It’s getting to be an epidemic. In each of the past three games, the Penguins have yielded a power-play goal to an opposing player planted unchecked in the crease. Making the situation even more onerous, those goals have come on the last three attempted penalty kills. That’s right, we’re oh-for-three and counting.
It’s a big problem. And a big problem calls for a big solution. Say, one who goes 6’5” and weighs 217 pounds.
I’m talking about ex-Pen Erik Gudbranson. The big guy was reported to be on the trading block earlier this season.
The Ottawa native’s certainly experienced his share of ups and downs during his 10-year NHL career. This season has marked one of those downs. Skating for a terrible Senators squad, he’s presently tied with Vancouver’s Quinn Hughes for the worst plus-minus in the league (minus-13).
On the positive side, Erik has registered 37 hits and 29 blocked shots (10th best in the league). And he recently had a spirited go with Edmonton heavy Zack Kassian, showing he can still chuck ‘em when push comes to shove.
Although regarded as somewhat of a disappointment given his draft stature (a former No. 3 overall pick), there was one shining moment for Gudbranson…the two months he spent in Pittsburgh at the end of the 2018-19 campaign.
In stark contrast to his “Badbranson” rep, he flourished upon his arrival in the ‘Burgh. Taking to Mike Sullivan’s puck-possession game like a duck to water, he surprised the metrics mavens with his strong all-around play. He registered an excellent Corsi of 54.7, all-the-more impressive in light of his skimpy o-zone starts (only 40.6 percent).
During his brief stay, he flattened Columbus bruiser Boone Jenner and neutralized Washington’s Tom Wilson when the DC bad boy tried to rough up Jake Guentzel, sending a message that there was a new sheriff in town. All the while staying out of the penalty box (only two minor penalties in 19 regular-season games).
Upbeat and popular with his teammates, he even provided pointers for Marcus Pettersson in the fine art of pugilism on skates. Had it not been for the sudden emergence of John Marino, No. 44 might still be sporting a Pens jersey.
Speaking of Pettersson, with rookie Pierre-Olivier Joseph asserting himself and newcomer Mike Matheson sure to get a long look, there doesn’t appear to be a guaranteed spot for the rangy Swede once Brian Dumoulin returns from IR.
Now for the “call-me-crazy” part. Maybe we deal Pettersson to Ottawa for Gudbranson and, say, a mid-round draft pick. Erik would go a long way to resolving our net-front issues. He’s 14th in the league in shorthanded ice time, so he knows his way around a penalty kill. To say nothing of providing a muscular presence and a dash of leadership.
Plus, he’s familiar our system. It wouldn’t take long for Erik to get acclimated.
From a cap standpoint, the players are virtually dead even around the $4 million mark in AAV. However, Gudbranson’s in the final year of his deal, which would provide us with some much-needed flexibility down the road, while Pettersson has four more seasons after this one. Which may serve as an enticement for a Sens team that’s committed to building with youth.
Heck, if we could find a way to add Calgary’s Sam Bennett as well, we’d have no worries in the physical play department.
A guy can dream…
Long Pants Hockey
Brian Burke is already making waves with comments he made on The Morning Fan Show.
“Pittsburgh’s the last team to win with a small, fast team. The last three Cup winners have been big, they play long pants hockey, they play ugly hockey. I think we need to look at that and see, have we kept up with the Joneses here?”
Other blogs and outlets are quaking at the thought that we may actually add some muscle. But I for one welcome it.
Hey Rick,
I’ve got to say I’m bolstered by Burke’s comments. Someone in a position to do something about it has finally gets it and says it out loud. I’ve felt for some time people in the organization have been thinking it, but kept it to themselves. I will never understand how Lemieux allowed it to go on this long.
It will be interesting to see how this evolves and how Sullivan fits in if it comes about. Suffice it to say that it’s passed time for this team to step into the current NHL.
