Penguins Update: Call Me Crazy But…

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 (10^th 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 14^th 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.