Reaves (we also got a second-rounder in return). But when you’re getting the best at something…and Reavo’s bar none the best fighter and cooler in the league…you’re generally going to pay.
However, I disagree with your assertion that the incoming trade had a greater impact than the Brassard fiasco, which totally altered our chemistry in a very negative way. Including the postseason, the Pens were 18-12-3 following Brassard’s arrival in 2018…16-4-1 in the six weeks prior to the trade.
Again, subjective, but I believe Reaves’ presence would have had a steadying effect on our guys in the wake of the Aston-Reese demolition…arguably the turning point of that series. We could’ve used Ian Cole, too.
Also disagree about having your tough guy as a defenseman, although I liked Gudbranson a lot and thought he did a really good job during his brief stay. If he gets a penalty or gets thrown out of the game, you’re down to five-d. And if he’s one of your primary penalty killers…
If I was limited to one tough guy, I’d prefer to have him up front, hammering opposing d-men on the forecheck (a la Wilson). If he gets a penalty or gets tossed, you’ve got 11 other forwards.
Rick
PS-Didn’t realize Matheson has a bit of a mean streak. But if he does, I’ll take it. I think we need more bite.
Your point about losing a defenseman being a bigger problem than losing a forward is well taken. But that shouldn’t happen. You don’t want a guy who is just a fighter. Besides, the really toughest guys seldom fight. Nobody messed with Chara.
As far input the trade is concerned, it ended up being a first round pick and Sundqvist for one year of a fourth liner who was then a UFA. I believe the rumors that Lemieux order it.
Re Matheson:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFIAov-9RUU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioG8XtC8ic0
Hey all,
It appears Edmonton is going to sign Dominik Kahun at the same rate as last season…$975,000. Even though we have a bit of a log-jam at left wing with McCann shifting over, I would love to have signed Dominik.
I think he’ll be a really nice addition for the Oilers.
Rick
Hey all,
A very entertaining article over on Pensburgh by Garrett Behanna titled, “Who is the scariest Penguins player in team history?”
He features several of the players I mentioned in my article, including Reaves, Asham, Laraque, Godard and Roberts.
Watching the clips of Reaves makes me wistful all over again …
Rick
Hey Rick,
I always like Kelly and Durbano, Hextall, Baxter, and many other Penguins throughout their history; players that were tough. The interesting thing, as we talked yesterday – particularly about Kelly is that not only was he tough but he had skill. Even Durbano, before his injury, wasn’t just a goon, he could play hockey. As much as he causes bile to rise in me, Tom Wilson, in Wash can actually play the game too.
To quote Bobby Plant “it really makes me wonder”
Does Sully think that little means skill and big means goon, because it doesn’t!!!!
Now, I don’t necessarily think the team needs a full blown pugilist (couldn’t hurt if he also had skill) but the worst part of the situation is that not only is there no fight in the alley on this team, there is no fight on the ice. Hornqvist was the only Forward on the team that would go to the front of the net, daring opponents to move him. And no defenseman would ever think about putting body on body. Heck in the Montreal debacle the D didn’t even try to take sticks away, they just stood around and waved their own sticks in hollow attempts to look like they were doing something as Canadiens took Murray and then Jarry’s eyes away and tipped shot after shot.
Hey Other Rick,
Excellent comments as always. Especially the part about the Pens employing “stick on air” defense. And your point is well taken. The one-dimensional heavyweight has gone the way of the dodo.
So to, it seems, has the traditional power forward who could hit, score and fight. As much as I hate to say it, that’s what makes Tom Wilson a special player. As you pointed out, he can play (43 goals over the past two seasons) and skate and hit. There’s an unpredictable edge about him and you really have to be aware of him when he’s on the ice. He’s a game-changer and a throwback in the mold of Gary Roberts and Rick Tocchet.
There really aren’t too many guys like that anymore. In fact, I can only think of a handful off the top of my head…Nick and Marcus Foligno, Boone Jenner, Josh Anderson, Nick Ritchie, Sam Bennett and Micheal Ferland. Milan Lucic and Corey Perry, too, although they’re in decline. (I consider guys like Matt Martin and Ross Johnston to be more like old-style heavyweights.)
I guess you could classify Alex Ovechkin as the ultimate power forward, although he doesn’t fight.
That’s why Ryan Reaves was such a valuable commodity. He’ll get you 7-10 goals a year, be a jackhammer on the forecheck (316 hits in ’19-20) and absolutely shut down anybody who tries to mess with your stars. He’s one of the very few guys who can handle and neutralize Wilson (Erik Gudbranson being the other). And we let him go.
Of course…
Rick
“And no defenseman would ever think about putting body on body.”
That’s exactly what Jack Johnson did but you hated him.