Penguins Update: Say it Ain’t So

By now I’m sure most of you have heard the rumblings. Penguins GM Jim Rutherford is reported to have more than a passing interest in Vancouver’s free-agent defenseman Chris Tanev, who happens to be black-and-gold winger Brandon Tanev’s big brother. A signing that could only occur if JR is able to clear a significant chunk of cap space, say in the form of heart-and-soul winger Patric Hornqvist.

Still, I feel like the little kid who approached Shoeless Joe Jackson in the wake of the Black Sox Scandal and bleated, “Say it ain’t so, Joe!”

Say it ain’t so, JR!

It’s not my intent to demean the elder Tanev. On the surface, he might appear to be an attractive addition. The 10-year NHL vet’s a right-hand shot with 514 games under his belt. He’s served as a top four-guy with the Canucks. His career plus-minus (plus-43) is decent enough, especially when you consider Vancouver’s been a non-playoff team for much of that time. He’s a horse, too, averaging nearly 20 minutes of ice time per game for his career.

And Tanev does display the family grit, albeit in a different way than his kid brother, who’s routinely among the league leaders in hits. Chris traditionally blocks his share of shots…159 this season, which ranked fourth in the league.

What’s not to like, right?

Welllllll…

For starters, he’s totaled only 22 goals and 118 points during his career, so he’s decidedly not a puck-mover or offensive threat. On a team that already has a paucity of production from the blue line? Maybe not the best fit.

And aggressive as Brandon is, Chris seems to be equally tame when it comes to physical play. He has only 201 hits for his career. To put that in perspective, Brandon had 244 hits this season alone!

A stay-at-home defenseman who doesn’t use the body? That raises a huge red flag to me.

So do his possession numbers. After being a possession driver early in his career, he’s been a negative in 5-on-5 shot attempts for each of the past five seasons…including a whopping minus-311 over the past two seasons combined.

Same with his Corsi. In each of the past four seasons, he’s logged a sub-50 Corsi, and not just by a little. We’re talkin’ Jack Johnson numbers.

Which brings me to my point. If the Pens sign Tanev with the intent of playing him beside Johnson, it would be a disaster of Biblical proportions. Two 30-something defensemen who struggle to possess and move the puck?

The carnage…the humanity. And we thought Johnson and Justin Schultz were a bad pairing!

Even if…and it’s a huge if…the Pens find a taker for Johnson, is Tanev really the type of player you’d want skating next to prospect Pierre-Olivier Joseph or Juuso Riikola?

Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of the rumors…one that literally sends a chill down my spine? The notion that Rutherford might try to lock up Tanev for around $5 million per year for multiple seasons.

Dear Lord. Hasn’t he learned anything from the Johnson and Rob Scuderi fiascos? To say nothing of Matt Hunwick.

I’ve been a JR supporter since the first Cup year. Despite a penchant to overpay, I think he’s done a good job. Those two Cups didn’t happen by accident. But if he moves out Hornqvist or other assets for the purpose of signing Tanev to a long-term deal?

Definitely time to check his sanity. And look for a new GM.