Hey Rick,
You know what I think, Like we talked yesterday, that should be a no brainer if Hextall can pull it off Gudranson for Pettersson. I would start asking for that mid round pick or prospect, but I would settle for a straight up trade to shed that $4 mil Cap hit next season. Matheson’s contract will really start hurting next year when that mNTC kicks in. Trading him will be difficult under the best of circumstances but working with a limited field will be even tougher.
Getting back size and crease protection for our embattled Goalies is paramount.
But to get to yours and Mike’s discussion of the local blogs and their fearful response to Burke’s comments, they are hysterical. I love to read good comedy.
Rick, which blog was it that you said was actually afraid that Rodrigues would never get back on the ice, if Sully heeds Burke’s comments? Even funnier than that is what you told me Sully said of Rodrigues scoring lots of goals for the black and gold. (if he actually believed that rhetoric, it is just another piece of evidence that Sully doesn’t know how to evaluate talent)
Mike, I would have loved to see Chara in a Pens uniform.
Simmons? looking at the players Sully chose to put on the game day rosters, by all means yes. However, I would have rather seen Legare get the chance to play. In the 2019-2020 preseason he was part of the most effective line with Laffery and Bjorkqvist and this past season everyone just heaped praises all over him as perhaps one of the best players in camp, but Sully refused to even let him hide on the Taxi squad and/or give him a 5 -7 game whistle stop at the NHL for his hard work, instead he banished him to a league that isn’t even playing.
How is sitting Legare and Poulin helping their development? Stooooooo pid!!!
No, it was more important to Sully to give oxygen thieves Rodrigues and Sceviour roster spots.
Sam Bennett? Again, like Simmons, given the Pens current roster, Rick, as our friend bald Dan, the old Army Ranger, would say “Double (expletive deleted) Yea”. Bennett most certainly is a better option than Jankowski or even Blueger at 3rd line Center. I really can’t see either step up and play 2nd or 1st line if the injury bug denies us Crosby or Malkin.
On LW, ZAR or McCann, or even Zucker would become expendable in my books. However, I wouldn’t mind seeing Bjorkqvist or Zahorna getting real looks. Poulin would certainly have stayed on Taxi squad too, just so I could develop him while his Jr team was locked down, but I think he still needs time to get over his awe of playing in the NHL.
Unfortunately, wasn’t it Sully that said ZAR plays a heavy game? If he thinks ZAR plays a heavy game (and no disrespect to ZAR, he is a far better option than Simon or Sheary) then it is more evidence that Sully doesn’t know how to evaluate players. ZAR is at best a middle weight.
Hey Guys, I’m all for getting some grit. My question about Gudbranson is, why has he been traded 4 times in the last 2 years and every time for what amounts to a bag of pucks? 9 Points with the Ducks in 44 games even plus minus, traded for a 5th round pick? The $4 mil salary? I would think the Ducks tried negotiating it and perhaps they weren’t even close. Is it worth getting the guy if hes going to want ridiculous money next season. I would rather the Pens part with letang and try to pull in a REAL quality big solid defender if your going to do it, do it right.
POJO is looking really good, has thrown some solid checks, just needs to put some weight on and develop an attitude.
Phil
Defiantly his salary “Hands down” – He’s not only someone we
need defensively and he’s a great person/teammate.
Phil
I love Joseph’s game – he has a great feel and Hockey IQ. i worry about
his slender frame when we play the Bruins, Caps, etc….etc…. I’m sure
Tom Wilson and Ovi will be looking to punish him today. Keeping my
fingers crossed he’s able to avoid injury.
Rick
Other blogs are already crying about Burke’s comments. This is not a
hard evaluation – the Pens need size and toughness. Every expert and
Sportscasters comment on the Penguin’s lack of toughness/grit.
To me, if you can’t see this you’re clueless about the game of Hockey.
Maroon has played on the last 2 Stanley Cup Champion teams and we
don’t have anyone like him. Your suggestions of adding Bennett and
Gudbranson is spot on.
