At the end of my last post I included a section titled Call Me Crazy. I alluded to the very remote possibility that the Penguins may have an interest in bringing Phil Kessel back for an encore.
Perhaps my next statement will seem even crazier. Maybe our Biblical plague of injuries are a blessing in disguise.
Yeah, you read that right. Follow my logic (or illogic) if you will.
One of the upside-down benefits of all the injuries? In this COVID condensed season when a compressed schedule has teams playing an ungodly number of back-to-back games, a lot of our key players are getting a break, unplanned as it is. That can only help us down the road, especially when teams that are comparatively healthy at the present might start to wear down.
The greatest benefit? Having so many guys in sick-bay has forced coach Mike Sullivan and his staff to give guys a look they might otherwise ignore. Not only are these players getting a look, they’re getting a much-needed chance to prove themselves.
A case in point…rookie Radim Zohorna. If we were hale and hearty, it’s doubtful the towering 24-year-old Czech forward would receive so much as a cameo. But there he was last night, front and center, absolutely burying a beautiful feed from fellow redwood Anthony Angello to stake us to a lead. Paving the way for a 4-0 triumph over downtrodden Buffalo.
From what I observed, the Zohorna-Angello-Frederick Gaudreau line was quite good (a combined goal and three points). Is it possible we’ve stumbled upon an effective fourth line? One that checks off our long-standing need to add functional size and oomph to the lineup?
Yes. The beauty is, all three come cheap. And Zohorna and Angello can both skate for big men. Which, hopefully, will lessen Sullivan’s reticence toward using them.
Yet another benefit? Dire as it is, our present injury situation has thrust support players who were on the cusp into elevated roles. I’ll admit this one’s a bit of a two-edged sword. Some guys can handle extra duties and some can’t.
One player squarely in the former category is Brandon Tanev…unfortunately among the wounded. Another is Jared McCann. Talented but enigmatic and prone to blowing hot and cold, McCann stepped up in a big way last night to score the Pens’ second and third goals…both on the power play. The tallies looked like “doublegangers” as a friend is fond of saying…in both instances No. 19 ripped the puck home from the slot. My word, does McCann possess a wicked shot and release!
Again, doubtful he gets that opportunity with all hands on deck. (Instead, we’d likely be watching the usual suspects pass the puck around the perimeter.)
Too, having guys slot up in the lineup gives the coaching staff a fresh perspective on team makeup, while revealing who among the injured might serve as trade-bait. Jason Zucker and his $5.5 million cap hit (and low production) immediately comes to mind as a guy who might not have a definable role when everyone’s healthy.
Last, and certainly not least, giving guys basic training in shouldering extra loads can only help come playoff time. To win a Cup, you need production from up and down the lineup, not just from your core players.
It only bodes well for a team that just might surprise some people come the postseason.
Puckpourri
Casey DeSmith made 36 saves to post his second shutout of the season (and second in four starts) to earn top-star honors. At present, Casey is third in the league in goals against average (1.93) and fourth in save percentage (.928) among netminders who’ve played at least 10 games.
Jake Guentzel capped the Pens’ scoring with an empty netter, his 14th goal of the season. Without much fanfare, Jake’s been hot of late, netting seven goals in his past 10 games.
Speaking of hot, Sidney Crosby’s playing like a man possessed. He tallied three assists last night, including his 1300th NHL point, and won 71 percent of his faceoffs. Just another day at the office for No. 87.
Seven Pens forwards registered points. Kris Letang picked up two helpers from the back end.
Gaudreau collected an assist and logged 4:45 of shorthanded ice time, tops among black-and-gold forwards.
Mike Matheson’s ice time has dwindled recently. Last night he logged 13:52, including 3:05 of power-play time. The game before, a season low 13:49. An indication that the coaching staff may be tiring of his adventure-time defense?
