Penguins Zapped By Bolts: Upgrades Needed?

Maybe it’s too much vitamin D. After all, our Penguins so rarely see the sun during our dreary Pittsburgh winters. Or perhaps they left their collective game on the beach. Whatever the reason, following a rousing victory over Washington on Sunday, our boys continued their skein of Sunshine State futility (winless in six games) last night in Tampa Bay.

Indeed, the Lightning took advantage of a sluggish start by the black and gold to snatch a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes. A hole that proved too deep to negotiate. Mimicking their Antarctic namesake, the Pens slipped, slid and belly-flopped to ho-hum 4-2 defeat, continuing a string of uneven performances dating back to a 4-1 loss to Boston on January 16. For the record, we’re 4-3 during that span, with two of the wins coming in overtime.

To my eye, we look tired, as if the grind of playing without so many key performers for so long is finally catching up. Too, the Pens are heading into the teeth of the difficult part of their schedule, one packed with Metro Division and Eastern Conference match-ups. We’re a pedestrian 13-11-3 against our eastern brethren.

Which brings me to my point.

Do the Pens need an upgrade or two to compete for the Cup?

I’m sure to get some push-back from my esteemed colleague, Other Rick. But I’m going to say yes, for reasons already stated and then some.

Although our guys have done a marvelous job of pulling together in the face of extreme adversity, we haven’t adequately replaced Jake Guentzel’s production. Nor does it help that Dominik Kahun, an underrated cog and secondary scorer, is still sidelined with a concussion.

We could use some scoring help.

The Rangers’ Chris Kreider continues to be bandied about as a potential trade target. I’m all for it. The big winger combines everything the Pens need…size, speed, power and scoring touch along with a north-south style…in one tidy package. Yes, he’s pricey and, yes, he’s a pending UFA and likely to be a rental. But our core is getting older and there’s no guarantee we’ll be in this position next year.

I say go for it. It would likely cost us a high draft pick and/or top prospect. Perhaps we could shed Nick Bjugstad in the process (no offense “Bugs”), which would clear $4.1 million and help offset Kreider’s cap hit ($4.625).

That’s my best-case scenario. One that hockey insider Bob McKenzie thinks is unlikely to occur due to the in-division dynamic.

Chicago’s Brandon Saad and Minnesota’s Jason Zucker are rumored to be on Rutherford’s radar as well. Both are pricier options than Kreider. Saad has a cap hit of $6 million on a contract that runs through next season. Zucker earns $5.5 million on a contract that runs through 2022-23.

Add Kings winger Tyler Toffoli to the list. He’s a pending UFA earning $4.6 million.

Of the trio, I like Zucker the best. The 28-year-old winger plays with speed and energy and has a history of solid production, topping out at 33 goals in 2017-18. Maybe the best bet, given our ties to Wild GM Bill Guerin.

I’m not as sold on Saad or Toffoli. Although the former possesses size (6’1” 206) and speed, the Pittsburgh native’s not physical (only 28 hits) and seems to be trending downward. Toffoli is skilled and can step into a top-six role, but he’s not especially physical, either. And, as Other Rick has pointed out, Western Conference players don’t seem to do very well in the east a la David Perron and Tanner Pearson.

Other areas of concern? The fourth line and defense. Actually, my issues have as much to do with the way coach Mike Sullivan is deploying his personnel as anything.

I think the fourth line will sort itself out once Kahun returns. I like Sam Lafferty a lot. He brings speed, size and the versatility to play wing and center to the mix. Hulking Anthony Angello hasn’t done anything to hurt his chances, but he hasn’t done anything to distinguish himself, either.

Not that it’s the be-all, end-all of stats, but he’s a minus-11 in 5-on-5 shot attempts in less than 15 minutes of total ice time. That’s not going to help his cause. Nor are his heavy feet.

Andrew Agozzino? Fagedaboudit. I’m not on board with playing a smallish 29-year-old journeyman. To me, we have far better options at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in Joe Blandisi and Adam Johnson, who bring spunk and speed.

I am worried about our defense. The patchwork third pairing of Justin Schultz and Chad Ruhwedel has been an unmitigated disaster (a combined minus-5 last night). In the three games since coming off IR, Schultz is a minus-5. Shades of Edmonton.

Why Sullivan continues to play Ruhwedel on the off side is beyond me. Especially when he has a healthy and far better option in Juuso Riikola waiting patiently in the wings.

Note to Sully: Enough with being too smart for your own good. Play Riikola for goodness sake.

Hopefully, once stalwart Brian Dumoulin returns our defense will settle down. However, a hockey buddy suggested we might need a Ron Hainsey-type addition to bolster our blue-line corps and I’m inclined to agree, given the injuries we’ve endured.

Speaking of injuries, I nearly had a conniption when I watched John Marino go down last night from a puck to the chops. Dear Lord, we can’t afford to lose this kid.

Fortunately, medical staffers indicated Marino would be fine. Perhaps the first good break we’ve received all season.

Anyway, those are my thoughts on a snowy Friday morning in the ‘Burgh. Let’s hope for better results when we take on the improving Florida Panthers Saturday night. Go Pens!