We could have had Simmonds and Chara for practically nothing – those
two IMO would have been huge additions to a meek Penguin team.
Keeping my fingers crossed they add size and toughness.
GO PENS
Hey Mike,
I have a lot of respect for the writers from other blogs. However, like you, I’m mystified that these guys don’t realize the value of having some size, grit and toughness in the lineup.
There are some things that just can’t be measured on a slide rule…or by metrics. Heart, character, leadership, motivational and inspirational qualities. These intangibles are vital to the makeup of a team. I think sometimes they’re more important than pure skill.
Patric Hornqvist is a classic example. From the moment he arrived in the ‘Burgh, he changed the culture of the team with his heart, spirit and enormous competitive fire.
No, he’s not a great skater, nor is he especially big, nor is he a great all-around player. I’m sure if you drill down far enough, his metrics are probably lacking.
What Hornqvist did do…and continues to do…is plant himself in the crease (practically stapled to other teams’ goalies) and score dirty goals (six and counting). Precisely the kind you need in the playoffs.
You simply can’t put a value on that.
I’ve watched clips of most of his goals with the Panthers and the way his teammates react to him during the celebrations. He’s galvanized that team, and he’s a big reason why they’re 8-1-2.
Sorry…got a little sidetracked on Hornqvist. But I think the same goes for guys who bring a warrior mentality to the table. I remember clear as day a game we played against Washington on March 12, 2019. Tom Wilson and Alex Ovechkin barreled into our crease. As he is wont to do, Wilson flattens Marcus Pettersson and starts to tangle with Jake Guentzel. Erik Gudbranson, only recently acquired, moved right in, wrapped Wilson in a headlock and slammed him to the ice.
You can’t me that didn’t lift our team (we won 5-3) or make the rest of the guys a little taller and braver.
Where’s the metric that measures that?
Conversely, where’s the metric that measures what happens to a team when it watches Jacob Trouba work over Sidney Crosby without a whimper of retaliation? As a team, I think you either feel emasculated or you have to disconnect emotionally in order not to feel emasculated. And you sure as hell don’t want your team disconnecting emotionally.
I think that’s a big part of the problem with our current Pens. We have no one to lead us into battle…to make us engage. I think it’s part of the reason we need to be behind the eight-ball before our competitive fires get stoked. It’s like we need something to drag us, kicking and screaming, into dialing in.
I think it would be a lot better if we had a Bennett or a Gudbranson burying a guy with a big hit on the first or second shift. It would get us engaged a heck of a lot quicker.
Sorry, Mike, rambling…lol. But I agree with you 100 percent.
Rick
Rick & The Other Rick
Great analogy! I agree 1000%. Knowing someone has your back at all
times change a player’s mental approach.
I read the Other Ricks comments regarding ZAR. Once he gets 2wks
under his belt, I trade him before he’s injured again. Not a fan he gets
hurt when someone looks at him wrong “Lol”.
I would also move McCann especially if we could pick up a Bennett
type player – I respectfully disagree with Zucker and feel like he’s a
solid 2nd line player. He skates, hits, and competes night in and night
out (32) hits – 2nd on the team to Tanev. I believe his goal-scoring
numbers would be better if Malkin had it going.
One other observation – I think the Pen’s need to acquire a Center
that can hold his own in the faceoff circle – I’ve been disappointed
with both Blueger and Jankowski when taking important draws on
the defensive end of the ice.
Let me know your thoughts
Hey Mike,
As I wrote McCann and ZAR are most expendable and would have no problems moving on from them. Unfortunately, you have to give to get and neither ZAR nor McCann are going to net the Pens anything of consequence – that is why I throw Zucker’s name out there.
About Jankowski and Blueger, agreed, neither are that adept at taking draws, but I am more concern over the thought of either having to step up and 2nd line. Neither will be able to do that.