With 44 points and a .647 points percentage, the Pens hold third place outright in the MassMutual East, seven points ahead of Boston. The improving Rangers and skidding Flyers are tied for fifth with 34 points.
Up next, the first-place Islanders, minus captain Anders Lee, on Saturday night at the “Paint Can.”
Hey all,
I just saw that Kapanen is out week to week. Dear Lord …
Rick
Hey Rick,
With 4 more games against Buffalo and 5 games against New Jersey, and let’s not forget the now struggling Flyers 3 games, despite the mass of injuries the Playoffs may not be a done deal but the laws of probability are getting stronger.
However, and even though I am loving seeing Angello and Zahorna, I am going to take a wait and see posture.
1. Too many people have looked good out of the gate to disappear over the long haul.
2. My fear is as the wounded come back, the wrong bodies will be dispatched and the team will be back to the team that couldn’t win a regulation time game at the start of the season, just like last season.
Sorry Rick, blame it on the SOP syndrome.
Hey Other Rick,
I’m with you on point No. 2. At least as far as the wrong bodies being dispatched is concerned.
I didn’t see much of the game. But on the shift where Zohorna scored, you could see the problems he and Angello created with their size and the fact that they’re both decent skaters.
Such a line could be very useful. For the record, I really like what I’ve seen from Gaudreau, too. I rate him ahead of Jankowski, Sceviour and even Lafferty.
Rick
Hey Rick,
Agreed Gaudreau is a better answer than Jankowski or Sceviour although I would love to see what Bellerive could do pivoting that line now that he seems to be starting to get some level of scoring back.
Just saw that Buf traded Staal to Mon, so at least the chance of that trade has been lessened.
Question;
1) With the Canadian Gov’t reducing the COVID quarantine
2) A US – Canadian trade (Staal to Montreal) possibly opening up trades
3) McCann and Kapanen (before his injury), joining Guentzel and Rust as showing top 6 Chemistry,
4) Poulin seeming back on track.
5) Legare still Rolling
Are you still interested in Sam Bennett and would you deal Zucker – Arguably a top 6 Winger plus if neccessary say Pettersson or even our 2nd round pick this season for Bennett? I know Zucker is injured right now, but Calgary is pretty much out of it this year so not getting his services right away plus a sweetener wouldn’t impact them much right now but could help them next season.
Just playing Devils advocate.
The Other Rick & Rick
1) I’m not convinced that McCann is a top 6 player on a team
contending for the Cup.
2) I don’t see a team trading for a player before he’s had a
chance to get back on the ice and they see him play.
Also, I’m a Zucker fan.
3) On our 2nd line you need someone to do the dirty work
and they would seem to be Zucker who prior to the injury
had the 2nd most hits on the team behind Tanev.
GO PENS
Hey Mike,
1) I am not 100% convinced that McCann can sustain what he is doing right now either, but he is trending up and he is far cheaper
2) I wouldn’t trade for a player who is currently injured but I have seen it happen and I am just tryin to gauge Rick B’s resolve to get Bennett.
3) With Malkin still out and apparently Zucker getting close to a return I can’t argue with you over Zucker – Malkin ineffectiveness. Zucker could conceivably really go on a tear, playing 2nd line with a different Center. But when Malkin comes back, I really fear that it will go back to the beginning of the season futility (Maybe not – but it is a fear of mine), so in that situation, if they don’t flip Guetnzel and Zucker, I see problems.
But let me rephrase the question a little, who would you want more (and this can go to anyone reading) Bennett or Zucker?
Remember,
1) This off season is another expansion draft with limited veteran player protection.
2) Poulin looks like he is getting back on track Val-d’Or Foreurs after his slow start his scoring is getting back near last seasons 1.6 Pnts/GP but more improtantly his +/- is tracking to be much better.
3) Nathan Legare is also scoring at a similar rate as last season but really improving his +/-, even more than Poulin.
Do you go into the post season playing a top 6 player in a bottom 6 role and risk getting nothing for a player getting plucked off the roster?
or
Try and grab a legit grit player to fill a bottom 6 role to get you through the playoffs?
Just looking to see peoples’ thought process.
Rick
Madden had a good article on the Pen’s adding Size and toughness before
the end of the trade deadline. I hope he’s right – Kingerski had a similar
one talking about how the Sabres went out of their way to work Crosby
over.
I hate to say it but this may be a turning point in Mike Sullivan’s tenure
as the Pen’s Head Coach. I have a hard time understanding why fans
think a player like Reaves can’t play on a team with speed – Reaves is
playing between 10 & 11min a game for one of the faster teams in the
NHL and there in 1st place in their division.
Vegas understands the value a player like Reaves brings to the table –
this season he’s been almost non-existent on the score sheet, yet
he continues to play right around 10min a game.
Sully is going to be forced to let go of his ego or I’m afraid the new Pen’s
management will force him out of town.
I look forward to your feedback!!
Hey Mike,
Vegas isn’t the only team that understands the value of a Reaves but Pittsburgh/Sullivan may be one of the few teams that doesn’t.
I read the Kingarski article and found it interesting that he would write that he (Kingarski) supported a bigger more aggressive team unlike the Penguins’ fandom. I don’t know to whom he is talking but the vast majority of Pens fans I know want to see bigger players – even those that still support Sullivan and his flea circus.
Also, you did get 2/3 of your wish Angello – Zahorna. All you need now is Getzlaf.
Regardless of who pivots the line (A Center whose last name starts with M or N would balance it best) the line can be called the A to Z line.
Hey Mike,
I confess I only watched a small portion of the game and missed the Ristolainen hit on Crosby, or the focus of my article might have been decidedly different.
I also was going to reference Madden’s article on the Trib…which echoes so many of the sentiments we’ve expressed over the years on PP. On Pittsburgh Hockey Now, Kingerski, too, expressed the need for a protector.
A hockey bud has suggested Nicolas Deslauriers of Anaheim. I’ll cast my vote for him as well. A really tough kid who brooks no offense against his teammates, large or small, and never backs up an inch. He’d have Ristolainen spittin’ chicklets, to coin a phrase.
The problem is Sullivan. Just a guess, but I think a pretty good one. Anthony Angello, who can fight a little, has been instructed not to by our “just play through it” coach.
I think there’s a showdown coming soon between Sully and our brass. And, unlike his relationship with Rutherford where he called the personnel shots, he’s going to accede on the toughness issue or else …
Rick
Yes the value the Reaves brings to the table – 1 goal and a hit of 2.7. That’s value?
Penguins fans are so full of it. First that whined that in trading for Reaves, JR was getting away from speed that got them 2 cups. Now they are whining that they need a guy like Reaves.
If history has taught anything, it’s that you need big guys to wear down the other team, make them skate with their heads up and clear the crease but “tough guys” don’t protect anybody.
Hey Stratton,
Agree and disagree. As you stated, you need big guys to do the dirty work, grind down the opposition and cause match-up problems. Last night’s game was a perfect example of the latter…Buffalo really had trouble with Angello and Zohorna. The fact that they’re decent skaters certainly contributed to the Sabres’ issues.
As a general rule, fighting pretty much ceases come playoff time. However, hitting does pick up and refs tend to put the whistles away, which to me underscores the need to have a physical presence.
And I disagree that tough guys don’t protect anyone. Tom Wilson is a classic example of a player who’ll run rampant if he knows he won’t be challenged. But if he knows he’s outgunned, which doesn’t happen against too many guys (Reaves is one of the few) he tones down his act.
I agree with Mark Madden that if we’d had Reaves in 2018 against the Caps, it might’ve been a different series. While we’ll never know, I don’t think the Aston-Reese hit happens if Reaves is in the lineup, and that arguably was the turning point of the series. Or if the hit does occur, I think the Pens would’ve reacted differently.
Rick